Network slice selection in a mobile communication network

1. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver that communicates with a mobile communication network supporting a plurality of network slices; and

a processor that:

detects an application of the apparatus that requests to send a data packet;

selects a network slice selection indicator associated with the detected application of the apparatus; and

transmits the data packet via a network connection to a network slice in the mobile communication network, wherein the network connection is associated with the selected network slice selection indicator.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator comprises finding a first selection policy rule that matches the application and selecting the network slice selection indicator contained in this selection policy rule, the selection policy rule being one of a plurality of selection policy rules.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein finding the selection policy rule comprises checking all the selection priority rules in priority order until finding a selection policy rule that contains the application identity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein transmitting the data packet via the network connection to the network slice comprises the processor:

determining whether a network connection associated with the selected network slice selection indicator exists between the apparatus and the mobile communication network;

transmitting the data packet via an existing network connection in response to determining that a network connection associated with the network slice selection indicator exists between the apparatus and the mobile communication network; and

establishing a new network connection with the selected network slice selection indicator for transmitting the data packet in response to determining that a network connection associated with the selected network slice selection indicator does not exist between the apparatus and the mobile communication network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the processor further receives a selection policy from the mobile communication network, the selection policy being stored at the apparatus and comprising a plurality of rules for selecting a network slice, wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator associated with the application comprises the processor applying the selection policy to the detected application.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the application requesting to send the data packet sends a network connection request that contains a service type parameter, wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator associated with the detected application comprises verifying the service type parameter using a selection policy.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the service type parameter indicates a category selected from the group consisting of: a mission-critical application, an infrequent messaging application, and a general-purpose application.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein verifying the service type parameter comprises determining whether the application is permitted to use a network slice associated with the service type parameter.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the application requesting to send the data packet sends a network connection request that contains a network capability parameter, wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator associated with the detected application comprises applying a selection policy to the network capability parameter to select the network slice selection indicator.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the application requesting to send the data packet sends a network connection request that contains a transport type parameter, wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator associated with the detected application comprises applying a selection policy to the transport type parameter to select the network slice selection indicator.

11. A method comprising:

detecting, at a remote unit, an application of the remote unit that requests to send a data packet;

selecting a network slice selection indicator associated with the detected application of the remote unit; and

transmitting the data packet via a network connection to a network slice in a mobile communication network, said mobile communication network supporting a plurality of network slices, wherein the network connection is associated with the selected network slice selection indicator.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator comprises finding a first selection policy rule that matches the application and selecting the network slice selection indicator contained in this selection policy rule, the selection policy rule being one of a plurality of selection policy rules.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein finding the selection policy rule comprises checking all the selection priority rules in priority order until finding a selection policy rule that contains the application identity.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the data packet via the network connection to the network slice comprises:

determining whether a network connection associated with the selected network slice selection indicator exists between the remote unit and the mobile communication network;

transmitting the data packet via an existing network connection in response to determining that a network connection associated with the network slice selection indicator exists between the remote unit and the mobile communication network; and

establishing a new network connection with the selected network slice selection indicator for transmitting the data packet in response to determining that a network connection associated with the network slice selection indicator does not exist between the remote unit and the mobile communication network.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving a selection policy from the mobile communication network, the selection policy being stored at the remote unit and comprising a plurality of rules for selecting a network slice,

wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator associated with the application comprises applying the selection policy to the detected application.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the application requesting to send the data packet sends, to the remote unit, a network connection request that contains a service type parameter, wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator associated with the detected application comprises verifying the service type parameter using a selection policy.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the service type parameter indicates a category selected from the group consisting of: a mission-critical application, an infrequent messaging application, and a general-purpose application.

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein verifying the service type parameter using a selection policy comprises determining whether the application is permitted to use a network slice associated with the service type parameter.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the application requesting to send the data packet sends a network connection request that contains a network capability parameter, wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator associated with the detected application comprises applying a selection policy to the network capability parameter to select the network slice selection indicator.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the application requesting to send the data packet sends a network connection request that contains a transport type parameter, wherein selecting the network slice selection indicator associated with the detected application comprises applying a selection policy to the transport type parameter to select the network slice selection indicator.