UE Network Slice Management via Local Context Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network slice management systems rely heavily on remote decision-making, leading to inefficiencies, over/under-provisioning of resources, and the need for sensitive user context sharing, which can be addressed by enabling UE-initiated network slice management for dynamic and precise allocation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing network slice management functionality on the UE to collect and analyze application and user context, allowing for local decision-making and efficient allocation, modification, and deallocation of network slices based on changing requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If remote network slice management decision-making is used, then network control and management is simplified, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates and over/under-provisioning occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network slice management decision-making into two parts: local UE-initiated decisions for resource allocation and remote network control for policy enforcement. The UE's application layer initiates slice management operations locally based on real-time requirements, while the network maintains oversight through policy control functions. This segmentation enables efficient local resource allocation without sacrificing overall network control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the UE to autonomously initiate network slice management operations based on its own application requirements and context information. The UE's application layer can request slice allocation, modification, or release without requiring continuous remote network intervention, allowing the system to self-adjust to changing requirements while maintaining policy compliance through network-enforced rules.
2Reliability
If remote network slice management is used, then network control is maintained, but sensitive user context information must be shared with network services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts sensitive user context information processing from the network domain and places it in the UE's application layer. The UE locally determines which slice management operations to initiate based on its own context information, sharing only necessary operational requests with the network rather than raw context data. This extraction protects user privacy while maintaining network control over slice resources.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the UE's application layer as an intermediary between the user context and network slice management services. Instead of direct communication between network services and user context, the application layer mediates by translating context requirements into slice management operations, filtering and processing information to protect sensitive data while enabling effective slice control.
3Manufacturing precision
If UE-initiated network slice management is implemented, then resource allocation precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the existing multi-functional capability of the UE's application layer to handle both application-specific logic and network slice management operations. The application layer, which already processes application requirements and context information, is extended to initiate slice management operations, avoiding the need for separate dedicated functionality and minimizing additional device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges network slice management initiation functionality with the UE's existing application layer processing. Instead of creating separate mechanisms for slice management, the application layer that already understands application requirements is combined with slice management capabilities, enabling precise resource allocation while reusing existing device structures and minimizing complexity increases.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices, and systems for UE-initiated network slice management at a service enablement layer are described herein. In one aspect, a method can include receiving, by a NSCE client of a user equipment (UE) and from a VAL client of the UE, context information corresponding to application or user information of the UE; determining, by the NSCE client and based on the received context information, one or more network slices required by the VAL client; generating, by the NSCE client, one or more network slice management requests corresponding to the determined one or more network slices; and transmitting, by the NSCE client and to one or more NSCE servers, the generated one or more network slice management requests.