CN114095976A

CN114095976A - Network slice distribution method and device, electronic equipment and readable medium

Info

Publication number: CN114095976A
Application number: CN202111658005.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 张伦泳
Original assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Current assignee: China United Network Communications Group Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-12-30
Filing date: 2021-12-30
Publication date: 2022-02-25
Anticipated expiration: 2041-12-30
Also published as: CN114095976B

Abstract

The invention discloses a method and a device for distributing network slices, electronic equipment and a readable medium, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a second network functional entity receives a registration request sent by user equipment through a non-3GPP interworking functional entity N3 IWF; responding to a first network identifier contained in a fragment identifier SD domain of single network fragment selection auxiliary information S-NSSAI carried in a registration request, and forwarding a user equipment identifier, the S-NSSAI and a service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request to a network management system so that the network management system can subscribe the service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI to the first network; the second network function entity returns an NSSAI allowing message containing S-NSSAI to the user equipment; wherein the SD domain of the S-NSSAI comprises the first network identification. The method can obtain corresponding service quality guarantee in both the first network and the second network.

Description

Network slice distribution method and device, electronic equipment and readable medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to communications technologies, and in particular, to a method and an apparatus for allocating network slices, an electronic device, and a readable medium.

Background

Currently, in a 5G Network, when a user equipment UE registers with a Network, a requested NSSAI (Network Slice Selection Assistance Information) may be provided in a registration request, and the 5G Network may determine whether the NSSAI requested by the UE is allowed according to a service subscription condition of the UE, a current access area of the UE, and other Information. Then, the 5G Network returns the allowed NSSAI to the UE, which includes several allowed S-NSSAIs (Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information).

When a UE accesses a 5G core network through an N3IWF (Non-3GPP InterWorking Function), the obtained allowed NSSAI does not include slice selection information of network devices between the UE and the N3IWF, because this segment of network is not generally defined by 3GPP, for example, the UE (actually a PC) is connected to the N3IWF through a fixed broadband connection, so the 5G core network does not consider the QoS guarantee capability of this segment of network when determining the allowed NSSAI allowed to be used by the UE. In this way, when the UE requests network fragmentation over the obtained allowed NSSAI, the end-to-end expected user experience may not be obtained.

Disclosure of Invention

In view of the above, the present invention is proposed to provide a method, an apparatus, an electronic device and a readable medium for allocating network slices, which overcome or at least partially solve the above problems.

According to an aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a method for allocating network slices, including:

a second network functional entity receives a registration request sent by user equipment through a non-3GPP interworking functional entity N3 IWF;

responding to a first network identifier contained in a segment identifier (SD) domain of single-network segment selection auxiliary information (S-NSSAI) carried in the registration request, and forwarding a user equipment identifier, the S-NSSAI and a service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request to a network management system, so that the network management system can subscribe the service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI to the first network according to the first network identifier contained in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI; wherein the first network identifier is used for indicating an operator network currently accessed by the user equipment;

the second network function entity returns an NSSAI allowed message containing the S-NSSAI to the user equipment; wherein the SD domain of the S-NSSAI comprises a first network identification.

when user equipment sends a registration request to a second network function entity through an N3IWF, adding a first network identifier in an SD domain of an S-NSSAI carried in the registration request so that the second network function entity triggers the operation of subscribing service quality parameters corresponding to the S-NSSAI to the first network based on the first network identifier; wherein the first network identifier is used for indicating an operator network currently accessed by the user equipment;

and receiving an NSSAI allowing message containing the S-NSSAI returned by the second network function entity.

According to another aspect of the embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a network slice allocation apparatus, including:

the receiving module is suitable for receiving a registration request sent by the user equipment through the N3 IWF;

a forwarding module, adapted to respond to that an SD domain of an S-NSSAI carried in the registration request includes a first network identifier, forward the user equipment identifier, the S-NSSAI, and a quality of service parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request to a network management system, so that the network management system subscribes, to the first network, the quality of service parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI according to the first network identifier included in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI; wherein the first network identifier is used for indicating an operator network currently accessed by the user equipment;

a sending module adapted to return an NSSAI allowed message containing the S-NSSAI to the user equipment.

a sending module, adapted to add a first network identifier in an SD domain of an S-NSSAI carried in a registration request when sending the registration request to a second network function entity through an N3IWF, so that the second network function entity triggers an operation of subscribing to a quality of service parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI from the first network based on the first network identifier; wherein the first network identifier is used for indicating an operator network currently accessed by the user equipment;

a receiving module, adapted to receive the NSSAI allowed message including the S-NSSAI returned by the second network function entity.

According to still another aspect of an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus including:

one or more processors;

a storage device on which one or more programs are stored, the one or more programs, when executed by the one or more processors, causing the one or more processors to implement the above-described network slice allocation method;

one or more I/O interfaces connected between the processor and the memory and configured to enable information interaction between the processor and the memory.

According to still another aspect of embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer program which, when executed by a processor, implements the above-described network slice allocation method.

In the method, the apparatus, the electronic device, and the readable medium for allocating network slices provided in the embodiments of the present invention, by including the first network identifier in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI of the registration request, the network management system can subscribe the service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI to the first network according to the first network identifier included in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI; the first network identification is used for indicating an operator network which is currently accessed by the user equipment. It can be seen that by including the first network identifier in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI and subscribing to the first network for the quality of service parameters corresponding to the S-NSSAI based on the first network identifier, corresponding quality of service guarantees can be obtained in both the first network and the second network.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for allocating network slices according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for allocating network slices according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a distribution apparatus of network slices according to another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a distribution apparatus of network slices according to still another embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of an electronic device according to yet another embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed Description

In order to make those skilled in the art better understand the technical solution of the present invention, the server provided by the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Example embodiments will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, but which may be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

The embodiments described herein may be described with reference to plan and/or cross-sectional views in idealized representations of the present invention. Accordingly, the example illustrations can be modified in accordance with manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances. Accordingly, the embodiments are not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings, but include modifications of configurations formed based on a manufacturing process. Thus, the regions illustrated in the figures have schematic properties, and the shapes of the regions shown in the figures illustrate specific shapes of regions of elements, but are not intended to be limiting.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present invention and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

The first embodiment,

Fig. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a method for allocating network slices according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is intended to be described from the perspective of the second network function entity. As shown in fig. 1, the method comprises the steps of:

step S110: the second network function entity receives a registration request sent by the user equipment through the non-3GPP interworking function entity N3 IWF.

The second network functional entity is located in the second network and is used for realizing access authentication and management functions when the user equipment accesses the second network. The second network may be a mobile network such as a 5G network, and correspondingly, the second network Function entity may be an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) entity of the 5G core network. Certainly, in other embodiments, the second Network Function entity may further include various entities such as an NSSF (Network Slice Selection Function), and the specific details are not limited in the present invention. In short, any entity capable of implementing the access management function may be used as the second network function entity.

Wherein, the second network function entity may also be referred to as a second network access device. When the second network function entity receives a registration request submitted by user equipment, judging whether the registration request is triggered by a non-3GPP interworking function entity N3IWF according to parameter information contained in the registration request, and if so, further executing subsequent steps.

Step S120: responding to the first network identification contained in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request, and forwarding the user equipment identification, the S-NSSAI and the service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request to the network management system, so that the network management system can subscribe the service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI to the first network according to the first network identification contained in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI.

The first network identification is used for indicating an operator network which is currently accessed by the user equipment. When the user equipment generates a registration request, writing a first network identifier into a fragment discriminator SD domain of the S-NSSAI to indicate an operator network which the user equipment is currently accessed to. Correspondingly, when the second network functional entity judges that the fragment discriminator SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request contains the first network identifier, the user equipment identifier, the S-NSSAI and the service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request are forwarded to the network management system, so that the network management system can subscribe the service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI to the first network according to the first network identifier contained in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI. The network management system herein refers to: and a system for implementing a service subscription function in the second network. Accordingly, the network management system can determine the interface address of the first network and the corresponding subscription service system thereof according to the first network identifier contained in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI, so as to subscribe the service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI to the first network based on the interface address.

In an optional implementation manner, if the fragmentation discriminator of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request is a valid value and the fragmentation/service type of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value, it is determined that the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request includes the first network identifier. For example, in the NSSAI requested by the UE, if it is recognized that a Slice Specifier (SD) of a certain S-NSSAI is neither 0xffff nor 0x000000, it indicates that the SD is a valid value; and if the Slice/Service type (SST) of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value but a custom value, it indicates that the SD field of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request includes the first network identifier.

Optionally, in order to improve the success rate of the registration request and prevent the situation of registration failure caused by the fact that the value of the SST is an unavailable value, in this embodiment, whether the value of the SST is available may also be automatically determined, and when the determination result is negative, the value of the SST is automatically replaced with the available value. Specifically, in this step, it is further determined whether the value of the fragmentation/service type of the S-NSSAI is an available value; and if not, generating a substitute value, and replacing the value of the fragment/service type of the S-NSSAI with the substitute value. The method can prevent access failure caused by unavailable SST value, thereby improving access success rate.

Step S130: the second network function entity returns an NSSAI allowing message containing S-NSSAI to the user equipment; wherein the SD domain of the S-NSSAI comprises the first network identification.

Specifically, if the second network function entity receives a service subscription success message containing the service subscription identifier, an allowed NSSAI message containing S-NSSAI is returned to the user equipment; the first network and the second network can determine corresponding service quality parameters according to the service subscription identifiers and provide services. Since the SD domain of the S-NSSAI contains the first network identifier and the first network has subscribed to the quality of service parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI based on the first network identifier, the user equipment can obtain corresponding quality of service guarantees in the first network and the second network at the same time.

Optionally, after the second network function entity returns an NSSAI allowed message containing the S-NSSAI to the user equipment, the method further includes the following operations: when receiving a PDU session created by user equipment according to S-NSSAI, acquiring a first network identifier contained in an SD domain of the S-NSSAI, and sending a data stream identifier of the PDU session to a control plane function entity of an operator network corresponding to the first network identifier; the data stream identifier includes the service subscription identifier, and the service subscription identifier is used for being provided to the first network, so that the first network can determine the corresponding service quality parameter and provide the service.

In the method for allocating network slices provided in the embodiment of the present invention, by including the first network identifier in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI of the registration request, the network management system can subscribe the quality of service parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI to the first network according to the first network identifier included in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI; the first network identification is used for indicating an operator network which is currently accessed by the user equipment. It can be seen that by including the first network identifier in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI and subscribing to the first network for the quality of service parameters corresponding to the S-NSSAI based on the first network identifier, corresponding quality of service guarantees can be obtained in both the first network and the second network.

Example II,

Fig. 2 shows a flowchart of a network slice allocation method according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment is intended to be described from the perspective of a user device. As shown in fig. 2, the method comprises the steps of:

step S210: when the user equipment sends a registration request to the second network function entity through the N3IWF, a first network identifier is added in an SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request, so that the second network function entity triggers the operation of subscribing the service quality parameters corresponding to the S-NSSAI to the first network based on the first network identifier.

The first network identification is used for indicating an operator network which is currently accessed by the user equipment. And if the fragmentation discriminator of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request generated by the user equipment is an effective value and the fragmentation/service type of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value, further adding the first network identifier in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request. For example, in the NSSAI requested by the UE, if it is recognized that a Slice Specifier (SD) of a certain S-NSSAI is neither 0xffff nor 0x000000, it indicates that the SD is a valid value; and if the SST (Slice/Service type) of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value but a self-defined value, writing the first network identifier into the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request.

Correspondingly, the second network functional entity triggers, based on the first network identifier, an operation of subscribing to the first network for the qos parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI, specifically, the operation may be triggered by the second network functional entity through the network management system, and specific implementation details may refer to the description of the corresponding part in the previous embodiment, which is not described herein again.

Step S220: and receiving the NSSAI allowing message containing the S-NSSAI returned by the second network function entity.

Optionally, after receiving the NSSAI allowed message including the S-NSSAI returned by the second network function entity, the user equipment further performs the following operations: creating a PDU session according to the S-NSSAI, so that a session management functional entity obtains a first network identifier contained in an SD domain of the S-NSSAI, and sending a data flow identifier of the PDU session to a control plane functional entity of an operator network corresponding to the first network identifier; the data stream identifier includes a service subscription identifier, and the service subscription identifier is used for being provided to the first network, so that the first network can determine the corresponding quality of service parameter and provide service.

For convenience of understanding, the following describes the network slice allocation method in this embodiment in detail by taking a specific example as an example.

In general, if the UE accesses the 5G core network through the radio access network defined by 3GPP, the 5G core network will take the tracking area where the UE is currently located, or the specific service capability of the radio access device to which the UE is currently connected, as one of the considerations when allocating the allowed NSSAI to the UE. Therefore, at this time, when the UE requests the network segment using a specific S-NSSAI in the obtained allowed NSSAI, the corresponding network segment is obtained in both the radio access network and the 5G core network, so that the expected quality of service of the user is guaranteed in both the access network and the core network.

However, if the UE accesses the 5G core network through the N3IWF and obtains the allowed NSSAI, the obtained allowed NSSAI cannot be used for the network between the UE and the N3 IWF. Typically, the network between the UE and the N3IWF (e.g. a PC connected to the N3IWF via a fixed broadband connection) uses "best effort" quality of service guarantees (especially for networks between the broadband access server and the N3IWF, which typically use best effort services). Therefore, the network service quality between the UE and the N3IWF is usually lower than the service quality corresponding to the S-NSSAI adopted by the UE, which reduces the overall service quality of the user data connection and affects the user experience.

In order to solve the above problem, the present example provides a method for allocating network slices, which specifically includes the following steps:

the method comprises the following steps: an AMF (Access and Mobility Management Function) of the 5G core network (i.e., the second network) recognizes that the UE is connected to the 5G network through the N3IWF upon receiving a registration request from the UE. In the NSSAI requested by the UE, it is recognized that a Slice Discriminator (SD) of a certain S-NSSAI is not 0xffff nor 0x000000, and a Slice/Service type (SST) of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value.

Wherein NSSAI is a set of one or more S-NSSAIs. The S-NSSAI value contains two parts, a Slice/Service type (SST) and a Slice Discriminator (SD). SST takes 1 byte and SD takes 3 bytes. The current 5G specification defines the standard values for SST as shown in table 1:

TABLE 1

Fragmentation/service type	Value taking
		eMBB	1
URLLC	2
		MIoT	3
V2X	4

Therefore, only four standard values of 1, 2, 3 and 4 are defined at present, and SD is not defined. Further, it is specified that when a standard SST value is used, there is no SD value. Also, it is specified that when the SD value is not used, 0xFFFFF needs to be filled in 3 bytes occupied by SD. Thus, 0x071CC004 in step four below actually represents a non-standard S-NSSAI with SST value of 0x07 and with SD value of 1CC 004.

Step two: the S-NSSAI and UE identifier, along with corresponding quality of service parameters, are forwarded to a network management system.

In specific implementation, the AMF may directly forward the data to the Network management system, or the AMF may forward the data to the NSSF (Network Slice Selection Function) first, and then the data is sent to the Network management system by the NSSF.

Step three: the network management system derives from the SD of the S-NSSAI the network identity of the operator (i.e., the first network identity) used by the UE to connect to the N3 IWF.

Since the SD value is not defined by 3GPP, when UE registers with 5G network through N3IWF, the operator network identifier (i.e. the first network identifier) of the network currently used by UE may be filled in the SD domain of S-NSSAI, indicating that it is desired to use the network fragment type corresponding to SST at the operator.

Step four: the network management system identifies the management system (service ordering system interface address) of the first network according to the operator network identified by the SD, and orders the QoS corresponding to the service quality parameter in the step two to the network management system.

After the subscription is finished, a service subscription identifier is obtained, and both networks can identify the corresponding QoS parameter according to the service subscription identifier.

Before that, i.e. in step two, AMF or NSSF may modify the SST value in S-NSSAI. Namely: the SST value in the S-NSSAI carried by the UE in the registration request may not necessarily be allowed by the AMF (i.e., the SST value in the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request is not an available value), and the AMF may select an alternative value to replace the value in the registration request. For example: the value of S-NSSAI in the UE registration request is 0x71CC 004. Wherein SST has a value of 0x 7. The value of SD is 0x1CC 004. Since AMF (based on local configuration or network policy) does not allow UE to use SST with value 0x7, AMF will pick an allowed value, e.g. 0x8, instead of 0x7 when sending S-NSSAI to the network management system (or NSSF). I.e. the network management system received 0x71CC 004. Of course, the above replacement operation can also be performed by NSSF.

Step five: after the QoS subscription is successful, a QoS subscription success message is returned to the AMF (or to the NSSF which is then handed over to the AMF).

Step six: the AMF (or the NSSF returns a success message to the AMF) returns the S-NSSAI in step two to the UE as an entry for allowing NSSAI.

Step seven: when the UE creates a PDU (Protocol Data Unit) Session, if the S-NSSAI in step two is selected, the SMF (Session Management Function) sends a Data stream identifier of the PDU Session to a corresponding control plane Function entity according to an operator identified by the SD domain, where the Data stream identifier includes a service subscription identifier in step four.

The data flow identifier may be: source address, destination address, source port number, destination port number, protocol type (TCP/UDP); alternatively, the data flow identification may be: source address, destination address, source port number, destination port number, i.e. the protocol type is not explicitly indicated; alternatively, the data flow identification may be: a DSCP value. I.e. the DSCP value that the UE obtains from the N3IWF and allocates for this PDU session data flow. For example, after the user equipment accesses the 5GC through the N3IWF, the 5GC and the user equipment may communicate QoS parameters to be used by the target data stream, including a DSCP (Differentiated Services Code Point) value, with each other. Specifically, before the ue performs data transmission, the N3IWF establishes an IPsec sub SA (Security Association) with the ue to carry data streams of the user plane. Wherein, in the process of establishing the IPsec sub SA, a 5G _ QOS _ INFO parameter is transferred, and the 5G _ QOS _ INFO parameter comprises a DSCP value. The DSCP value will be used for the IP data flow carried by the IPsec sub-SA.

Wherein, the above mentioned control plane functional entities refer to: functional entities or network elements in the network that can perform data flow QoS guarantees. The SMF may directly send the data stream identifier to the control plane functional entity of the corresponding operator, or send the data stream identifier to the network management system of the other party through the network management system of the SMF, and then send the data stream identifier to the control plane functional entity of the other party by the network management system of the other party. The invention is not limited to the specific implementation details.

Step eight: the opposite network (i.e. the first network) identified by the SD of the S-NSSAI performs the corresponding QoS securing operation according to the service subscription identifier and the data flow identifier in step four.

In addition, if the service subscription in step four is unsuccessful, the S-NSSAI in step three is not included in the allowed NSSAI returned to the UE.

It can be seen that this embodiment provides an allocation method of allowed S-NSSAI, where, when a user equipment registers with a 5G network through an N3IWF, a network identifier of a first network that is currently accessed is carried in an SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in a registration request, a second network initiates a QoS subscription to the first network according to the network identifier and a value of the SD domain of the S-NSSAI, and if the subscription is successful, the requested S-NSSAI is carried in an allowed NSSAI returned to the UE.

In summary, by the method in the embodiment of the present invention, the identifier of the operator network to which the user currently accesses can be added to the SD of the S-NSSAI, so that the user can obtain corresponding quality of service guarantees in both the first network and the second network through the subscription operation.

Fig. 3 is a schematic structural diagram of a distribution apparatus for network slices according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, including:

a receiving module 31, adapted to receive a registration request sent by a user equipment through an N3 IWF;

a forwarding module 32, adapted to respond to that an SD domain of an S-NSSAI carried in the registration request includes a first network identifier, forward the user equipment identifier, the S-NSSAI, and a quality of service parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request to a network management system, so that the network management system subscribes, to the first network, the quality of service parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI according to the first network identifier included in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI; wherein the first network identifier is used for indicating an operator network currently accessed by the user equipment;

a sending module 33 adapted to return an NSSAI allowed message including the S-NSSAI to the user equipment.

Optionally, the forwarding module is specifically adapted to:

and if the fragmentation discriminator of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request is an effective value and the fragmentation/service type of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value, determining that the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request contains the first network identifier.

Optionally, the forwarding module is specifically adapted to:

judging whether the value of the fragment/service type of the S-NSSAI is an available value or not;

if not, generating a substitute value, and replacing the value of the fragment/service type of the S-NSSAI with the substitute value.

Optionally, the sending module is specifically adapted to:

if the second network function entity receives a service subscription success message containing a service subscription identifier, returning an NSSAI (allowed NSSAI) message containing the S-NSSAI to the user equipment;

and the first network and the second network can determine corresponding service quality parameters and provide services according to the service subscription identifiers.

Fig. 4 shows an apparatus for allocating network slices according to another embodiment of the present invention, including:

a sending module 41, adapted to add a first network identifier in an SD domain of an S-NSSAI carried in a registration request when the registration request is sent to a second network function entity through an N3IWF, so that the second network function entity triggers an operation of subscribing to a quality of service parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI from the first network based on the first network identifier; wherein the first network identifier is used for indicating an operator network currently accessed by the user equipment;

a receiving module 42, adapted to receive the NSSAI allowed message including the S-NSSAI returned by the second network function entity.

Optionally, the sending module is specifically adapted to:

and if the fragmentation discriminator of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request is an effective value and the fragmentation/service type of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value, adding a first network identifier in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request.

Optionally, the receiving module is further adapted to:

creating a PDU session according to the S-NSSAI, so that a session management function entity obtains a first network identifier contained in an SD domain of the S-NSSAI, and sends a data stream identifier of the PDU session to a control plane function entity of an operator network corresponding to the first network identifier; the data stream identifier includes the service subscription identifier, and the service subscription identifier is used for being provided to the first network, so that the first network determines the corresponding quality of service parameter and provides service.

In addition, referring to fig. 5, still another embodiment of the present invention provides an electronic apparatus, including:

one or more processors 501;

a memory 502 on which one or more programs are stored, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method for network slice allocation of any of the above;

one or more I/O interfaces 503 coupled between the processor and the memory and configured to enable information interaction between the processor and the memory.

The processor 501 is a device with data processing capability, and includes but is not limited to a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and the like; memory 502 is a device having data storage capabilities including, but not limited to, random access memory (RAM, more specifically SDRAM, DDR, etc.), Read Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM), FLASH memory (FLASH); an I/O interface (read/write interface) 503 is connected between the processor 501 and the memory 502, and can realize information interaction between the processor 501 and the memory 502, which includes but is not limited to a data Bus (Bus) and the like.

In some embodiments, the processor 501, memory 502, and I/O interface 503 are connected to each other and to other components of the computing device by a bus.

Finally, another embodiment of the present invention provides a computer-readable medium, on which a computer program is stored, which when executed by a processor implements any one of the above-mentioned network slice allocation methods.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that all or some of the steps of the above inventive method, systems, functional modules/units in the apparatus may be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, and suitable combinations thereof. In a hardware implementation, the division between functional modules/units mentioned in the above description does not necessarily correspond to the division of physical components; for example, one physical component may have multiple functions, or one function or step may be performed by several physical components in cooperation. Some or all of the physical components may be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application specific integrated circuit. Such software may be distributed on computer readable media, which may include computer storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transitory media). The term computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, Digital Versatile Disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer. In addition, communication media typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism and includes any information delivery media as known to those skilled in the art.

Example embodiments have been invented herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and should be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. In some instances, features, characteristics and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used alone or in combination with features, characteristics and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments, unless expressly stated otherwise, as would be apparent to one skilled in the art. It will, therefore, be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A method for allocating network slices, comprising:

responding to a first network identifier contained in a segment identifier (SD) domain of single network segment selection auxiliary information (S-NSSAI) carried in the registration request, and forwarding a user equipment identifier, the S-NSSAI and a service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request to a network management system, so that the network management system can subscribe the service quality parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI to a first network according to the first network identifier contained in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI; wherein the first network identifier is used for indicating an operator network currently accessed by the user equipment;

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the including the first network identifier in the SD domain in response to the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request comprises:

and if the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request is a valid value and the fragmentation/service type of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value, determining that the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request contains the first network identifier.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein if the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request is a valid value and the fragmentation/service type of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value, determining that the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request contains the first network identifier comprises:

4. The method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the step of the second network function entity returning the NSSAI allowed message including the S-NSSAI to the UE specifically comprises:

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein after the second network function entity returns an NSSAI allowed message containing the S-NSSAI to the user equipment, further comprising:

when receiving a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session created by the user equipment according to the S-NSSAI, acquiring a first network identifier contained in an SD domain of the S-NSSAI, and sending a data stream identifier of the PDU session to a control plane function entity of an operator network corresponding to the first network identifier; the data stream identifier includes the service subscription identifier, and the service subscription identifier is used for being provided to the first network, so that the first network determines the corresponding quality of service parameter and provides service.

6. A method for allocating network slices, comprising:

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the user equipment adding the first network identifier in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request when sending the registration request to the second network function entity through the N3IWF comprises:

and if the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request is a valid value and the fragmentation/service type of the S-NSSAI is not a standard value, adding a first network identifier in the SD domain of the S-NSSAI carried in the registration request.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein after receiving the NSSAI allowed message including the S-NSSAI returned by the second network function entity, further comprising:

creating a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session according to the S-NSSAI, so that a session management functional entity obtains a first network identifier contained in an SD domain of the S-NSSAI, and sends a data stream identifier of the PDU session to a control plane functional entity of an operator network corresponding to the first network identifier; the data stream identifier includes a service subscription identifier, and the service subscription identifier is used for being provided to the first network, so that the first network determines a corresponding quality of service parameter and provides a service.

9. An apparatus for distributing network slices, comprising:

10. An apparatus for distributing network slices, comprising:

a sending module, adapted to add a first network identifier in an SD domain of an S-NSSAI carried in a registration request when sending the registration request to a second network function entity through an N3IWF, so that the second network function entity triggers an operation of subscribing to a quality of service parameter corresponding to the S-NSSAI from the first network based on the first network identifier; the first network identification is used for indicating an operator network which is accessed by user equipment currently;

11. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors;

storage means on which is stored one or more programs that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to implement the method of any one of claims 1-5 or the method of any one of claims 6-8;

12. A computer-readable medium, on which a computer program is stored which, when being executed by a processor, carries out the method according to any one of claims 1-5 or the method according to any one of claims 6-8.