Wildcard Network Slice Groups for Unified Access Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The explicit listing of network slice identifiers for attaching a user equipment device to multiple network slices is inefficient, particularly when attaching to a large number of slices for a particular customer, as it requires repeated messaging for each slice.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a slice identifier that supports wildcard SST and/or wildcard SD options to enable group-level identification of network slices, allowing for unified access control and flexible slice grouping without individually listing each slice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If explicit listing of network slice identifiers is used for attaching UE to multiple network slices, then each network slice can be individually identified and managed, but the messaging overhead and attachment process complexity increases significantly when attaching to a large number of slices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple network slice identifiers into a single group identifier (e.g., S-TMSI or other UE identifier) that represents a collection of network slices. Instead of listing each slice identifier separately in attachment requests, the UE and network use this grouped identifier to reference multiple slices simultaneously, thereby reducing messaging overhead while maintaining the ability to individually manage each slice within the group.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables a single UE identifier to serve multiple functions: it acts as both a general UE identification and as a group identifier for multiple network slices. This multi-functionality allows the same identifier to represent either a single slice or a group of slices depending on context, eliminating the need for separate explicit listings and reducing the number of messages required for attachment management.
2Productivity
If wildcard-enabled slice group identifiers are implemented, then group-level identification and unified access control is achieved, but the complexity of slice identifier management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces wildcard capabilities into the slice identifier schema by modifying existing parameters (such as SST and SD fields in S-NSSAI) to support wildcard values. This allows a single identifier with wildcard parameters to represent multiple specific slice patterns, enabling group-level identification and unified access control without requiring entirely new identifier structures, thus balancing enhanced functionality with manageable complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments provide novel approaches to handling network slice groups in access stratum and non-access stratum communications in a cellular communication network. Novel slice identification schema can support group-level identification of groups of network slices without individually listing the network slices. Some embodiments implement a slice identifier that supports wildcard slice/service type (SST) options and/or wildcard slice differentiator (SD) options to support wildcard-enabled slice groups. Some embodiments enable use of such wildcard-enabled slice groups in context of unified access control. Some embodiments introduce a novel criteria type to unified access control to expressly support flexible slice grouping.