Application initiated network trigger for switching a user device between mutually exclusive network slices

An apparatus comprising:

• a network interface configured to communicate with a plurality of computing devices;
• a memory;
• and
• a processor coupled to the network interface and the memory, the processor configured to:
• store a mapping in the memory, the mapping associating each of a plurality of device modes with one of a plurality of network slices;
• determine that a user device is operating in an operating mode of the plurality of device modes using a first network slice among the plurality of network slices;
• receive a trigger from a remote application function via the network interface, the trigger identifying the user device and a maintenance mode of the plurality of device modes;
• determine that the maintenance mode is associated with a second network slice of the plurality of network slices, wherein the first network slice and the second network slice are mutually exclusive;
• and cause the network interface to send a notification to the user device, the notification causing the user device to end a first data session on the first network slice and to initiate a second data session on the second network slice.

One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with computer executable instructions to cause a processor in a computing device to:

• store a mapping associating each of a plurality of device modes with one of a plurality of network slices;
• determine that a user device is operating in an operating mode of the plurality of device modes using a first network slice among the plurality of network slices;
• obtain a trigger from a remote application function, the trigger identifying the user device and a maintenance mode of the plurality of device modes;
• determine that the maintenance mode is associated with a second network slice of the plurality of network slices, wherein the first network slice and the second network slice are mutually exclusive;
• and provide a notification to the user device, the notification causing the user device to end a first data session on the first network slice and to initiate a second data session on the second network slice.