User plane function selection for isolated network slice

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10616934-B2
Application number	US-201816213092-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 7, 2018
Priority date	Dec 8, 2017
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for wireless communications. A session request for a wireless device may comprise a network slice isolation information parameter. A user plane function may be selected, based on the network slice isolation information parameter, to provide the requested session for the wireless device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
receiving, by a session management function (SMF) from an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first message indicating a request to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session and comprising a network slice isolation information parameter;
sending, to a network repository function (NRF) and based on a determination that a user plane function (UPF) is required for the PDU session, a second message comprising:
the network slice isolation information parameter; and
a network slice identifier of the PDU session;

receiving, from the NRF and based on the second message, a third message comprising an identifier of a selected UPF, wherein the selected UPF is associated with the network slice identifier of the PDU session; and
sending, to the selected UPF, a fourth message comprising a request to establish the PDU session.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, receiving from the selected UPF, a fifth message comprising a response to the request to establish the PDU session.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first message further comprises:
an identifier of the PDU session;
an identifier of a wireless device associated with the PDU session; and
the network slice identifier of the PDU session.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the fourth message comprises an N4 PDU session establishment request.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining, based on the network slice isolation information parameter, a UPF selection rule.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the UPF selection rule comprises an isolation policy comprising at least one of:
a logical full isolation of network slices;
a physical full isolation of the network slices; or
network functions that are allowed to be shared among the network slices.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the UPF selection rule is based on a network slice coexistence constraint.

8. A method comprising:
receiving, by a session management function (SMF) from an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first message indicating a request to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session and comprising a network slice isolation information parameter;
sending, to a unified data management (UDM) and based on a determination that a user plane function (UPF) is required for the PDU session, a second message comprising:
the network slice isolation information parameter; and
a network slice identifier of the PDU session;

receiving, from the UDM and based on the second message, a third message comprising subscriber data for a wireless device associated with the PDU session;
selecting, based on the subscriber data, a first UPF for the PDU session and associated with the network slice identifier of the PDU session; and
sending, to the first UPF, a fourth message comprising a request to establish the PDU session.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, receiving from the first UPF, a fifth message comprising a response to the request to establish the PDU session.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first message further comprises:
an identifier of the PDU session;
an identifier of the wireless device associated with the PDU session; and
the network slice identifier of the PDU session.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the fourth message comprises an N4 PDU session establishment request.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising determining, based on the network slice isolation information parameter, a UPF selection rule.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the UPF selection rule comprises an isolation policy comprising at least one of:
a logical full isolation of network slices;
a physical full isolation of the network slices; or
network functions that are allowed to be shared among the network slices.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the UPF selection rule is based on a network slice coexistence constraint.

15. A method comprising:
receiving, by a network repository function (NRF) from a session management function (SMF), a first message indicating that a user plane function (UPF) is required for a packet data unit (PDU) session and comprising:
a network slice isolation information parameter; and
a network slice identifier of the PDU session;

selecting, based on the network slice isolation information parameter and the network slice identifier of the PDU session, a first UPF; and
sending, to the session management function, a second message comprising an identifier of the first UPF.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising receiving, from a unified data management (UDM), the network slice isolation information parameter.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving, from the first UPF, a registration request message comprising:
a single network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) associated with the first UPF; and
the identifier of the first UPF.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
receiving, from the first UPF:
a domain name of the first UPF;
a data network name; or
an address of the first UPF.

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
sending, to a unified data management (UDM), a third message comprising:
the network slice isolation information parameter; and
the network slice identifier of the PDU session; and

receiving, from the UDM and based on the third message, a fourth message comprising subscriber data for a wireless device.

20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the selecting the first UPF comprises:
determining, based on the subscriber data for the wireless device, the first UPF for the PDU session.

21. An apparatus comprising:
one or more processors; and
memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to:
receive, from an access and mobility management function (AMF), a first message indicating a request to establish a packet data unit (PDU) session and comprising a network slice isolation information parameter;
send, to a network repository function (NRF) and based on a determination that a user plane function (UPF) is required for the PDU session, a second message comprising:
the network slice isolation information parameter; and
a network slice identifier of the PDU session;

receive, from the NRF and based on the second message, a third message comprising an identifier of a selected UPF, wherein the selected UPF is associated with the network slice identifier of the PDU session; and
send, to the selected UPF, a fourth message comprising a request to establish the PDU session.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to receive from the selected UPF, a fifth message comprising a response to the request to establish the PDU session.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the first message further comprises:
an identifier of the PDU session;
an identifier of a wireless device associated with the PDU session; and
the network slice identifier of the PDU session.

24. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the fourth message comprises an N4 PDU session establishment request.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to determine, based on the network slice isolation information parameter, a UPF selection rule.

Assignees

• Comcast Cable Comm Llc

Inventors

• Talebi Fard Peyman
• Dinan Esmael Hejazi
• Park Kyungmin
• Qiao Weihua

Classifications

• H04W76/11 Primary

  Allocation or use of connection identifiers · CPC title

• H04W72/04

  Wireless resource allocation · CPC title

• H04W8/18

  Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data · CPC title

• H04W48/00

  Access restriction (access security to prevent unauthorised access H04W12/08); Network selection; Access point selection · CPC title

• H04W24/02 Primary

  Arrangements for optimising operational condition · CPC title