KR20190056914A - Method and apparatus for providing service through network slice - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a network slice providing method and a network device, wherein the network slice providing method comprises the steps of: receiving a packet data unit (PDU) session construction request message including information on a network slice corresponding to a service, from a terminal; determining a session management function (SMF) and a user plane function (UPF) which are included in the network slice and capable of processing the service; transmitting a network slice instance request message including the determined SMF and UPF to a network slice selection function (NSSF); receiving information on a network slice instance including the SMF and UPF from the NSSF; and transmitting a PDU session construction approval message to the terminal in response to the PDU session construction request message.

Description

[0001] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING SERVICE THROUGH NETWORK SLICE [0002]

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for providing services to a terminal via a network slice.

While 4G networks are optimized for smartphones, 5G networks need to provide services to diverse terminals with different attributes. Mobile Broadband, Massive IoT, and Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication, which are typical use cases of 5G system, are used for mobility, charging (Charging) ), Security, policy control, latency, reliability, and so on.

For example, a hyperconnected object Internet service, in which a fixed sensor measuring temperature, humidity, rainfall, etc., is connected to a network, does not require functions such as mobility. In addition, ultra low delay communication services such as autonomous mobile or remote industrial robot control require low delay within several milliseconds unlike mobile broadband services. Mobile broadband services also require up to one gigabit of bandwidth.

The network slicing technique can provide a plurality of logical networks (network slices), including specific network functions, created in one physical network, in order to satisfy the different performance requirements of each of the above services . That is, each logical network can provide various services having different characteristics and can reduce network construction cost.

One embodiment provides a method for providing a service over a network slice.

Another embodiment provides a network device that provides services over a network slice.

Yet another embodiment provides a method of creating a network slice instance.

According to one embodiment, a method is provided for an AMF of a communication network to provide service through a network slice. The service providing method includes the steps of: receiving a packet data unit (PDU) session establishment request message including information on a network slice corresponding to a service from a terminal; Sending a network slice instance request message to the NSSF including information of the determined SMF and UPF, receiving information of the network slice instance including the SMF and the UPF from the NSSF, and PDU session establishment request message to the UE in response to the PDU session establishment request message.

The service providing method may further include providing a service to the terminal or another terminal based on the information about the network slice instance when a network slice is requested again from the terminal or another terminal.

The step of determining the SMF and the UPF in the service providing method may include selecting the SMF capable of processing the service and receiving information on the UPF determined by the selected SMF from the selected SMF.

Selecting an SMF capable of processing a service in the service providing method may include receiving information necessary for selecting an SMF from the NRF if the information required to select the SMF is not stored in the AMF.

Selecting an SMF capable of processing a service in the service providing method may include requesting selection of the SMF to the NRF if the information required to select the SMF is not stored in the AMF.

In the service providing method, the information of the network slice instance includes the number of the network slice instance, and the method of providing the network slice may further include managing the number of the network slice instance.

According to another embodiment, a network device of a communication network is provided. The network device includes a processor, a memory, and a network interface, the processor executing a program stored in the memory to receive a PDU session establishment request message from the terminal, the PDU session establishment request message including information of a network slice corresponding to the service, Determining a SMF and a UPF that are included in the slice, capable of handling the service, sending a network slice instance request message to the NSSF including information of the SMF and the UPF determined, a network slice instance including the SMF and the UPF From the NSSF, and transmitting a PDU session establishment acceptance message to the UE in response to the PDU session establishment request message.

In the network device, the processor may execute a program to further provide a service to the terminal or another terminal based on the information about the network slice instance, if the terminal or the terminal and the terminal are requested again from another terminal .

In performing the step of determining the SMF and the UPF, the processor in the network device may perform the step of selecting an SMF capable of processing the service and receiving information on the UPF determined by the selected SMF from the selected SMF .

In the network device, selecting a SMF capable of processing a service by the processor may include selecting a SMF from a Network Repository Function (NRF) if the information required to select the SMF is not stored in the network device And receiving the necessary information.

In the network device, the processor selects the SMF capable of processing the service. If the information required for selecting the SMF is not stored in the network device, the selection is made to the Network Repository Function (NRF) Lt; / RTI >

Wherein the information of the network slice instance in the network device includes the number of the network slice instance, and the processor executes the program to further manage the number of the network slice instance.

According to yet another embodiment, a method is provided for an NSSF of a communication network to create a network slice instance. The method of generating a network slice instance comprises: receiving, from an AMF, a network slice instance request message for providing a service to a terminal; sending a network slice instance request message including a network slice including an SMF and a UPF capable of processing a service based on the network slice instance request message Creating an instance, and sending a network slice instance accept message to the AMF in response to the network slice instance request message.

Wherein creating a network slice instance in the network slice instance creation method comprises comparing SMF and UPF information with information of a network slice managed by the NSSF and including SMF and UPF in the network slice managed by the NSSF If the existing network slice instance does not include the new network slice instance, then a new network slice instance may be created.

In the network slice instance creation method, the network slice instance accept message may include a number of a new network slice instance.

In the method for generating a network slice instance, the step of transmitting a network slice instance acceptance message to the AMF includes: if the network slice managed by the NSSF includes an existing network slice instance including the SMF and the UPF, And sending to the AMF via the network slice instance accept message.

According to one embodiment, a network slice instance can be instantly generated based on a request of a terminal, and the combined network function can be efficiently provided to provide a service through the generated network slice instance.

1 is a conceptual diagram showing a functional configuration diagram of a 5G system according to an embodiment.
2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a network slice according to an embodiment.
3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a relationship between a network slice and a network function according to an embodiment.
4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering a network slice according to an embodiment.
5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a network slice instance according to an embodiment of the present invention.
6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a network slice instance provided in accordance with one embodiment.
7 is a block diagram illustrating a wireless communication system according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art can easily carry out the present invention. However, the present disclosure can be embodied in various different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. In order to clearly illustrate the present invention in the drawings, parts not related to the description are omitted, and like reference numerals are given to similar parts throughout the specification.

Throughout the specification, a terminal is referred to as a mobile station (MS), a mobile terminal (MT), an advanced mobile station (AMS), a high reliability mobile station A subscriber station (SS), a portable subscriber station (PSS), an access terminal (AT), a user equipment (UE), a machine type communication device MTC device and the like and may include all or some functions of MT, MS, AMS, HR-MS, SS, PSS, AT, UE,

Also, a base station (BS) is an advanced base station (ABS), a high reliability base station (HR-BS), a node B, an evolved node B, eNodeB), an access point (AP), a radio access station (RAS), a base transceiver station (BTS), a mobile multihop relay (MMR) (RS), a relay node (RN) serving as a base station, an advanced relay station (ARS) serving as a base station, a high reliability relay station (HR) (BS), a home Node B (HNB), a home eNodeB (HeNB), a pico BS, a macro BS, a micro BS ), Etc., and all or all of ABS, Node B, eNodeB, AP, RAS, BTS, MMR-BS, RS, RN, ARS, HR- And may include negative functionality.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a functional configuration diagram of a 5G system according to an embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a network slice according to an embodiment.

In the present description, the network function can be used in the sense of a network function instance (virtual machine), and the network slice instance can be used in the meaning of the instance included in the network slice. Each network slice in the 5G system is allocated virtualized resources and virtualized network resources within the server. Since each network slice is isolated from each other, each network slice can operate independently of errors or failures occurring in other slices.

In the 5G system, a network slice is created for each service having different requirements, and a network function (NF) is also present in a different location (for example, an edge or a core cloud) for each network slice. Each network slice also has a different network function. That is, the network functionality contained in one arbitrary network slice may not be included in another network slice (e.g., billing, policy control, etc.). Each network slice can cost effectively create as many network functions as necessary. For example, a network slice can be allocated a large amount of network resources during a traffic concentration period, and a network function of another network slice can be flexibly used when a service traffic rate increases. Network automation also maximizes network value and operational efficiency by enabling multiple services to be implemented simultaneously.

The network function includes a slice-shared network function commonly used by a plurality of network slice instances and a slice-specific network function using only a predetermined network slice instance. For example, the slice sharing NF has access and mobility management function (AMF) and network slice selection function (NSSF). Slice-specific NF has a session management function (SMF ) And a user plane function (UPF).

Referring to FIG. 1, the 5G system is designed as a logical functional unit in consideration of virtualization and the like, and a control plane (CP) and a user plane (UP) are classified according to functions. The design principles of the 5G architecture are to minimize the dependency of the Access Network (AN) and the Core Network (CN).

The network function of the 5G system is defined as follows. The AMF supports registration management, connection management, and mobility management functions so that the terminal can receive services from the network. The Authentication Server Function (AUSF) supports the authentication server function. The Network Exposure Function (NEF) supports the function to open the network function to the outside. Network Repository Function (NRF) supports NF instance search function and NF instance profile management function. NSSF supports selection of network slice instances and decision function of AMF. The Policy Control Function (PCF) supports functions such as integrated policy framework and policy rule provisioning. SMF supports functions such as session management, IP address allocation, UPF selection and control. Unified Data Management (UDM) supports functions such as user identification processing and subscription information management. The UPF supports packet data unit (PDU) session access to the data network (DN), packet routing and forwarding, and QoS processing. Application functions (AF) support traffic routing coordination and NEF access. A data network means a network to which a terminal accesses. (R) AN represents a wireless and wired access network. A PDU refers to data exchanged between a terminal and a data network.

Referring to Figure 2, three network slices are shown. That is, three network slices corresponding to eMBB, URLLC, and mIoT are predefined, and each network slice in FIG. 2 includes three network slice instances. Each network slice instance includes network functions such as SMF and UPF. The terminal may select a network slice according to the service and use the network function in the network slice instance via AMF.

Referring to FIG. 2, network slices corresponding to eMBB, URLLC, and mIoT are defined in advance, respectively. Each network slice contains one or more network slice instances. Each network slice instance may consist of network functions required to provide the terminal with the service requested by the terminal, separate from other network slice instances, and may operate to provide different services, respectively.

In a terminal registration step for registering a terminal in a network, the terminal requests a network slice to be used for a service from the network. Thereafter, the network determines whether the network slice requested by the terminal can be provided to the terminal, and notifies the terminal of the request result of the network slice. That is, the information of the available network slice is transmitted to the terminal by the network.

In the PDU session establishment step for the service, the terminal notifies the network of the network slice to be used by requesting the network to set up the PDU session. At this time, the network slice instance is classified into Early Binding (EB) and Late Binding (LB) depending on when the network selects a network slice instance. According to the pre-binding, one network slice instance is selected in the terminal registration step. According to the postbinding, a plurality of candidate network slice instances are selected in the terminal registration step, and one network slice instance is determined in the PDU session establishment step. The AMF provides terminal registration and terminal mobility management for the service requested by the terminal. AMF is a network function that is shared among the network slices, and one AMF is selected for each terminal.

Thus, the network of FIG. 2 creates a plurality of network slice instances before receiving the PDU session setup from the terminal. The AMF also selects an SMF to control the PDU session requested by the terminal among the plurality of SMFs in the selected network slice instance. Then, the selected SMF selects the UPF for forwarding and processing of the packet, and then, when SMF and UPF are selected in the network slice instance, the terminal can provide service to the terminal. That is, in the network shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of network slice instances for each predefined network slice are generated in advance before the PDU session establishment request of the terminal. Network functions are assigned per network slice instance. Therefore, the network of FIG. 2 selects a specific network slice instance and selects SMF and UPF from among a plurality of selected network functions in order to provide a service to the terminal, thereby performing selection twice.

3 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a relationship between a network slice and a network function according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3, each network slice has different performance requirements and includes network capabilities associated with performance requirements. At this time, the network slice instance is not created before the service is started. In the present description, the network slice corresponds to three kinds of eMBB, URLLC, and mIoT according to the performance requirements of the service, and the network function included in each network slice can satisfy the performance requirement of the network slice. In FIG. 3, the first network slice 11 corresponds to the eMBB scheme, the second network slice 12 corresponds to the URLLC scheme, and the third network slice 13 corresponds to the mIoT scheme.

4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of registering a network slice according to an embodiment.

First, the terminal requests the AMF of the network to register the terminal through a Registration Request message (S110). At this time, the registration request message includes information indicating a service (i.e., a network slice) that can be requested by the terminal. The AMF of the network then obtains the service subscription information of the terminal (S120). To this end, the AMF requests the UDM service subscription information to the UDM, and the UDM provides AMF service subscription information of the terminal.

The AMF of the network determines a network slice that the terminal can use based on the registration request message of the terminal and the service subscription information of the terminal (S130). If it is determined that the AMF can directly support the determined network slice, if the AMF transfers information on the accepted network slice that the terminal can use to the terminal through a Registration Accept message, (S140). If the AMF determines that it can not directly support the network slice determined by the AMF, the AMF informs the NSSF of the information about the network slice requested by the terminal through the NS Request message in order to determine a network slice that can be used in the terminal . The NSSF verifies whether the network slice requested by the terminal is available according to the network slice supported by the network, and transmits a network slice acceptance (NS Accept) message to the AMF when the requested network slice is available. If the AMF transmits information on the accepted network slice that the terminal can use to the terminal through the Registration Accept message, the terminal's network registration procedure is successfully terminated (S140).

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a network slice instance according to an embodiment of the present invention.

First, the terminal 100 transmits a PDU Session Establishment Request message to the AMF 200 to connect to the data network (S210). The AMF 200 receiving the PDU session establishment request message is selected by the RAN (Radio Access Network). The RAN determines the AMF to receive the PDU session establishment request message of the UE 100 based on 1) AMF information that is known in advance, 2) NS information, and 3) default AMF information. The AMF 200 manages information on a network slice, a network slice instance, a network function, a service band requested by the terminal, and the like, and is capable of processing functions such as generation, update, and deletion of service quality information .

The PDU session establishment request message includes information of the network slice requested by the UE. Also, the network slice requested by the terminal is a network slice accepted to be available to the terminal in the terminal registration step (see FIG. 4). For example, referring to FIG. 3, a terminal can use a first network slice, a second network slice, and a third network slice in a terminal registration step. In order to receive a service provided by an eMBB method, To the AMF 200, a PDU session establishment request message including the information of the network slice pointing to the network slice 11. PDU session establishment request message may further include information of a data network name (DNN) (same as an access point name in the LTE system) together with information of a network slice requested by the terminal .

The AMF 200 determines the SMF and the UPF that can process the service requested by the terminal based on the information of the network slice and the DNN information (S220). The AMF 200 can select the SMF considering the load among a plurality of SMFs included in the network slice. If the information of the network slice and the DNN information are not included in the PDU session establishment request message, the AMF 200 can select the default SMF. After the SMF is selected by the AMF 200, the AMF 200 transmits an SMF Request message to the selected SMF so that the SMF receiving the SMF request message selects the UPF for processing the service requested by the terminal can do. That is, the SMF is selected by the AMF 200, and the UPF can be selected by the SMF. The SMF sends a UPF Request message to the selected UPF to inquire whether the request can be processed. The UPF sends a UPF Accept message to the SMF if it can handle the SMF's request. Then, the SMF transmits an SMF Accept message to the AMF 200. At this time, if the AMF 200 does not have the information necessary for selecting the SMF (i.e., the information for selecting the SMF is not stored in the AMF 200), the AMF 200 selects the SMF from the NRF Or request the NRF to select an SMF. In addition, if the SMF does not have the information necessary to select the UPF, the SMF may also receive information necessary to select the UPF from the NRF or request the NRF to select the UPF. In the present description, one network slice instance may include one SMF and one UPF.

Thereafter, the AMF 200 transmits a network slice instance request message (NSI Request) to the NSSF 300 to request allocation of the network slice instance (S230). Here, the network slice instance request message includes information of the determined SMF and the UPF. The NSSF 300 manages network slice information such as the network function included in the network slice and the network function assigned to the network slice instance.

The NSSF 300 creates a network slice instance including the determined SMF and the UPF (S240). The NSSF 300 compares the SMF and UPF information received from the AMF 200 with the network slice information managed by the NSSF 300 to determine whether to create a new network slice instance. That is, if the network slice managed by the NSSF 300 does not include the determined network slice instance including the SMF and the UPF, a new network slice instance is created. Thereafter, the NSSF 300 transmits a network slice instance acceptance (NSI Accept) message including information of the generated network slice instance to the AMF 200 (S250). Thus, a network slice instance can be allocated. At this time, the information of the network slice instance includes the number of the generated network slice instance. On the other hand, if there is a network slice instance including SMF and UPF determined in the network slice managed by the NSSF 300, the NSSF 300 transmits information of the corresponding network slice instance to the AMF 200 through the network slice instance acceptance message . At this time, the information of the network slice instance includes the number of the network slice instance, and the number of the network slice instance is managed by the AMF 200 and the NSSF 300.

The AMF 200 transmits a PDU Session Establishment Accept message to the UE to inform the UE of the completion of providing the requested service (S260).

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of providing a network slice instance according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The terminal 100 transmits a PDU Session Establishment Request message for connection to the data network to the AMF 200 (S310). The PDU session establishment request message includes information of the network slice and DNN information. The terminal 100 may be a terminal that has already requested the same network slice (i.e., the terminal of FIG. 5), or another terminal that requests the same network slice as the terminal of FIG. For example, the terminal 100 of FIG. 6 is any terminal that requests a first network slice for which a network slice instance has already been created.

The AMF 200 determines whether a network slice instance is created in the designated network slice through the PDU session establishment request message. If the information of the network slice used when creating the generated network slice instance and the same DNN information are included in the PDU session establishment request message, the AMF 200 selects the corresponding network slice instance. Thereafter, the AMF 200 transmits a network slice instance use request message to use the network slice instance to the SMF 400 (S320). The network slice instance use request message may include information of the network slice and DNN information. The SMF 400 transmits the network slice information and the DNN information to the UPF (not shown), and when the network slice instance becomes available, the SMF 400 transmits a network slice instance use acceptance message to the AMF 200 in operation S330. Thereafter, the AMF 200 may transmit a PDU session establishment acceptance message to the AT 100 (S340).

7 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a network slice instance provided in accordance with an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 7, each network slice 11, 12, 13 includes a network slice instance 20, and each network slice instance 20 includes an SMF and a UPF. In FIG. 7, some SMFs and UPFs in the network slice may not be included in the network slice instance 20. That is, the network slice instance 20 may include an optimal SMF and UPF for providing the service, and when the network slice instance 20 is created (or selected) to provide service to the terminal, ) ≪ / RTI > within the network slice instance 20 operate for services provided to the terminal.

8 is a block diagram illustrating a network device according to an embodiment.

The network device according to one embodiment may be implemented as a computer system, for example a computer readable medium. 8, a computer system 800 includes a processor 810, a memory 830, a user interface input device 880, a user interface output device 870, (880). The computer system 800 may also include a network interface 890 coupled to the network. The processor 810 may be a central processing unit (CPU) or a semiconductor device that executes instructions stored in the memory 830 or the storage device 880. The memory 830 and the storage device 880 may include various forms of volatile or non-volatile storage media. For example, the memory may include a read only memory (ROM) 831 and a random access memory (RAM).

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the memory may be located inside or outside the processor, and the memory may be connected to the processor through various means already known. The memory may be any type of volatile or nonvolatile storage medium, e.g., the memory may include read-only memory (ROM) or random access memory (RAM).

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments, It belongs to the scope of right.

Claims (16)

A method for providing access and mobility management function (AMF) of a communication network through a network slice,
Receiving a packet data unit (PDU) session establishment request message including information on a network slice corresponding to the service from the terminal,
Determining a Session Management Function (SMF) and a User Plane Function (UPF) included in the network slice to process the service,
Sending a network slice instance request message including information of the determined SMF and UPF to a network slice selection function (NSSF)
Receiving information of the network slice instance including the SMF and the UPF from the NSSF; and
Transmitting a PDU session establishment acceptance message to the UE in response to the PDU session establishment request message
The service providing method comprising: The method of claim 1,
Providing the service to the terminal or the other terminal based on the information about the network slice instance if the network slice is requested again from the terminal or another terminal;
Further comprising the steps of: The method of claim 1,
Wherein determining the SMF and the UPF comprises:
Selecting an SMF capable of processing the service, and receiving information about a UPF determined by the selected SMF from the selected SMF
The method comprising the steps of: 4. The method of claim 3,
Selecting an SMF capable of processing the service may include:
And receiving information necessary for selecting the SMF from a Network Repository Function (NRF) if information necessary for selecting the SMF is not stored in the AMF. 4. The method of claim 3,
Selecting an SMF capable of processing the service may include:
And requesting a Network Repository Function (NRF) to select the SMF if information necessary for selecting the SMF is not stored in the AMF. The method of claim 1,
Wherein the information of the network slice instance includes the number of the network slice instance,
Managing the number of the network slice instance
Further comprising the steps of: 1. A network device in a communication network,
Processor, memory, and network interface,
Wherein the processor executes a program stored in the memory,
Receiving a Packet Data Unit (PDU) session establishment request message including information on a network slice corresponding to the service from the terminal,
Determining a Session Management Function (SMF) and a User Plane Function (UPF) included in the network slice to process the service,
Sending a network slice instance request message including information of the determined SMF and UPF to a network slice selection function (NSSF)
Receiving information of the network slice instance including the SMF and the UPF from the NSSF; and
Transmitting a PDU session establishment acceptance message to the UE in response to the PDU session establishment request message
Lt; / RTI > 8. The method of claim 7,
The processor executes the program,
Providing the service to the terminal or the other terminal based on the information about the network slice instance if the network slice is requested again from the terminal or another terminal;
Further comprising: 8. The method of claim 7,
The processor, when performing the step of determining the SMF and the UPF,
Selecting an SMF capable of processing the service, and receiving information about a UPF determined by the selected SMF from the selected SMF
The network device. The method of claim 9,
Selecting a SMF from which the processor can process the service,
And receiving information needed to select the SMF from a Network Repository Function (NRF) if the information needed to select the SMF is not stored in the network device. The method of claim 9,
Selecting a SMF from which the processor can process the service,
And requesting a Network Repository Function (NRF) selection of the SMF if the information needed to select the SMF is not stored in the network device. 8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the information of the network slice instance includes the number of the network slice instance,
The processor executes the program,
Managing the number of the network slice instance
Further comprising: CLAIMS What is claimed is: 1. A method for creating a network slice instance of a network Slice Selection Function (NSSF)
Receiving a network slice instance request message from an access and mobility management function (AMF) for providing a service to a terminal,
Generating a network slice instance including a Session Management Function (SMF) and a User Plane Function (UPF) capable of processing the service based on the network slice instance request message; and
Sending a network slice instance accept message to the AMF in response to the network slice instance request message
Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > slice < / RTI > The method of claim 13,
Wherein creating the network slice instance comprises:
Comparing information of the SMF and the UPF with information of a network slice managed by the NSSF; and
If the network slice managed by the NSSF does not include an existing network slice instance including the SMF and the UPF, creating a new network slice instance
The method comprising the steps of: The method of claim 14,
Wherein the network slice instance accept message includes the number of the new network slice instance. The method of claim 14,
Wherein the transmitting the network slice instance accept message to the AMF comprises:
If the existing network slice instance including the SMF and the UPF is included in the network slice managed by the NSSF, transmitting the number of the existing network slice instance to the AMF through the network slice instance acceptance message
/ RTI > of a network slice instance.

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