User Equipment NAS Protocol Selection for 5G Network Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP regulations lack a structure that enables User Equipment (UE) to use an appropriate Non-Access Stratum (NAS) protocol according to varying network architectures, which are being examined for 5G network support.
Innovation Solution
The UE is equipped with a reception unit to receive information on supported NAS protocols from a base station, a selection unit to choose the appropriate protocol based on this information, and a transmission unit to transmit the selected NAS protocol to the core network, allowing it to adapt to different network architectures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the UE uses a fixed NAS protocol according to current 3GPP regulations, then the system maintains simplicity and standardization, but the system cannot adapt to varying network architectures in 5G
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic protocol selection by enabling the UE to receive information about supported NAS protocols from the base station and dynamically select the appropriate protocol based on the detected network architecture. This transforms the static, fixed protocol approach into a dynamic, adaptive system that can respond to varying network conditions and architectures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the protocol type parameter based on network architecture detection. The UE identifies whether it is connected to an LTE-based network or a 5G-based network and accordingly selects either the LTE NAS protocol or the 5G NAS protocol, effectively using parameter changes to adapt to different network environments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the UE supports multiple NAS protocols simultaneously, then the system achieves compatibility with different network architectures, but the device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the NAS protocol support into distinct, separate protocol stacks for LTE and 5G networks. Rather than requiring a single complex multi-protocol implementation, the system divides protocol support into separate, manageable segments that are activated based on the detected network type, reducing overall complexity while maintaining compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary detection of network architecture type before initiating NAS protocol communication. By detecting whether the network is LTE-based or 5G-based in advance and pre-selecting the appropriate protocol, the system avoids the complexity of simultaneously managing multiple protocols, as only the relevant protocol is activated based on the preliminary network identification.
3Productivity
If the UE automatically detects and selects NAS protocol, then communication efficiency improves, but the risk of protocol mismatch and communication failures increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the UE receives explicit information from the base station about which NAS protocols are supported by the core network. This feedback allows the UE to verify its protocol selection and ensure compatibility, reducing the risk of protocol mismatch while maintaining automatic selection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The base station acts as an intermediary that provides information about supported NAS protocols between the network infrastructure and the UE. This intermediary role ensures that the UE's protocol selection is guided by accurate, authoritative information from the network side, reducing the risk of incorrect selections while maintaining automatic protocol negotiation.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided user equipment of a radio communication system including the user equipment, a base station, and a core network apparatus including a reception unit configured to receive information indicating one or more types of NAS protocols supported by the core network apparatus from the base station; a selection unit configured to select a type of a NAS protocol to be transmitted to the core network apparatus based on the information indicating the one or more types of the NAS protocols received by the reception unit; and a transmission unit configured to transmit a NAS message of the type of the NAS protocol selected by the selection unit to the core network apparatus.