UE Conditional Network Slice Management for Area and Time Validation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is no clear implementation method for network slices in 5G Systems (5GS) that are valid only in specific areas and/or times, limiting the flexibility and functionality of network slice management.
Innovation Solution
A User Equipment (UE) is equipped with a transmission and/or reception unit and a controller that stores Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) along with condition information, allowing it to receive and manage Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (NSSAI) for specific Public Land Mobile Networks (PLMN) or Stand-alone non-public networks (SNPN) and access types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network slice selection is made without condition information storage, then the system is simpler, but network slices cannot be validated under specific areas and/or times
Solution Approach 1:
The network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) is segmented into multiple components: S-NSSAI (single network slice selection assistance information), condition information (area and time conditions), and PLMN/SNPN identifiers. This segmentation allows the UE to store and manage different network slice configurations for different conditions independently, enabling flexible validation without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The UE performs preliminary actions by storing condition information (area conditions and time conditions) along with S-NSSAI before actual network slice validation. This preliminary storage of validation criteria enables the UE to later determine whether a network slice is valid based on current conditions without requiring complex real-time negotiations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If condition information is stored for each S-NSSAI, then network slice management becomes flexible, but information storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stored condition information serves multiple functions: it validates network slice availability, determines service eligibility, and guides network selection. By making the stored information multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate information storage for different purposes, thereby managing information volume efficiently while maintaining flexible network slice management.
Solution Approach 2:
Condition information is stored locally in the UE device rather than being constantly retrieved from the network. This local storage approach, combined with selective storage only for relevant S-NSSAI entries, optimizes the balance between having condition information available for flexible management and minimizing the quantity of stored information.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication mechanism for realizing a function related to management of information about network slices or a non-public network function is provided in 5GS. Provided are, in the 5GS, a method and a communication mechanism for procedures of initial registration of a UE and a periodic or mobility-based registration for implementing management of information about network slice or non-public network function. Furthermore, provided are a method and a communication mechanism after completion of the registration procedure and for a UE configuration update procedure. Furthermore, provided is a method for managing information about network slice in association with each procedure and state transition.