UPF Mapping by Slice Information for 5G QoS Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G networks face challenges in selecting user plane functions (UPFs) that are specific to network slices, leading to inefficiencies in service allocation and quality of service (QoS) for diverse user equipment (UE) activities and services.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a configuration that maps user plane functions (UPFs) to slice-specific information, such as network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI), allowing session management functions (SMFs) or network repository functions (NRFs) to select appropriate UPFs based on service and slice types, ensuring dedicated resource allocation for quality of service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If general UPF selection based on tracking area codes is used, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but service differentiation and QoS for diverse services deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUPF selection simplicityVSAvoidservice differentiation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making UPF selection criteria service-specific rather than uniform. Different services (e.g., eMBB, URLLC, IoT) have different UPF selection criteria including service type, slice type, and DNN-specific parameters. This allows each service to have optimized UPF selection while maintaining a general framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the UPF selection process into multiple independent criteria: service type criteria, slice type criteria, and DNN criteria. Each criterion can be evaluated separately and combined to determine the final UPF selection, allowing flexible adaptation to different service requirements without increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If slice-specific UPF selection is implemented, then service differentiation and QoS are improved, but device complexity and configuration requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice differentiation capabilityVSAvoidconfiguration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic UPF selection criteria that can be adjusted based on service requirements, network conditions, and slice configurations. The selection criteria are not static but can be modified through network management, allowing the system to adapt to changing requirements without requiring complex reconfiguration of the entire UPF selection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal UPF selection framework that handles multiple service types, slice types, and DNNs through a single standardized mechanism. The same selection process and criteria structure are used across all services, reducing the need for separate complex configurations for each service type while maintaining service differentiation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS20260019932A1UPF selection based on slice-specific information

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 T MOBILE US INC

AI summary

Described herein is a node of a telecommunications network configured to select a user plane function (UPF) to support a connection of the UE based on slice-specific information received by the node and associated with the connection. The node is also configured to select the UPF based on a configuration mapping UPFs to one or more values of information elements within the slice-specific information.