EP-4740605-A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSIGNING A SLICE TO USER EQUIPMENT IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

EP4740605A1EP 4740605 A1EP4740605 A1EP 4740605A1EP-4740605-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for assigning a slice to UE(s) [102] The present disclosure encompasses: receiving, at a visited access and mobility management function (v-AMF) unit [302], a registration request from the UE(s) [102]; transmitting, by the v- AMF unit [302], a slice selection request, to a visited network slice selection function (v-NSSF) unit [304]; querying, by the v-NSSF unit [304], a home network slice selection function (h-NSSF) unit [306] for the slice selection request; receiving, at the v-NSSF unit [304], a slice selection response from the h-NSSF unit [306], determining, by the v-NSSF unit [304], an allowed slice configuration for the UE(s) [102] from the one or more slice configurations received in the slice selection response; and transmitting, by the v-AMF unit [302], the allowed slice configuration to the UE(s) [102].

Inventors

BHATNAGAR, AAYUSH
JHA, ADITYAKAR
KHANDELWAL, Ankush
SINGH, HEMANT KUMAR
RANI, MEENAKSHI
YADAV, Santosh K
VASHISHTH, Yog
Sarohi, Meenakshi
SINHA, ANURAG

Assignees

Jio Platforms Limited

Dates

Publication Date: 20260513
Application Date: 20240611

Claims (1)

We Claim 1. A method for assigning a slice to one or more user equipment (UEs) [102] in a communication network, the method comprising: receiving, at a visited access and mobility management function (v-AMF) unit [302], a registration request from the one or more UEs [102]; transmitting, by the v-AMF unit [302], a slice selection request, to a visited network slice selection function (v-NSSF) unit [304], based on the registration request, wherein the slice selection request comprises at least a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) parameter; querying, by the v-NSSF unit [304], a home network slice selection function (h-NSSF) unit [306] for the slice selection request based on the HPLMN parameter; receiving, at the v-NSSF unit [304], a slice selection response from the h-NSSF unit [306], wherein the slice selection response comprises one or more slice configurations for a visited network, and a slice mapping; determining, by the v-NSSF unit [304], an allowed slice configuration for the one or more UEs [102] from the one or more slice configurations based on the slice mapping; and transmitting, by the v-AMF unit [302], the allowed slice configuration to the one or more UEs [102], 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising registering, by the v-AMF unit [302], the one or more UEs [102] to a visiting Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) [204] based on the allowed slice configuration. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the h-NSSF unit [304] is part of a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) [202] where one or more profiles for the one or more UEs [102] are subscribed. 4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the v-NSSF unit [304] and the v-AMF unit [302] is part of a visiting PLMN [204] where the one or more UEs [102] are in roaming. 5. The method as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising storing, by the home network slice selection function (h-NSSF) unit [306], a slice mapping for one or more public land mobile network (PLMN). 6. The method as claimed in claim 5, the method further comprising: extracting, by the h-NSSF unit [306], the slice mapping for the one or more PLMNs; determining, by the h-NSSF unit [306], one or more slice configurations based on the slice selection request, and the slice mapping; and transmitting, by the h-NSSF unit [306], the one or more slice configurations, and the slice mapping to the v-NSSF unit [304] in response to the slice selection request. 7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the HPLMN parameter comprises at least one of a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), a user subscription information, and one or more network-specific settings that characterize a home network relevant to the one or more UEs [102], 8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the determination comprises: analysing, by the v-NSSF unit [304], the received slice selection response comprising the one or more slice configurations for the visited network, and the slice mapping; comparing, by the v-NSSF unit [304], the slice mapping against the registration request; determining, by the v-NSSF unit [304], the allowed slice configuration from the one or more slice configurations based on a positive comparison. 9. A system [300] for assigning a slice to one or more user equipment (UEs) [102] in a communication network, the system [300] comprising: - a visited access and mobility management function (v-AMF) unit [302] configured to: o receive a registration request from the one or more UEs [102], and o transmit a slice selection request, to a visited network slice selection function (v-NSSF) unit [304], based on the registration request, wherein the slice selection request comprises at least a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) parameter; and - the v-NSSF unit [304] connected to at least the v-AMF unit [302], wherein the v-NSSF unit [304] is configured to: query a home network slice selection function (h-NSSF) unit [306] for the slice selection request based on the HPLMN parameter, receive a slice selection response from the h-NSSF unit [306], wherein the slice selection response comprises one or more slice configurations for a visited network, and a slice mapping, and determine an allowed slice configuration for the one or more UEs [ 102] from the one or more slice configurations based on the slice mapping; and - the v-AMF unit [302] is further configured to transmit the allowed slice configuration to the one or more UEs [102], 10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the v-AMF unit [302] is further configured to register the one or more UEs [102] to a visiting Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) [204] based on the allowed slice configuration. 11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the h-NSSF unit [306] is part of a home public land mobile network (HPLMN) [202] where one or more profiles for the one or more UEs [102] are subscribed. 12. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the v-NSSF unit [304] and the v-AMF unit [302] is part of a visiting PLMN [204] where the one or more UEs [102] are in roaming. 13. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the h-NSSF unit [306] is further configured to store a slice mapping for one or more public land mobile network (PLMNs). 14. The system as claimed in claim 13, wherein the h-NSSF unit [306] is further configured to: extract the slice mapping for the one or more PLMNs; determine one or more slice configurations based on the slice selection request, and the slice mapping; and transmit the one or more slice configurations and the slice mapping to the v-NSSF unit [304] in response to the slice selection request. 15. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the HPLMN parameter comprises at least one of a Mobile Country Code (MCC), a Mobile Network Code (MNC), a user subscription information, and one or more network-specific settings that characterize a home network relevant to the one or more UEs [102], 16. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein for the determination, the v-NSSF unit [304] is further configured to: analyse the received slice selection response comprising the one or more slice configurations for the visited network, and the slice mapping; compare the slice mapping against the registration request of the one or more UEs [102]; determine the allowed slice configuration from the one or more slice configurations based on a positive comparison. 17. A user equipment (UE) [102] for receiving an allowed slice configuration, the UE comprising: - a transceiver unit configured to : transmit, a registration request to a visited access and mobility management function (v-AMF) unit [302] of a system [300], and receive, the allowed slice configuration from the v-AMF unit [302], wherein the allowed slice configuration is determined by the system [300] based on: receiving, at the visited access and mobility management function (v-AMF) unit [302] of the system [300], the registration request from the UE [102], transmitting, by the v-AMF unit [302], a slice selection request, to a visited network slice selection function (v-NSSF) unit [304] of the system [300], based on the registration request, wherein the slice selection request comprises at least a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) parameter, querying, by the v-NSSF unit [304], a home network slice selection function (h-NSSF) unit [306] of the system [300] for the slice selection request based on the HPLMN parameter, receiving, at the v-NSSF unit [304], a slice selection response from the h- NSSF unit [306], wherein the slice selection response comprises one or more slice configurations for a visited network, and a slice mapping, and determining, by the v-NSSF unit [304], an allowed slice configuration for the UE [102] from the one or more slice configurations based on the slice mapping. 18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for assigning a slice to one or more User Equipment (UEs) [102] in a communication network, the storage medium comprising executable code which, when executed by one or more units of a system [300], causes: a visited access and mobility management function (v-AMF) unit [302] of the system [300]o receive a registration request from the one or more UEs [102]; the v-AMF unit [302] of the system [300] to transmit a slice selection request, to a visited network slice selection function (v-NSSF) unit [304], based on the registration request, wherein the slice selection request comprises at least a Home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) parameter; the v-NSSF unit [304] of the system [300] to query a home network slice selection function (h-NSSF) unit [306] for the slice selection request based on the HPLMN parameter; the v-NSSF unit [304] of the system [300] to receive a slice selection response from the h- NSSF unit [306], wherein the slice selection response comprises one or more slice configurations for a visited network, and a slice mapping; the v-NSSF unit [304] of the system [300] to determine an allowed slice configuration for the one or more UEs [102] from the one or more slice configurations based on the slice mapping; and the v-AMF unit [302] of the system [300] to transmit the allowed slice configuration to the one or more UEs [102],

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ASSIGNING A SLICE TO USER EQUIPMENT IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to network performance management systems. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to methods and systems for assigning a slice to one or more user equipment (UEs) in a communication network. BACKGROUND [0002] The following description of the 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 is used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of the prior art. [0003] Wireless communication technology has rapidly evolved over the past few decades, with each generation bringing significant improvements and advancements. The first generation of wireless communication technology was based on the analog technology and offered only voice services. However, with the advent of the second-generation (2G) technology, digital communication and data services became possible, and text messaging was introduced. The third- generation (3G) technology marked the introduction of high-speed internet access, mobile video calling, and location-based services. The fourth-generation (4G) technology revolutionized wireless communication with faster data speeds, better network coverage, and improved security. Currently, the fifth-generation (5G) technology is being deployed, promising even faster data speeds, low latency, and the ability to connect multiple devices simultaneously. With each generation, wireless communication technology has become more advanced, sophisticated, and capable of delivering more services to its users. Further, reducing call drops and latency is of paramount importance in the telecommunications industry. Call drops can be frustrating for users, and they can also result in lost revenue for service providers. Latency, on the other hand, refers to the time it takes for data to travel from one device to another and can cause delays and disruptions in communication. The introduction of 5G technology promises to address these issues by delivering ultra-low latency and high-speed data transmission. With 5G, call drops are going to be minimized, and users are going to experience seamless, uninterrupted communication. Additionally, 5G technology may enable the development of new applications and services that require high-speed, low-latency communication, such as remote surgeries, autonomous vehicles, and virtual reality. The reduction of call drops and latency is crucial in ensuring that users have access to reliable and efficient communication services, and the 5G technology is a significant step towards achieving this goal. [0004] In the 5G communication system, a number of functional modules are provided, for example an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), and/or a Network Repository Function (NRF), etc., one or more of which interact with each other to implement multiple operations of the 5G communication system. One such operation relates to assigning of a slice for a user equipment (UE). For such operation, the UE sends a network slice selection request to an AMF. The AMF further sends the same request to the NSSF. The NSSF is thereafter required to select the slice for the UE, as per the eligibility of different UEs. The 5G communication system can deploy multiple Network Slice Instances delivering exactly the same features for different groups of UEs. The NSSF offers services to the AMF. Following are the key Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) functionalities: • Authorize the set of network slice instances for AMF Availability (Registration). • Determining the Allowed NSSAI for selection of Slice. • Determining the AMF Set /Candidate list to be used to serve the UE based on the AMF Availability registration. [0005] Furthermore, there may be situations when the UE moves from the home Public Land Mobile Network (HPLMN) to visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN). In such conditions, the UE sends a registration request to the Visited Access and Mobility Function (v-AMF), wherein the v-AMF further sends a request for network slice selection to the visited NSSF (v-NSSF). It may be noted that the v-NSSF may or may not locally store a slice mapping data and even if the v-NSSF may have locally stored slice mapping data it does not have a real time or updated slice mapping data. Thus, there exists an imperative need in the art to provide a system and method of assigning a slice in VPLMN to the UE, in the absence of slice mapping or real time slice mapping on the v-NSSF of the VPLMN, which the present disclosure aims to address. SUMMARY [0006] This section is provided to introduce ce