EP-4740448-A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NSP - PCF PROVISIONING

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a system (110) and method (400) for network service provider (NSP)-policy control function (PCF) provisioning. The system (110) enables a network service provider (NSP) operator (102) to create, modify, or delete slice-related information in an access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), unified data management (UDM), network slicing selection function (NSSF), and policy control function (PCF) from a centralized point using a NSP portal (104). Further, the NSP operator (102) may provision a first and a second set of rules for data network name (DNN) and policy and charging control (PCC). The NSP operator (102) may create policies at the PCF based on the first and second set of rules to enable a communication network to readily configure new slices without any manual intervention on PCF instances.

Inventors

• BHATNAGAR, AAYUSH
• Shetty, Mukta
• Jha, Alok
• KUMAR, SANJEEV
• Jadhav, Sayali
• NARAYAN, Gaurav
• Khamesra, Apoorva
• GUPTA, ADITYA

Assignees

• Jio Platforms Limited

Dates

Publication Date

20260513

Application Date

20240610

Claims (1)

1. We Claim: 1. A method (400) for network service provider (NSP) policy control function (PCF) provisioning in a communication network, the method (400) comprising: receiving (402), by a processing engine (208), at least one attach request from a user equipment (UE); authenticating (404), by the processing engine (208), the UE based on the received at least one attach request; retrieving (406), by the processing engine (208), at least one subscription profile of the UE; providing (408), by the processing engine (208), at least one network slice (106) related information based on the retrieved at least one subscription profile; providing (410), by the processing engine (208), a first set of rules for at least one data network name (DNN) to serve the UE; providing (412), by the processing engine (208), a second set of rules for at least one policy and charging control (PCC); and creating (414), by the processing engine (208), a set of policies at the PCF based on each of the first set of rules and the second set of rules. 2. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one network slice (106) related information comprises at least one virtualized network function (VNF) for providing an end-to-end network service to the UE. 3. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one attach request comprises information about a type of a service the UE has subscribed. 4. The method (400) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the information about the type of the service comprises an information about an application service identifier, an information about the at least one DNN to serve the UE, and an information about at least one network slice (106) to which the UE is previously attached. 5. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one subscription profile comprises an information about at least one network slice (106) allowed to the UE, and an information about at least one default network slice when the information about the type of service the UE desires to use is not included in the received attach request. 6. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first set of rules for at least one DNN comprises one or more rules for selecting appropriate data network based on the at least one subscription profile, one or more rules for managing network access and connectivity parameters for the UE, and one or more rules associated with quality of service (QoS) to ensure required performance for the UE. 7. The method (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second set of rules for at least one PCC comprises one or more rules for data usage policies to manage amount of data the UE consumes, and one or more rules to determine billing and charging for the data usage. 8. A system (110) for network service provider (NSP) policy control function (PCF) provisioning in a communication network, the system (110) comprising: a memory (204); and one or more processor(s) (202) coupled with the memory (204), configured to: receive at least one attach request from a user equipment (UE); authenticate the UE based on the received at least one attach request; retrieve at least one subscription profile of the UE; provide at least one network slice (106) related information based on the retrieved at least one subscription profile; provide a first set of rules for at least one data network name (DNN) to serve the UE; provide a second set of rules for at least one policy and charging control (PCC); and create a set of policies at the PCF based on each of the first set of rules and the second set of rules. 9. The system (110) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one network slice (106) related information comprises at least one virtualized network function (VNF) for providing an end-to-end network service to the UE. 10. The system (110) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one attach request comprises information about a type of a service the UE has subscribed. 11. The system (110) as claimed in claim 10, wherein the information about the type of the service comprises an information about an application service identifier, an information about the at least one DNN to serve the UE, and an information about at least one network slice (106) to which the UE is previously attached. 12. The system (110) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one subscription profile comprises an information about at least one network slice (106) allowed to the UE, and an information about at least one default network slice when the information about the type of service the UE has subscribed is not included in the received attach request. 13. The system (110) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first set of rules for at least one DNN comprises one or more rules for selecting appropriate data network based on the at least one subscription profile, one or more rules for managing network access and connectivity parameters for the UE, and one or more rules associated with quality of service (QoS) to ensure required performance for the UE. 14. The system (110) as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second set of rules for at least one PCC comprises one or more rules for data usage policies to manage amount of data the UE consumes, and one or more rules to determine billing and charging for the data usage. 15. A user equipment (UE) communicatively coupled with at least one network slice (106) through an access and mobility management function (AMF), the coupling comprises steps of: receiving, by the at least one network slice (106), an attach request from the UE; sending an acknowledgment of the attach request to the UE; authenticating the UE based on the received attach request; retrieving at least one subscription profile of the UE from a unified data management (UDM) module; and transmitting at least one network slice (106) related information to the UE, wherein the at least one network slice (106) comprising a session management function (SMF), a network slicing selection function (NSSF), and a policy control function (PCF) configured to implement a first set of rules for data network name (DNN) and a second set of rules for policy and charging control (PCC) for NSP-PCF provisioning in a communication network. 16. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer- readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processor(s) (202), cause the one or more processors (202) to: receive at least one attach request from a user equipment (UE); authenticate the UE based on the received at least one attach request; retrieve at least one subscription profile of the UE; provide at least one network slice (106) related information based on the retrieved at least one subscription profile; provide a first set of rules for at least one data network name (DNN) to serve the UE; provide a second set of rules for at least one policy and charging control (PCC); and create a set of policies at the PCF based on each of the first set of rules and the second set of rules.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NSP - PCF PROVISIONING RESERVATION OF RIGHTS [0001] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to intellectual property rights such as, but are not limited to, copyright, design, trademark, Integrated Circuit (IC) layout design, and/or trade dress protection, belonging to Jio Platforms Limited (JPL) or its affiliates (hereinafter referred as owner). The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all rights whatsoever. All rights to such intellectual property are fully reserved by the owner. FIELD OF DISCLOSURE [0002] The embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a communication network. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a system and method for network service provider (NSP) policy control function (PCF) provisioning in a communication network. BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE [0003] The following description of related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section be used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of prior art. [0004] Communications networks provide network services to numerous subscribers. The network services may include voice, data, and message. For example, a fifth generation (5G) communication network includes network slices to provide such services. At times when the network load increases there is a need to configure new slices. A new operator at a network service provider side may do such configurations manually. However, at times, the network load may not be properly estimated, and the manual configuration may not be very effective. [0005] There is, therefore, a need in the art to provide a method and a system that can overcome the shortcomings of the existing prior arts. OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSURE [0006] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfies are as listed herein below. [0007] An object of the present disclosure is to enable a network service provider (NSP) operator to create, modify, or delete slice-related information in an access and mobility management function (AMF), session management function (SMF), unified data management (UDM), network slicing selection function (NSSF), and policy control function (PCF) from a centralized point using a NSP portal. [0008] An object of the present disclosure is to enable the NSP operator to provision rules for data network name (DNN) and policy and charging control (PCC). [0009] An object of the present disclosure is to provide policy creation at the PCF by the NSP operator. [0010] An object of the present disclosure is to enable a communication network to readily configure new network slice without any manual intervention on PCF instances. SUMMARY [0011] In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure discloses a method for network service provider (NSP) policy control function (PCF) provisioning in a communication network. The method includes receiving, by a processing engine, at least one attach request from a user equipment (UE). The method includes authenticating, by the processing engine, the UE based on the received at least one attach request. The method includes retrieving, by the processing engine, at least one subscription profile of the UE. The method includes providing, by the processing engine, at least one network slice related information based on the retrieved at least one subscription profile. The method includes providing, by the processing engine, a first set of rules for at least one data network name (DNN) to serve the UE. The method includes providing, by the processing engine, a second set of rules for at least one policy and charging control (PCC). The method includes creating, by the processing engine, a set of policies at the policy control function (PCF) each of the first set of rules and the second set of rules. [0012] In some embodiments, the at least one network slice related information includes at least one virtualized network function (VNF) for providing an end-to-end network service to the UE. [0013] In some embodiments, the at least one attach request includes information about a type of a service the UE has subscribed. [0014] In some embodiments, the information about the type of the service includes an information about an application service identifier, an information about the at least one DNN to serve the UE, and an information about at least one network slice to which the UE is previously attached. [0015] In some embodiments, the at least one subscription profile includes an information about at least