# US 2019/0357130 A1 · Network slice selection

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- Number: US 2019/0357130 A1
- Document ID: US20190357130A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/466,865
- Filed: 2016-12-30
- Published: 2019-11-21
- Earliest claimed: 2016-12-30
- Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
- Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
- Inventors: Fuencisla GARCIA AZORERO; Susana FERNANDEZ ALONSO; Victor FERRARO ESPARZA; Angel NAVAS CORNEJO; Ignacio RIVAS MOLINA
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190357130A1

## CPC

- H04W 48/18: Selecting a network or a communication service
- H04W 76/12: Setup of transport tunnels
- H04W 4/18: Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
- H04W 8/08: Mobility data transfer
- H04W 12/06: Authentication
- H04W 80/10: adapted for {application} session management, e.g. SIP [Session Initiation Protocol] {(connection management H04W76/00; arrangements for session management H04L67/14)}
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Network nodes and methods for control thereof for dynamic network slice selection. An AMF receives a UE request originating from the UE, the UE request being any one of a registration request and a session request. A network slice requester controls a transmitter to transmit a network slice selection request to a PC_NSS. A selection data manager of the PC_NSS determines selection data specifying one or more UE specific parameters affecting network slice selection. A network slice selector selects a network slice assignable for the UE, based on the selection data, determines network slice data and a corresponding network slice routing rule, and transmits them to the AMF. A network slice manager of the AMF controls assignment of a network slice to the UE in dependence on the received network slice data and network slice routing rule.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A network node configured for use as an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, of a telecommunications network, the AMF for controlling network slice assignment to a user equipment, UE, within the telecommunications network, the network node comprising:
a receiver configured to receive a UE request originating from the UE, the UE request being any one of a registration request and a session request;
a network slice requester configured to control a transmitter to transmit a network slice selection request to a Policy Control Network Slice Selection function, PC_NSS,
the receiver being configured to receive, from the PC_NSS, network slice data identifying a network slice assignable for the UE, and a corresponding network slice routing rule identifying the assignable network slice and a set of network functions forming the assignable network slice; and
a network slice manager configured to control assignment of a network slice to the UE in dependence on the received network slice data and network slice routing rule.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The network node according to claim 1, wherein the network slice manager is configured to determine whether the assignable network slice identified by the received network slice data is supported by the AMF, and further configured:
if the assignable network slice is not supported by the AMF, to control the transmitter to transmit the UE request to a further AMF for control of assignment of a network slice for the UE; and
if the assignable network slice is supported by the AMF, to assign the assignable network slice for the UE.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The network node according to claim 1, wherein the network slice data received via the receiver comprises an authorized network slice selection assistance information, NSSAI, representing at least one assignable network slice for the UE, and respectively corresponding at least one network slice routing rule.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The network node according to claim 3, wherein each network slice routing rule further identifies a service scope at which the assignable network slice applies, wherein the service scope indicates any one of: a service, a service in a packet data network, PDN, and a service data flow in a PDN.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The network node according to claim 4, wherein the network slice manager is configured to determine an applicable network slice to be assigned for the UE, amongst the at least one assignable network slice, based on the service scope identified by each network slice routing rule.

### Claim 6 (depends on 3)

The network node according to claim 3, wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a UE-provided NSSAI along with the UE request.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The network node according to claim 6, wherein the network slice manager is configured, if the UE-provided NSSAI matches the authorized NSSAI, to enforce the network slice routing rule for the UE-provided NSSAI and, if the UE-provided NSSAI does not match the authorized NSSAI, to enforce the network slice routing rule for the authorized NSSAI.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The network node according to claim 1, wherein the network slice routing rule further comprises data indicating at least one of:
at least one condition; and
events specifying when a further network slice selection request should be transmitted to the PC_NSS.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The network node according to claim 8, wherein, upon the receiver receiving a further UE request originating from the UE, the network slice requester is configured to determine whether at least one of the at least one condition and events has occurred, and, if so, to control the transmitter to transmit a further network slice selection request to the PC_NSS.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The network node according to claim 8, wherein the network slice manager is configured to control the transmitter to transmit the data indicating at least one of the at least one ocndition and events to a Session Management Function, SMF.

### Claim 11

A method for controlling a network node configured for use as an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF, of a telecommunications network, the AMF for controlling network slice assignment to a user equipment, UE, within the telecommunications network, and the method comprising:
receiving, by a receiver, a UE request originating from the UE, the UE request being any one of a registration request and a session request;
controlling a transmitter, by a network slice requester 04-64, to transmit a network slice selection request to a Policy Control Network Slice Selection function, PC_NSS;
receiving, by the receiver from the PC_NSS, network slice data identifying a network slice assignable for the UE, and a corresponding network slice routing rule identifying the assignable network slice and a set of network functions forming the assignable network slice; and
controlling, by a network slice manager, assignment of a network slice to the UE in dependence on the received network slice data and network slice routing rule.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method according to claim 11, wherein the method further comprises determining, by the network slice manager, whether the assignable network slice identified by the received network slice data is supported by the AMF:
if the assignable network slice is not supported by the AMF, the network slice manager controlling the transmitter to transmit the UE request to a further AMF for control of assignment of a network slice for the UE; and
if the assignable network slice is supported by the AMF, the network slice manager assigning the assignable network slice for the UE.

### Claim at position 13

13-22. (canceled)

### Claim 23

A network node configured for use as a Policy Control Network Selection function, PC_NSS, of a telecommunications network, the PC_NSS for selecting one or more network slices assignable for a UE within the telecommunications network, the network node comprising:
a receiver configured to receive a network slice selection request from an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF;
a selection data manager configured to determine selection data specifying at least one UE specific parameter affecting network slice selection;
a network slice selector configured to select a network slice assignable for the UE, based on the selection data, and to determine network slice data identifying the assignable network slice and a corresponding network slice routing rule identifying the assignable network slice and a set of network functions forming the assignable network slice; and
the network slice selector is being further configured to control a transmitter to transmit to the AMF the network slice data and the corresponding network slice routing rule for controlling assignment of a network slice for the UE based on the network slice data and network slice routing rule.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The network node according to claim 23, wherein the network slice data transmitted via the transmitter comprises an authorized network slice selection assistance information, NSSAI, representing at least one assignable network slice for the UE, and respectively corresponding at least one network slice routing rule.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The network node according to claim 23, wherein each network slice routing rule further comprises a service scope at which the assignable network slide applies, wherein the service scope indicates any one of: a service, a service in a packet data network, PDN, and a service data flow in a PDN.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The network node according to claim 23, wherein the network slice routing rule further comprises data indicating at least one of:
at least one condition; and
events specifying when a further network slice selection request should be transmitted to the PC_NSS.

### Claim 27 (depends on 23)

The A network node according to claim 23, wherein the network slice selector is further configured to control the transmitter to transmit to the AMF redirect data for redirecting assignment of the network slice for the UE to a further AMF, and the network slice selector is configured to determine the redirect data based on whether the assignable network slice is supported by the AMF.

### Claim 28 (depends on 23)

The network node according to claim 23, wherein the selection data manager is configured to determine at least part of the selection data by controlling the transmitter to transmit at least one selection data request to at least one further network node in the telecommunications network, and the receiver is configured to receive the selection data from the at least one further network node.

### Claim 29 (depends on 23)

The network node according to claim 23, wherein the selection data further comprises at least one of:
network slice data comprising at least one network slice attribute affecting network slice selection;
a time of day; and
at least one network operator specified condition.

### Claim 30

A method for controlling a network node configured for use as a Policy Control Network Selection function, PC_NSS, of a telecommunications network, the PC_NSS for selecting one or more network slices assignable for a UE within the telecommunications network, the method comprising:
receiving, by a receiver, a network slice selection request from an Access and Mobility Management Function, AMF;
determining, by a selection data manager, selection data specifying at least one UE specific parameter affecting network slice selection;
selecting, by a network slice selector, a network slice assignable for the UE, based on the selection data, and determining, by the network slice selector, network slice data identifying the assignable network slice and a corresponding network slice routing rule identifying the assignable network slice and a set of network functions forming the assignable network slice; and
controlling a transmitter, by the network slice selector, to transmit to the AMF the network slice data and the corresponding network slice routing rule for controlling assignment of a network slice for the UE based on the network slice data and network slice routing rule.

### Claim at position 22

31-38. (canceled)