Connecting to virtualized mobile core networks
AssigneeInterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc.
InventorsGregory S. Sternberg, Michael F. Starsinic, Catalina Mihaela Mladin, Rocco DiGirolamo, Hongkun Li
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Abstract
A 5G Network Architecture uses virtualization and network slicing. The user equipment (UE) interacts with an underlay network that interacts with virtual network slices. The UE interacts with the underlay network (ULN) to establish a connection to a virtual network slice. Procedures are defined to assign a new slice instance to a UE (UE initiated and ULN initiated); to change a UE Profile (UE initiated and ULN Initiated); and to change a UE's assigned slice instance (ULN Initiated).
Claims20
A method comprising:
- sending an initial connection message from a user equipment (UE) to a network node, wherein the initial connection message comprises a temporary identifier and one or more network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI), wherein the one or more NSSAI is associated with one or more services and the one or more NSSAI comprise an indication of a request to connect with one or more network slices;
- receiving, at the UE from the network node, a response message comprising an indication of whether or not a connection with one or more first network slices of the one or more network slices is permitted;
- receiving a request message from the network node, the request message comprising an indication of one or more second network slices that are permitted for use by the UE;
- and
- sending a response to the request change message to the network node.
An apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- memory coupled with the processor, the memory storing executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
- sending an initial connection message from a user equipment (UE) to a network node, wherein the initial connection message comprises a temporary identifier and one or more network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI), wherein one or more NSSAI is associated with one or more services and the one or more NSSAI comprise an indication of a request to connect with one or more network slices;
- and
- receiving, at the UE from the network node, a response message comprising an indication of whether or not the connection with one or more first network slices of the one or more network slices is permitted;
- receiving a request message from the network node, the request message comprising an indication of one or more second network slices that are permitted for use by the UE;
- and
- sending a Profile Change response to the network node.
A method comprising:
- sending an initial connection message from a User Equipment (UE) to a network node of a network, wherein the initial connection message comprises a temporary identifier and no service descriptor indicating a network service that the UE is expected to access;
- and
- receiving, at the UE from the network node, a response message comprising a new temporary identifier for the UE, and a set of identifiers of at least one or more slices that are available for use by the UE;
- wherein the network node is part of an underlay network node determines ther set of identifiers of at least one or more slices that are available for use by the UE from slice descriptors in a subscription information of the UE that are assocated with a default indication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.