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EP-4740614-A1 - METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SLICE INFORMATION IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK

EP4740614A1EP 4740614 A1EP4740614 A1EP 4740614A1EP-4740614-A1

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for providing slice information in a communication network The method comprises: receiving, at network slice selection function (NSSF) unit [114] from an access and mobility management function (AMF) unit [302], a slice information request related to a network slice associated with one or more public land mobile networks (PLMNs), wherein the slice information request comprises at least an instance identifier and set identifier; querying, by NSSF unit [304], a slice database [306] with instance identifier and set identifier; identifying, by NSSF unit [304], a slice information based on mapping of instance identifier and set identifier in a set of data stored in slice database; and transmitting, by NSSF unit [304], slice information to AMF unit [302] in response to the slice information request based on the mapping of the instance identifier and the set identifier in the set of data.

Inventors

  • JHA, ADITYAKAR
  • SINHA, ANURAG
  • BHATNAGAR, AAYUSH
  • KHANDELWAL, Ankush
  • SINGH, HEMANT KUMAR
  • Sarohi, Meenakshi
  • YADAV, Santosh Kumar
  • VASHISHTH, Yog
  • MISHRA, SOMYA
  • ELANGOVAN, Elanchezhiyan

Assignees

  • Jio Platforms Limited

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240627

Claims (14)

  1. 1. A method for providing slice information in a communication network, the method comprising: receiving, at a network slice selection function (NSSF) unit [304] from an access and mobility management function (AMF) unit [302], a slice information request related to a network slice associated with a public land mobile network (PLMN) in a multi- PLMN environment, wherein the slice information request comprises of an information related to one or more slices provisioned per tracking area code (TAC), an instance identifier and a set identifier; querying, by the NSSF unit [304], a slice database [306] with the instance identifier and the set identifier; identifying, by the NSSF unit [304], a slice information based on a mapping of the instance identifier and the set identifier in a set of data stored in the slice database [306]; and transmitting, by the NSSF unit [304], the slice information to the AMF unit [302] in response to the slice information request based on the mapping of the instance identifier and the set identifier in the set of data.
  2. 2. The method as claimed in claim 1, the method further comprising dynamically allocating, by the AMF unit [302], network resources to one or more user equipment (UEs) in the PLMN in the multi-PLMN environment based on the slice information.
  3. 3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set of data is generated based on: receiving, at the NSSF unit [304], a data comprising one or more instance identifiers associated with corresponding one or more set identifiers from the AMF unit [302], and wherein the set of data is stored by the NSSF unit [304] in the slice database [306] to process one or more slice information requests received from the AMF unit [302],
  4. 4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the NSSF unit [304] stores slice information for each of the one or more instance identifiers associated with the corresponding one or more set identifiers in the slice database [306],
  5. 5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the one or more set identifiers are associated with one or more PLMNs in the multi-PLMN environment.
  6. 6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slice information comprises an information indicating a slice availability.
  7. 7. A system for providing slice information in a communication network, the system comprising: an access and mobility management function (AMF) unit [302] configured to transmit a slice information request related to a network slice associated with a public land mobile network (PLMN) in a multi-PLMN environment, wherein the slice information request comprises of an information related to one or more slices provisioned per tracking area code (TAC), an instance identifier and a set identifier; and a network slice selection function (NSSF) unit [304] configured to: o receive the slice information request from the access and mobility management function (AMF) unit [302], o query a slice database [306] with the instance identifier and the set identifier, o identify a slice information based on a mapping of the instance identifier and the set identifier in a set of data stored in the slice database [306], and o transmit the slice information to the AMF unit [302] in response to the slice information request based on the mapping of the instance identifier and the set identifier in the set of data.
  8. 8. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the AMF unit [302] is further configured to dynamically allocate network resources to one or more user equipment (UEs) in the PLMN in the multi-PLMN environment based on the slice information.
  9. 9. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the set of data is generated based on: receiving, at the NSSF unit [304], a data comprising one or more instance identifiers associated with corresponding one or more set identifiers from the AMF unit [302], and wherein the set of data is stored by the NSSF unit [304] in the slice database [306] to process one or more slice information requests received from the AMF unit [302],
  10. 10. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the NSSF unit [304] is further configured to store slice information for each of the one or more instance identifiers associated with the corresponding one or more set identifiers in the slice database [306],
  11. 11. The system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more set identifiers are associated with one or more PLMNs in the multi-PLMN environment.
  12. 12. The system as claimed in claim 7, wherein the slice information comprises an information indicating a slice availability.
  13. 13. A user equipment (UE) for availing a service from a communication network, the UE comprising: a transceiver unit configured to: o transmit to a communication network, a request to avail a service; and o receive a response to the request from the communication network, wherein the response is generated by a system [300] configured in the communication network based on: ■ receiving, at a network slice selection function (NSSF) unit [304] of the system [300] from an access and mobility management function (AMF) unit [302] of the system [300], a slice information request related to a network slice associated with one or more public land mobile networks (PLMNs), wherein the slice information request comprises of an information related to one or more slices provisioned per tracking area code (TAC), an instance identifier and a set identifier; ■ querying, by the NSSF unit [304], a slice database [306] with the instance identifier and the set identifier; ■ identifying, by the NSSF unit [304], a slice information based on a mapping of the instance identifier and the set identifier in a set of data stored in the slice database [306]; and ■ transmitting, by the NSSF unit [304], the slice information to the AMF unit [302] in response to the slice information request based on the mapping of the instance identifier and the set identifier in the set of data.
  14. 14. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing instructions for providing slice information in a communication network, the instructions including executable code which, when executed by a one or more units of a system, causes: an access and mobility management function (AMF) unit [302] of the system to transmit a slice information request related to a network slice associated with one or more public land mobile networks (PLMNs), wherein the slice information request comprises of an information related to one or more slices provisioned per tracking area code (TAC), an instance identifier and a set identifier; and a network slice selection function (NSSF) unit [304] of the system to: o receive the slice information request from the access and mobility management function (AMF) unit, o query a slice database [306] with the instance identifier and the set identifier, o identify a slice information based on a mapping of the instance identifier and the set identifier in a set of data stored in the slice database [306], and o transmit the slice information to the AMF unit [302] in response to the slice information request based on the mapping of the instance identifier and the set identifier in the set of data.

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING SLICE INFORMATION IN A COMMUNICATION NETWORK FIELD OF INVENTION [0001] Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to wireless communication systems. More particularly, embodiments of the present disclosure relate to providing slice information in a communication network. BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE [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 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. [0004] In the 5G communication system, there is provided a plurality of network functions (NFs), for example an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), session management function (SMF), Authentication Server function (AUSF), a Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF), Policy control function (PCF), a Network Repository Function (NRF), Network Data Analytics Function (NWDAF) and the like. One or more of the aforementioned NFs communicates with each other, to implement multiple activities on the 5G communication system. For example, for data transfer, the AMF communicates with SMF, to initiate the communication. Accordingly, one or more connections are established between two peer NF s, to allow communication therebetween, and thus enable such activities there between. [0005] Network slicing enables the creation of separate virtualized sub-networks that can be tailored to meet the specific requirements of different applications. In network slicing, a network is divided into multiple logical partitions or slices, where the multiple logical network partitions are optimised for specific uses, service operations, or for specific requirements pertaining to various users. These partitions have the right construct of isolation, resources, and topology. The process of Network slicing creates end-to-end logical networks that have specific characteristics and are operated independently. Thus, for example, where a new service or a new application is needed to be served by the network, a cloud-native core, for example, may be able to create an instance, or slice, of an entire network virtually. This network slice may be fully customized with network resources for the allocated use case. In fact, these resources may even be dedicated for the purpose if required. [0006] Further, a set of Network Function instances and the required resources (for example, computational machines, storage systems, and other networking resources) form a Network Slice. The different parts of a network slice are grouped as Network Slice Subnets (for example, radio access network, 5G core network, etc.). Also, these network slice subnets or network slice subnet instances can be managed independently from the network slice instance. In other words, the network slice subnet may be viewed or construed as a representation of the management aspects of a set of managed functions and the required resources (e.g. compute, storage and networking resources) in a network slice. [0007] Normally, the first access and mobility management function (AMF) node that receives the registration request from a user equipment (UE) initiates the network slice instance selection for a user equipment as part of the registration process. The AMF works with the Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) to choose the correct Network Slice instance (e.g., based on Allowed S-NSSAIs (Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information), PLMN ID (Public Land Mobile Network identifier), etc.) after retrieving the slices that the user subscription permits. [0008] At registration phase, the base station (or gNodeB, or gNB) selects the AMF which supports UE r