JP2020170996A - Network controller and communication method - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce amount of communications via an external interface in a core network segment of a wireless communication system.SOLUTION: There is provided a network controller that comprises: a reception unit to receive information indicating a service request condition; a control unit to select a plurality of network functions required to satisfy the service request condition and couple two or more network functions among the plurality of network functions selected according to a predetermined rule; and a transmission unit to transmit information indicating the plurality of network functions selected and the two or more network functions coupled.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to network control devices and communication methods in wireless communication systems.

Among the mobile communication systems standardized by 3GPP, in the mobile communication systems up to 4G, the functions of the core network are integrated as one function. In a 5G core network, a method of subdividing and deploying network functions for the purpose of shortening the time to provide services and improving the flexibility of customizing network functions, that is, service-based architecture (Service) Based Architecture) is adopted.

A service-based architecture is to modify only some network functions without affecting the whole network functions, such as disassembling some network functions and changing the contents of some network functions. Is a possible architecture.

As described above, the service-based architecture is adopted for the 5G core network.

3GPP TS 23.501 V15.4.0 (2018-12)

When the network functions are subdivided and a plurality of subdivided network functions are set in the core network, the communication through the external interface between the subdivided network functions increases as the communication inside the core network. As a result, the processing time in the entire core network section (communication processing time via the external interface + processing time in the network function) becomes long, and there is a possibility that the requirements for the delay required for providing the service cannot be satisfied. There is. In the core network section of a wireless communication system, there is a need for a technology that makes it possible to reduce the amount of communication via an external interface.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a receiving unit that receives information indicating a service requirement condition and a plurality of network functions necessary for satisfying the service requirement condition are selected, and the plurality of selected network functions are selected according to a predetermined rule. A network control device including a control unit that combines two or more network functions among network functions and a transmission unit that transmits information indicating the plurality of selected network functions and the two or more combined network functions. Provided.

According to the disclosed technology, a technology capable of reducing the amount of communication via an external interface is provided in a core network section of a wireless communication system.

It is a figure which shows the example of the architecture of the core network of 5G. It is a figure which shows the example of the service-based architecture. It is a figure which shows the example of the case where one network function is realized as a virtual machine or a container on a single physical machine. It is a figure which shows the example of the case where a plurality of network functions are realized by a single physical machine. It is a figure which shows the example of the case where the function A is divided into two, and the case where the function A is divided into four. It is a figure which shows the example which selects the required network function according to the requirement condition of a service. It is a figure which shows the example which combines the functions determined to be necessary according to a predetermined rule. It is a figure which shows the example which combines the network function when the network function is highly relevant. It is a figure which shows the example which combines the network function when the communication partner of a network function is similar. It is a figure which shows the example which combines the network function when the installation place of the hardware which the network function is set is similar. It is a figure which shows an example of the functional structure of a network control device. It is a figure which shows an example of the hardware configuration of a network control device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments described below are merely examples, and the embodiments to which the present invention is applied are not limited to the following embodiments.

It is assumed that the wireless communication system in the following embodiment basically conforms to NR, but this is an example, and the wireless communication system in this embodiment is a wireless communication other than NR in a part or all of them. It may be compliant with a communication system (eg LTE).

A service-based architecture is to modify only some network functions without affecting the whole network functions, such as disassembling some network functions and changing the contents of some network functions. Is a possible architecture. A service-based architecture is adopted for the 5G core network.

A 5G radio communication system is composed of a terminal, a RAN (Radio Access Network), and a core network (Non-Patent Document 1).

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a 5G core network architecture. As shown in FIG. 1, the architecture of the 5G core network is separated into a U-plane function (UPF: User Plane Function) and a C-plane function. The U-plane function provides a function of transmitting and receiving user data. The C-plane function provides a function of processing a control signal.

As shown in FIG. 1, the C-plane function includes a plurality of network functions.

The AMF (Access and Mobility function Function) shown in FIG. 1 provides a function of mobility management. SMF (Session Management Function) provides a session management function.

The UDM (Unified Data Management) in FIG. 1 is similar to the HSS (Home Subscriber Server) in the EPC (Evolved Packet Core) architecture. UDR (User Data Republic) retains and manages subscriber information. AUF (Autitionation Server Function) provides an authentication processing function. The PCF (Policy Control Function) provides a policy control function. NEF (Network Exposure Function) provides application providers with a subset of 3GPP services. NSFF (Network Slicence Selection Function) provides a set of Network Slice instances that provide services.

In the service-based architecture (SBA: Service Based Architecture), network functions (NW function: Network Function) required for the network are defined like AMF and SMF, and these NFs are connected via the service-based interface. The network function is composed of a plurality of further subdivided network functions.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of a service-based architecture. As shown in FIG. 2, in the service-based architecture, subdivided network functions are connected to each other via an external interface. For example, AMF and SMF are devices. Here, AMF and SMF can be realized on a general-purpose server by using virtualization technology such as Network Function Virtualization (NFV). That is, AMF and SMF may be realized by operating the software on a general-purpose server. In the example of FIG. 2, for example, function A and / or function B may correspond to AMF. Similarly, in the example of FIG. 2, for example, function A and / or function B may correspond to SMF. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, the function A is composed of a plurality of network functions (NW functions A-1, A-2, A-3, and A-4), and the function B is a plurality of network functions (NW functions A-1, A-2, A-3, and A-4). It may be composed of NW functions B-1, B-2, and B-3). Each network function among the plurality of network functions (NW functions A-1, A-2, A-3, and A-4) included in the function A shown in FIG. 2 is, for example, independently on a general-purpose server. Executable software. Similarly, each network function among the plurality of network functions (NW functions B-1, B-2, and B-3) included in the function B shown in FIG. 2 is executed independently on, for example, a general-purpose server. Possible software. That is, the smallest building block of a service-based architecture may be software that can be run independently.

(About issues)
As mentioned above, the smallest building block of a service-based architecture can be thought of as software that can be run independently. However, if the software, which is a constituent unit of a function, is divided too finely, it may be inefficient from the viewpoint of communication of a wireless communication network.

In other words, when the network functions are subdivided and a plurality of subdivided network functions are set in the core network, the communication through the external interface between the subdivided network functions increases as the communication inside the core network. To do. As a result, the processing time in the entire core network section (communication processing time via the external interface + processing time in the network function) becomes long, and there is a possibility that the requirements for the delay required for providing the service cannot be satisfied. There is.

Here, an external interface for communication between network functions will be described. The external interface for communication between network functions depends on how the network functions are implemented.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example in which one network function is realized as a virtual machine (VM) or a container on a single physical machine. In this case, the external interface between the network function realized by one physical machine and the network function realized by another physical machine is the above-mentioned physical NIC (Network Interface Card) of one physical machine and the above-mentioned. It is a cable that connects the physical NICs of other physical machines and those NICs.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example in which a plurality of network functions are realized by a single physical machine. In this case, the external interface between the network functions is the communication inside the computer between the virtual NIC of one network function and the virtual NIC of the other network function.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a case where the function A is divided into two ((1) of FIG. 5) and a case where the function A is divided into four ((2) of FIG. 5). When the function A is divided into two as shown in (1) of FIG. 5, the number of times of communication via the external interface is three times. When the function A is divided into four as shown in (2) of FIG. 5, the number of times of communication via the external interface is five. Therefore, as the number of divisions increases, the processing time in the function A, that is, the processing time for communication via the external interface and the processing time in each network function are generally considered to increase.

The above-mentioned problem is to select a plurality of network functions required to satisfy the service requirements according to the service requirements, appropriately combine the selected network functions, and use the selected network functions as core network functions. It can be solved by the network control device 10 to be set. That is, according to the network control device 10 of the embodiment, it is possible to reduce the amount of communication between network functions via the external interface, and thereby it is possible to satisfy the required condition for a predetermined delay. Become. Further, according to the network control device 10 of the embodiment, the plurality of network functions required to satisfy the service requirement condition are selected according to the service requirement condition, and then the selected plurality of network functions are combined. , Service-based architecture flexibility can be maintained. Combining a plurality of network functions means that the plurality of network functions can be executed as one software by integrating each network function as software that can be executed independently as one software. May be good.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which the network control device 10 selects a necessary network function according to a service requirement. In the example of FIG. 6, the requirements are different for each service. For example, in the example of FIG. 6, the presence / absence of the billing function may be set as the "condition". In addition, move / not move may be set as the "condition". Further, as the "delay", a condition that the delay time associated with the processing of the entire function is 30 ms or less may be set. As described above, whether or not the network control device 10 requires each network function (NW functions A-1 to A-5 and NW functions B-1 to B-6) for the requirements for each service. Is determined. In the example of FIG. 6, the network control device 10 determines that the NW functions A-4, B-3, and B-5 are unnecessary for the service A.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example in which the network control device 10 combines the functions determined to be necessary in the example of FIG. 6 according to a predetermined rule. As shown in FIG. 7, by combining the network functions according to a predetermined rule, it is possible to reduce the time required for the communication processing in the function A and the function B.

The details of the predetermined rule will be described below. When the network control device 10 combines one network function with another network function, the one network function and the other network function do not have to be included in the same function. For example, in the example of FIG. 2, the network control device 10 may be capable of combining the network function A-1 of the function A and the network function A-3. Further, the network control device 10 may be capable of combining the network function A-1 of the function A and the network function B-1 of the function B.

For example, as a predetermined rule, when a plurality of network functions are highly related, a rule of combining the plurality of network functions may be applied. As an additional or alternative, a rule of combining the plurality of network functions when the communication partners of the plurality of network functions are similar may be applied as a predetermined rule. Additional or alternative, the rule of combining the plurality of network functions may be applied when the installation locations of the hardware in which the plurality of network functions are set are similar.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example in which a rule of combining the plurality of network functions is applied as a predetermined rule when the plurality of network functions are highly related. In the example of FIG. 8, first, the network control device 10 selects the network function necessary for providing the service A based on the requirements of the service A. As shown in FIG. 8, the network control device 10 selects a network function other than the NW functions A-4, B-3, and B-5. At this selected stage, the network controller 10 has not yet combined the selected functions. Next, the network control device 10 combines highly relevant network functions among the selected network functions. For example, suppose that the "condition" is "whether or not to move". In this case, it is assumed that the network functions related to "movement" are NW functions A-3, A-5, and B-1. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, the network control device 10 combines the NW functions A-3, A-5, and B-1.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example in which a rule of combining the plurality of network functions is applied as a predetermined rule when the communication partners of the plurality of network functions are similar. According to FIG. 9, the number of communications between the NW function A-1 and the NW function A-3 is 2, and the number of communications between the NW function A-1 and the NW function A-5 is 1. Therefore, the network control device 10 determines that the communication partner of the NW function A-3 and the communication partner of the NW function A-5 are similar, and combines the NW function A-3 and the NW function A-5.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which a rule of combining a plurality of network functions is applied when the installation locations of hardware in which a plurality of network functions are set are similar as a predetermined rule. is there. In FIG. 10, for example, α, β, and γ indicate the geographical installation location of the server on which the network function is installed. For example, α may be Tokyo, β may be Osaka, and γ may be Kyushu. Further, for example, α may be in building A, β may be in building B, and γ may be in building C. In the example of FIG. 10, the NW function A-1 is installed on the server at the location α. The NW function A-2 is installed on the server at location β. The NW functions A-3, A-5, and B-1 are installed on the server at location γ. In this case, the network control device 10 combines the NW functions A-3, A-5, and B-1 installed in the server (network control device 10) at the location γ.

(Device configuration)
Next, a functional configuration example of the network control device 10 that executes the processing operations described so far will be described. The network control device 10 has all the functions described in the present embodiment. However, the network control device 10 may include only a part of the functions described in the present embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example of the functional configuration of the network control device 10. As shown in FIG. 11, the network control device 10 includes a transmission unit 110, a reception unit 120, and a control unit 130. The functional configuration shown in FIG. 11 is only an example. Any function classification and name of the functional unit may be used as long as the operation according to the present embodiment can be executed.

The transmission unit 110 creates a transmission signal from the transmission data and transmits the transmission signal to the network. The receiving unit 120 receives various signals from the network and acquires a signal of a higher layer from the received signal of the physical layer.

The control unit 130 controls the network control device 10. The control unit 130 realizes a plurality of network functions provided by the network control device 10 by, for example, virtualization technology. The control unit 130 can independently execute each network function among the plurality of network functions. The function of the control unit 130 related to transmission may be included in the transmission unit 110, and the function of the control unit 130 related to reception may be included in the reception unit 120.

In the network control device 10, the receiving unit 120 receives a signal from the network including information indicating service requirements. The control unit 130 determines whether or not each network function among the plurality of network functions provided by the network control device 10 is required based on the information indicating the service requirement conditions received by the reception unit 120. Further, the control unit 130 combines two or more functions determined to be necessary among the plurality of network functions according to a predetermined rule. In addition, the transmission unit 110 transmits the processing result of each network function of the network control device 10 to the network. Further, the transmission unit 110 transmits to the network information indicating a plurality of network functions selected by the control unit 130 and two or more network functions in which the control unit 130 is combined.

<Hardware configuration>
The block diagram (FIG. 11) used in the description of the above embodiment shows a block of functional units. These functional blocks (components) are realized by any combination of at least one of hardware and software. Further, the method of realizing each functional block is not particularly limited. That is, each functional block may be realized by using one physically or logically connected device, or directly or indirectly (for example, two or more physically or logically separated devices). , Wired, wireless, etc.) and may be realized using these plurality of devices. The functional block may be realized by combining the software with the one device or the plurality of devices. Functions include judgment, decision, judgment, calculation, calculation, processing, derivation, investigation, search, confirmation, reception, transmission, output, access, solution, selection, selection, establishment, comparison, assumption, expectation, assumption, There are broadcasting, notifying, communicating, forwarding, configuring, reconfiguring, allocating, mapping, assigning, etc., but only these. I can't. For example, a functional block (constituent unit) for functioning transmission is called a transmitting unit or a transmitter. As described above, the method of realizing each of them is not particularly limited.

Further, for example, the network control device 10 in one embodiment of the present invention may function as a computer that performs processing according to the present embodiment. FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the network control device 10 according to the present embodiment. The network control device 10 described above may be physically configured as a computer device including a processor 1001, a memory 1002, a storage 1003, a communication device 1004, an input device 1005, an output device 1006, a bus 1007, and the like.

In the following description, the word "device" can be read as a circuit, a device, a unit, or the like. The hardware configuration of the network control device 10 may be configured to include one or more of the devices shown in 1001 to 1006 shown in the figure, or may be configured not to include some devices. ..

For each function in the network control device 10, the processor 1001 performs an operation by loading predetermined software (program) on hardware such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002, and controls the communication by the communication device 1004 or the memory. It is realized by controlling at least one of reading and writing of data in the 1002 and the storage 1003.

Processor 1001 operates, for example, an operating system to control the entire computer. The processor 1001 may be configured by a central processing unit (CPU) including an interface with a peripheral device, a control device, an arithmetic unit, a register, and the like.

Further, the processor 1001 reads a program (program code), a software module, data, and the like from at least one of the storage 1003 and the communication device 1004 into the memory 1002, and executes various processes according to these. As the program, a program that causes a computer to execute at least a part of the operations described in the above-described embodiment is used. For example, the control unit 130 of the network control device 10 may be realized by a control program stored in the memory 1002 and operating in the processor 1001, and may be realized in the same manner for other functional blocks. Although it has been explained that the various processes described above are executed by one processor 1001, they may be executed simultaneously or sequentially by two or more processors 1001. Processor 1001 may be implemented by one or more chips. The program may be transmitted from the network via a telecommunication line.

The memory 1002 is a computer-readable recording medium, and is composed of at least one such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), and a RAM (Random Access Memory). May be done. The memory 1002 may be referred to as a register, a cache, a main memory (main storage device), or the like. The memory 1002 can store a program (program code), a software module, or the like that can be executed to implement the communication method according to the embodiment of the present disclosure.

The storage 1003 is a computer-readable recording medium, for example, an optical disk such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc ROM), a hard disk drive, a flexible disk, a magneto-optical disk (for example, a compact disk, a digital versatile disk, a Blu-ray). It may consist of at least one (registered trademark) disk), smart card, flash memory (eg, card, stick, key drive), floppy (registered trademark) disk, magnetic strip, and the like. The storage 1003 may be referred to as an auxiliary storage device.

The communication device 1004 is hardware (transmission / reception device) for communicating between computers via at least one of a wired network and a wireless network, and is also referred to as, for example, a network device, a network controller, a network card, a communication module, or the like. Communication device 1004 includes, for example, a high frequency switch, a duplexer, a filter, a frequency synthesizer, and the like in order to realize at least one of frequency division duplex (FDD) and time division duplex (TDD). It may be composed of. For example, the transmitting unit 110, the receiving unit 120, and the like may be realized by the communication device 1004.

The input device 1005 is an input device (for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a switch, a button, a sensor, etc.) that receives an input from the outside. The output device 1006 is an output device (for example, a display, a speaker, an LED lamp, etc.) that outputs to the outside.

Further, each device such as the processor 1001 and the memory 1002 is connected by a bus 1007 for communicating information. The bus 1007 may be configured by using a single bus, or may be configured by using a different bus for each device.

Further, each of the network control devices 10 has hardware such as a microprocessor, a digital signal processor (DSP: Digital Signal Processor), an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), a PLD (Programmable Logic Device), and an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). It may be configured to include, and a part or all of each functional block may be realized by the hardware. For example, processor 1001 may be implemented using at least one of these hardware.

(Summary of embodiments)
At least the following network control devices and communication methods are disclosed in the present specification.

A receiver for receiving information indicating a service requirement condition and a plurality of network functions required to satisfy the service requirement condition are selected, and two or more networks of the selected plurality of network functions are selected according to a predetermined rule. A network control device including a control unit that combines functions, and a transmission unit that transmits information indicating the plurality of selected network functions and the two or more combined network functions. According to the above configuration, the network control device can reduce the amount of communication between network functions via the external interface, thereby satisfying the requirement for a predetermined delay. .. In addition, the flexibility of the service-based architecture can be maintained because the network functions required to satisfy the service requirements are selected according to the service requirements and then the selected network functions are combined.

The control unit may set a part of the functions of the core network by selecting the plurality of network functions and combining the two or more network functions.

The predetermined rule may be a rule of combining the plurality of network functions when the plurality of network functions are highly related.

The predetermined rule may be a rule of combining the plurality of network functions when the communication partners of the plurality of network functions are similar.

The predetermined rule may be a rule of combining the plurality of network functions when the communication partners of the plurality of network functions are similar.

Each network function among the plurality of network functions may be software that can be executed independently on a single physical machine.

A step of receiving information indicating a service requirement condition and a plurality of network functions required to satisfy the service requirement condition are selected, and two or more network functions of the selected plurality of network functions are selected according to a predetermined rule. A communication method by a network control device, comprising a step of combining the above-mentioned a plurality of selected network functions and a step of transmitting information indicating the combined two or more network functions.

According to the above-mentioned communication method, the network control device can reduce the amount of communication through the external interface between the network functions, thereby satisfying the required condition for the predetermined delay. Become. In addition, the flexibility of the service-based architecture can be maintained because the network functions required to satisfy the service requirements are selected according to the service requirements and then the selected network functions are combined.

(Supplement to the embodiment)
Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the disclosed invention is not limited to such embodiments, and those skilled in the art can understand various modifications, modifications, alternatives, substitutions, and the like. There will be. Although explanations have been given using specific numerical examples in order to promote understanding of the invention, these numerical values are merely examples and any appropriate value may be used unless otherwise specified. The classification of items in the above description is not essential to the present invention, and the items described in two or more items may be used in combination as necessary, and the items described in one item may be used in combination with another item. It may be applied (as long as there is no contradiction) to the matters described in. The boundary of the functional unit or the processing unit in the functional block diagram does not always correspond to the boundary of the physical component. The operation of the plurality of functional units may be physically performed by one component, or the operation of one functional unit may be physically performed by a plurality of components. With respect to the processing procedure described in the embodiment, the order of processing may be changed as long as there is no contradiction. For convenience of processing description, the network control device 10 has been described with reference to a functional block diagram, but such devices may be implemented in hardware, software, or a combination thereof. The software operated by the processor included in the network control device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention includes a random access memory (RAM), a flash memory, a read-only memory (ROM), an EPROM, an EEPROM, a register, a hard disk (HDD), and a removable disk. , CD-ROM, database, server or any other suitable storage medium.

Notification of information is not limited to the embodiments / embodiments described in the present disclosure, and may be performed by other methods. For example, information notification includes physical layer signaling (for example, DCI (Downlink Control Information), UCI (Uplink Control Information)), upper layer signaling (for example, RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling, MAC (Medium Access Control) signaling, etc. It may be carried out by notification information (MIB (Master Information Block), SIB (System Information Block)), other signals, or a combination thereof. Further, the RRC signaling may be referred to as an RRC message, and may be, for example, an RRC Connection Setup message, an RRC Connection Reconfiguration message, or the like.

Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure includes LTE (Long Term Evolution), LTE-A (LTE-Advanced), SUPER 3G, IMT-Advanced, 4G (4th generation mobile communication system), and 5G (5th generation mobile communication). system), FRA (Future Radio Access), NR (new Radio), W-CDMA (registered trademark), GSM (registered trademark), CDMA2000, UMB (Ultra Mobile Broadband), IEEE 802.11 (Wi-Fi (registered trademark)) )), IEEE 802.16 (WiMAX®), IEEE 802.20, UWB (Ultra-WideBand), Bluetooth®, and other systems that utilize and extend based on these. It may be applied to at least one of the next generation systems. Further, a plurality of systems may be applied in combination (for example, a combination of at least one of LTE and LTE-A and 5G).

The order of the processing procedures, sequences, flowcharts, and the like of each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be changed as long as there is no contradiction. For example, the methods described in the present disclosure present elements of various steps using exemplary order, and are not limited to the particular order presented.

The input / output information and the like may be stored in a specific location (for example, memory), or may be managed using a management table. Input / output information and the like can be overwritten, updated, or added. The output information and the like may be deleted. The input information or the like may be transmitted to another device.

The determination may be made by a value represented by 1 bit (0 or 1), by a boolean value (Boolean: true or false), or by comparing numerical values (for example, a predetermined value). It may be done by comparison with the value).

Each aspect / embodiment described in the present disclosure may be used alone, in combination, or switched with execution. Further, the notification of predetermined information (for example, the notification of "being X") is not limited to the explicit notification, but is performed implicitly (for example, the notification of the predetermined information is not performed). May be good.

Software is an instruction, instruction set, code, code segment, program code, program, subprogram, software module, whether called software, firmware, middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or another name. , Applications, software applications, software packages, routines, subroutines, objects, executable files, execution threads, procedures, features, etc. should be broadly interpreted to mean.

Further, software, instructions, information and the like may be transmitted and received via a transmission medium. For example, a website, where the software uses at least one of wired technology (coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), etc.) and wireless technology (infrared, microwave, etc.). When transmitted from a server, or other remote source, at least one of these wired and wireless technologies is included within the definition of transmission medium.

The information, signals, etc. described in the present disclosure may be represented using any of a variety of different techniques. For example, data, instructions, commands, information, signals, bits, symbols, chips, etc. that may be referred to throughout the above description may be voltage, current, electromagnetic waves, magnetic fields or magnetic particles, light fields or photons, or any of these. It may be represented by a combination of.

The terms described in the present disclosure and the terms necessary for understanding the present disclosure may be replaced with terms having the same or similar meanings.

The terms "system" and "network" used in this disclosure are used interchangeably.

In the present disclosure, "Base Station (BS)", "Wireless Base Station", "Fixed Station", "NodeB", "eNodeB (eNB)", "gNodeB (gNB)", " "Access point", "transmission point", "reception point", "transmission / reception point", "cell", "sector", "cell group", "cell group" Terms such as "carrier" and "component carrier" can be used interchangeably. Base stations are sometimes referred to by terms such as macrocells, small cells, femtocells, and picocells.

The base station can accommodate one or more (eg, three) cells. When a base station accommodates multiple cells, the entire coverage area of the base station can be divided into multiple smaller areas, each smaller area being a base station subsystem (eg, a small indoor base station (RRH:)). Communication services can also be provided by Remote Radio Head). The term "cell" or "sector" refers to a portion or all of the coverage area of at least one of the base stations and base station subsystems that provide communication services in this coverage. Point to.

In the present disclosure, terms such as "mobile station (MS)", "user terminal", "user equipment (UE)", and "terminal" may be used interchangeably. ..

Mobile stations can be subscriber stations, mobile units, subscriber units, wireless units, remote units, mobile devices, wireless devices, wireless communication devices, remote devices, mobile subscriber stations, access terminals, mobile terminals, wireless, depending on the trader. It may also be referred to as a terminal, remote terminal, handset, user agent, mobile client, client, or some other suitable term.

At least one of a base station and a mobile station may be referred to as a transmitting device, a receiving device, a communication device, or the like. At least one of the base station and the mobile station may be a device mounted on the mobile body, the mobile body itself, or the like. The moving body may be a vehicle (eg, car, airplane, etc.), an unmanned moving body (eg, drone, self-driving car, etc.), or a robot (manned or unmanned). ) May be. It should be noted that at least one of the base station and the mobile station includes a device that does not necessarily move during communication operation. For example, at least one of a base station and a mobile station may be an IoT (Internet of Things) device such as a sensor.

The terms "connected", "coupled", or any variation thereof, mean any direct or indirect connection or connection between two or more elements, and each other. It can include the presence of one or more intermediate elements between two "connected" or "combined" elements. The connection or connection between the elements may be physical, logical, or a combination thereof. For example, "connection" may be read as "access". As used in the present disclosure, the two elements use at least one of one or more wires, cables and printed electrical connections, and, as some non-limiting and non-comprehensive examples, the radio frequency domain. Can be considered to be "connected" or "coupled" to each other using electromagnetic energies having wavelengths in the microwave and light (both visible and invisible) regions.

The phrase "based on" as used in this disclosure does not mean "based on" unless otherwise stated. In other words, the statement "based on" means both "based only" and "at least based on".

When used in the present disclosure are "include," "include," and variants thereof, these terms are as comprehensive as the term "comprising." Is intended. Furthermore, the term "or" used in the present disclosure is intended not to be an exclusive OR.

In the present disclosure, if articles are added by translation, for example a, an and the in English, the disclosure may include that the nouns following these articles are in the plural.

In the present disclosure, the term "A and B are different" may mean "A and B are different from each other". The term may mean that "A and B are different from C". Terms such as "separate" and "combined" may be interpreted in the same way as "different".

Although the present invention has been described in detail above, it is clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described in the present specification. The present invention can be implemented as modifications and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the claims. Therefore, the description of the present specification is for the purpose of exemplification and does not have any limiting meaning to the present invention.

10 Network control device 110 Transmission unit 120 Reception unit 130 Control unit 1001 Processor 1002 Memory 1003 Storage 1004 Communication device 1005 Input device 1006 Output device

Claims (7)

A receiver that receives information indicating service requirements and
A control unit that selects a plurality of network functions required to satisfy the service requirement condition and combines two or more network functions among the selected plurality of network functions according to a predetermined rule.
A transmitter that transmits information indicating the plurality of selected network functions and the two or more combined network functions, and a transmitter.
A network control device. The control unit sets a part of the functions of the core network by selecting the plurality of network functions and combining the two or more network functions.
The network control device according to claim 1. The predetermined rule is a rule of combining the plurality of network functions when the plurality of network functions are highly related.
The network control device according to claim 1. The predetermined rule is a rule of combining the plurality of network functions when the communication partners of the plurality of network functions are similar.
The network control device according to claim 1. The predetermined rule is a rule of combining the plurality of network functions when the installation locations of the hardware in which the plurality of network functions are set are similar.
The network control device according to claim 1. Each network function among the plurality of network functions is software that can be executed independently on a single physical machine.
The network control device according to claim 1. Steps to receive information indicating service requirements and
A step of selecting a plurality of network functions required to satisfy the service requirement condition and combining two or more network functions of the selected plurality of network functions according to a predetermined rule.
A step of transmitting information indicating the plurality of selected network functions and the two or more combined network functions, and
A communication method using a network control device.