Patent Application
20240422524
The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) defined a network slice admission control function (NSACF) that monitors and controls a quantity of registered user equipments (UEs) per network slice and/or a quantity of protocol data unit (PDU) sessions per network slice for network slices that are subject to network slice admission control (NSAC).
The following detailed description of example implementations refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.
The NSACF is configured with a maximum quantity of UEs and/or a maximum quantity of PDU sessions allowed to be served per single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) subject to NSAC. The NSACF is also configured with information indicating applicable access types for the S-NSSAI (e.g., a 3GPP access type, a non-3GPP access type, or both). In addition, network slice status reporting is defined such that a consumer network function (e.g., an application function (AF)) may subscribe to the NSACF for network slice status notifications and reports. Upon such subscription, the NSACF may provide event-based notifications and reports to the consumer network function (e.g., to the AF via a network exposure function (NEF)) related to a current quantity of UEs registered for a network slice or a current quantity of PDU sessions established on a network slice. However, the AF is currently the only consumer of network slice status notifications specified. This prevents a core network from addressing use cases associated with a policy control function (PCF) and based on the quantity of the UEs or PDU sessions in a network slice. For example, the PCF is unable to utilize the network slice status notifications and reports to change session management, access and mobility, and/or UE policy control characteristics of a UE or a PDU session.
Currently there is no mechanism for a consumer network function (e.g., a PCF) to subscribe to the network slice status information, and there are no mechanisms for the PCF to utilize the network slice status information (e.g., if a quantity of PDU sessions in a network slice exceeds a threshold, the PCF may lower a quality of service (QOS) for particular sessions to allow for better experiences for high priority subscribers; and if a quantity of UEs in a network slice exceeds a threshold, the PCF may update rules to offload some of the UEs to a different network slice). Thus, current network configurations consume computing resources (e.g., processing resources, memory resources, communication resources, and/or the like), networking resources, and/or other resources associated with failing to utilize network slice status information for a group of UEs, failing to utilize network slice status information for a quantity of PDU sessions, failing to perform NSAC for a group of UEs and/or PDU sessions based on the network slice status information, and/or the like.
Some implementations described herein provide a network device that supports policy and charging control decisions based on network slice admission control information. For example, a network device of a network may generate a request for network slice status information associated with a plurality of UEs registered with the network, and may provide the request for the network slice status information to another network device of the network. The network device may receive, based on the request, the network slice status information from the other network device, and may determine a modified policy for the plurality of UEs based on the network slice status information. The network device may cause the modified policy to be implemented for the plurality of UEs.
In this way, the network device (e.g., the PCF) supports policy and charging control decisions based on network slice admission control information. For example, the PCF may be configured to enable policy decisions based on network slice admission control. The PCF may subscribe to network slice status notifications from the NSACF. Once the PCF receives the network slice status information from the NSACF, the PCF may identify UEs and/or PDU sessions in a network slice that needs to be updated based on the network slice status information. Once the UEs and/or the PDU sessions are identified, the PCF may reevaluate policy rules and may update session management, access and mobility, and/or UE policy control rules based on reevaluating the policy rules. Thus, the PCF may conserve computing resources, networking resources, and/or other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by failing to utilize network slice status information for a group of UEs, failing to utilize network slice status information for a quantity of PDU sessions, failing to perform NSAC for a group of UEs and/or PDU sessions based on the network slice status information, and/or the like.
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In some implementations, when determining the modified policy for the group of UEs 105 based on the network slice status information, the PCF may determine to increase a maximum quantity of UEs 105 to be registered with the network slice. In some implementations, when determining the modified policy for the group of UEs 105 based on the network slice status information, the PCF may determine to decrease a maximum quantity of UEs 105 to be registered with the network slice. In some implementations, when determining the modified policy for the group of UEs 105 based on the network slice status information, the PCF may determine to increase a maximum quantity of PDU sessions for the group of UEs 105. In some implementations, when determining the modified policy for the group of UEs 105 based on the network slice status information, the PCF may determine to decrease a maximum quantity of PDU sessions for the group of UEs 105, and/or the like.
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In this way, the network device (e.g., the PCF) supports policy and charging control decisions based on network slice admission control information. For example, the PCF may be configured to enable policy decisions based on network slice admission control. The PCF may subscribe to network slice status notifications from the NSACF. Once the PCF receives the network slice status information from the NSACF, the PCF may identify UEs and/or PDU sessions in a network slice that need to be updated based on the network slice status information. Once the UEs and/or the PDU sessions are identified, the PCF may reevaluate policy rules and may update session management, access and mobility, and/or UE policy control rules based on reevaluating the policy rules. Thus, the PCF may conserve computing resources, networking resources, and/or other resources that would have otherwise been consumed by failing to utilize network slice status information for a group of UEs, failing to utilize network slice status information for a quantity of PDU sessions, failing to perform NSAC for a group of UEs and/or PDU sessions based on the network slice status information, and/or the like.
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The UE 105 includes one or more devices capable of receiving, generating, storing, processing, and/or providing information, such as information described herein. For example, the UE 105 can include a mobile phone (e.g., a smart phone or a radiotelephone), a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a desktop computer, a handheld computer, a gaming device, a wearable communication device (e.g., a smart watch or a pair of smart glasses), a mobile hotspot device, a fixed wireless access device, customer premises equipment, an autonomous vehicle, or a similar type of device.
The RAN 110 may support, for example, a cellular radio access technology (RAT). The RAN 110 may include one or more base stations (e.g., base transceiver stations, radio base stations, node Bs, eNodeBs (eNBs), gNodeBs (gNBs), base station subsystems, cellular sites, cellular towers, access points, transmit receive points (TRPs), radio access nodes, macrocell base stations, microcell base stations, picocell base stations, femtocell base stations, or similar types of devices) and other network entities that can support wireless communication for the UE 105. The RAN 110 may transfer traffic between the UE 105 (e.g., using a cellular RAT), one or more base stations (e.g., using a wireless interface or a backhaul interface, such as a wired backhaul interface), and/or the core network 115. The RAN 110 may provide one or more cells that cover geographic areas.
In some implementations, the RAN 110 may perform scheduling and/or resource management for the UE 105 covered by the RAN 110 (e.g., the UE 105 covered by a cell provided by the RAN 110). In some implementations, the RAN 110 may be controlled or coordinated by a network controller, which may perform load balancing, network-level configuration, and/or other operations. The network controller may communicate with the RAN 110 via a wireless or wireline backhaul. In some implementations, the RAN 110 may include a network controller, a self-organizing network (SON) module or component, or a similar module or component. In other words, the RAN 110 may perform network control, scheduling, and/or network management functions (e.g., for uplink, downlink, and/or sidelink communications of the UE 105 covered by the RAN 110).
In some implementations, the core network 115 may include an example functional architecture in which systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented. For example, the core network 115 may include an example architecture of a 5G next generation (NG) core network included in a 5G wireless telecommunications system. While the example architecture of the core network 115 shown in
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The NSSF 205 includes one or more devices that select network slice instances for the UE 105. By providing network slicing, the NSSF 205 allows an operator to deploy multiple substantially independent end-to-end networks potentially with the same infrastructure. In some implementations, each slice may be customized for different services.
The NEF 210 includes one or more devices that support exposure of capabilities and/or events in the wireless telecommunications system to help other entities in the wireless telecommunications system discover network services.
The AUSF 215 includes one or more devices that act as an authentication server and support the process of authenticating the UE 105 in the wireless telecommunications system.
The UDM 220 includes one or more devices that store user data and profiles in the wireless telecommunications system. The UDM 220 may be used for fixed access and/or mobile access in the core network 115.
The PCF 225 includes one or more devices that provide a policy framework that incorporates network slicing, roaming, packet processing, and/or mobility management, among other examples.
The AF 230 includes one or more devices that support application influence on traffic routing, access to the NEF 210, and/or policy control, among other examples.
The AMF 235 includes one or more devices that act as a termination point for non-access stratum (NAS) signaling and/or mobility management, among other examples.
The SMF 240 includes one or more devices that support the establishment, modification, and release of communication sessions in the wireless telecommunications system. For example, the SMF 240 may configure traffic steering policies at the UPF 245 and/or may enforce user equipment Internet protocol (IP) address allocation and policies, among other examples.
The UPF 245 includes one or more devices that serve as an anchor point for intraRAT and/or interRAT mobility. The UPF 245 may apply rules to packets, such as rules pertaining to packet routing, traffic reporting, and/or handling user plane QoS, among other examples.
The NSACF 250 includes one or more devices that control and monitor a quantity of registered UEs per S-NSSAI and a quantity of PDU sessions per S-NSSAI.
The CHF 255 includes one or more devices that enable the core network 115 to charge for features, such as a quality of service (QOS), service availability, latency, service level agreement features, bandwidth slice-based features, location-based features, data volume, throughput, reliability, security, energy efficiency, and/or the like.
The message bus 260 represents a communication structure for communication among the functional elements. In other words, the message bus 260 may permit communication between two or more functional elements.
The data network 265 includes one or more wired and/or wireless data networks. For example, the data network 265 may include an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a private network such as a corporate intranet, an ad hoc network, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, a cloud computing network, a third-party services network, an operator services network, and/or a combination of these or other types of networks.
The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in
The bus 310 includes one or more components that enable wired and/or wireless communication among the components of the device 300. The bus 310 may couple together two or more components of
The memory 330 includes volatile and/or nonvolatile memory. For example, the memory 330 may include random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), a hard disk drive, and/or another type of memory (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and/or an optical memory). The memory 330 may include internal memory (e.g., RAM, ROM, or a hard disk drive) and/or removable memory (e.g., removable via a universal serial bus connection). The memory 330 may be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Memory 330 stores information, instructions, and/or software (e.g., one or more software applications) related to the operation of the device 300. In some implementations, the memory 330 includes one or more memories that are coupled to one or more processors (e.g., the processor 320), such as via the bus 310.
The input component 340 enables the device 300 to receive input, such as user input and/or sensed input. For example, the input component 340 may include a touch screen, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a microphone, a switch, a sensor, a global positioning system sensor, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and/or an actuator. The output component 350 enables the device 300 to provide output, such as via a display, a speaker, and/or a light-emitting diode. The communication component 360 enables the device 300 to communicate with other devices via a wired connection and/or a wireless connection. For example, the communication component 360 may include a receiver, a transmitter, a transceiver, a modem, a network interface card, and/or an antenna.
The device 300 may perform one or more operations or processes described herein. For example, a non-transitory computer-readable medium (e.g., the memory 330) may store a set of instructions (e.g., one or more instructions or code) for execution by the processor 320. The processor 320 may execute the set of instructions to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In some implementations, execution of the set of instructions, by one or more processors 320, causes the one or more processors 320 and/or the device 300 to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. In some implementations, hardwired circuitry may be used instead of or in combination with the instructions to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. Additionally, or alternatively, the processor 320 may be configured to perform one or more operations or processes described herein. Thus, implementations described herein are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and software.
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In some implementations, determining the modified policy for the plurality of UEs based on the network slice status information includes determining to decrease a maximum quantity of PDU sessions for the plurality of UEs. In some implementations, determining the modified policy for the plurality of UEs based on the network slice status information includes identifying one or more of the plurality of UEs that are impacted by the network slice status information, and updating a URSP for the one or more of the plurality of UEs that are impacted by the network slice status information. In some implementations, determining the modified policy for the plurality of UEs based on the network slice status information includes identifying one or more PDU sessions, of the plurality of UEs, that are impacted by the network slice status information, and updating a URSP for the one or more PDU sessions that are impacted by the network slice status information.
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As used herein, the term “component” is intended to be broadly construed as hardware, firmware, or a combination of hardware and software. It will be apparent that systems and/or methods described herein may be implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methods is not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods are described herein without reference to specific software code—it being understood that software and hardware can be used to implement the systems and/or methods based on the description herein.
As used herein, satisfying a threshold may, depending on the context, refer to a value being greater than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, not equal to the threshold, or the like.
To the extent the aforementioned implementations collect, store, or employ personal information of individuals, it should be understood that such information shall be used in accordance with all applicable laws concerning protection of personal information. Additionally, the collection, storage, and use of such information can be subject to consent of the individual to such activity, for example, through well known “opt-in” or “opt-out” processes as can be appropriate for the situation and type of information. Storage and use of personal information can be in an appropriately secure manner reflective of the type of information, for example, through various encryption and anonymization techniques for particularly sensitive information.
Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set. As used herein, a phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiple of the same item.
No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Further, as used herein, the article “the” is intended to include one or more items referenced in connection with the article “the” and may be used interchangeably with “the one or more.” Furthermore, as used herein, the term “set” is intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, or a combination of related and unrelated items), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Also, as used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be used interchangeably with “and/or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with “either” or “only one of”).
In the preceding specification, various example embodiments have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.
