Monitoring an attribute of a network slice
For monitoring a slice attribute, apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed. One apparatus includes a processor-1005 that determines to collect data for a slice attribute of a network slice. Here, the slice attribute is a number of UEs using the network slice and/or a number of data sessions using the network slice. The processor requests a first collecting network function to report first usage data (e.g., roaming UE usage) for the network slice according to the slice attribute and requests a second collecting network function to report second usage data (e.g., non-roaming usage) for the network slice according to the slice attribute. The processor determines whether a quota associated with the slice attribute is reached. The apparatus includes a transceiver that sends a notification to a network function in response to the quota being met.
1 . A method of a network function comprising:
receiving a first request from an application function (AF) or a network exposure function (NEF), wherein the first request comprises Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (“S-NSSAI”) that identifies a network slice and an event identifier that indicates a reporting event corresponding to a number of user equipments (UEs) registered to the network slice or a number of data connections established for the network slice, and wherein the first request comprises event reporting information indicating a reporting condition, wherein the reporting condition comprises the number of UEs registered to the network slice or the number of data connections established for the network slice exceeding a respective threshold value or underrunning the respective threshold value by being below the respective threshold value;
transmitting, to the AF or NEF, a confirmation message in response to the first request; and
transmitting a first notification message to the AF or NEF in response to the reporting condition being fulfilled, the first notification message comprising the event identifier and an event report corresponding to the reporting condition, wherein the event report comprises a confirmation that the respective threshold value is exceeded or a confirmation that the respective threshold value is underrun.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first request comprises a subscribe request for network slice event exposure.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the reporting condition comprises a time interval for periodic reporting, wherein the method further comprises determining that the reporting condition is fulfilled based at least in part on determining that the time interval is expired, and wherein the event reporting information contains a current number of UEs registered to the network slice or a current number of data connections established for the network slice.
4 . An apparatus comprising:
a memory; and
a processor coupled with the memory and configured to cause the apparatus to:
receive a first request from an application function (AF) or a network exposure function (NEF), wherein the first request comprises Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (“S-NSSAI”) that identifies a network slice and an event identifier that indicates a reporting event corresponding to a number of user equipments (UEs) registered to the network slice or a number of data connections established for the network slice, and wherein the first request comprises event reporting information indicating a reporting condition, wherein the reporting condition comprises the number of UEs registered to the network slice or the number of data connections established for the network slice satisfying exceeding a respective threshold value or underrunning the respective threshold value by being below the respective threshold value;
transmit, to the AF or NEF, a confirmation message in response to the first request; and
transmit a first notification message to the AF or NEF in response to the reporting condition being fulfilled, the first notification message comprising the event identifier and an event report corresponding to the reporting condition, wherein the event report comprises a confirmation that the respective threshold value is exceeded or a confirmation that the respective threshold value is underrun.
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the first request comprises a subscribe request for network slice event exposure.
6 . The apparatus of claim 4 ,
wherein the reporting condition comprises a time interval for periodic reporting,
wherein the processor is configured to cause the apparatus to determine that the reporting condition is fulfilled based at least in part on determining that the time interval is expired, and
wherein the event reporting information contains a current number of UEs registered to the network slice or a current number of data connections established for the network slice.
7 . An apparatus comprising a network exposure function (NEF), the apparatus comprising:
a memory; and
a processor coupled with the memory and configured to cause the NEF to:
receive, from an application function (AF), a first subscribe request for network slice notification reporting,
wherein the first subscribe request comprises Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (“S-NSSAI”) that identifies a network slice and an event identifier that indicates a reporting event corresponding to a number of user equipments (UEs) registered to the network slice or a number of data connections established for the network slice, and
wherein the first subscribe request comprises event reporting information indicating a reporting condition, wherein the reporting condition comprises the number of UEs registered to the network slice or the number of data connections established for the network slice exceeding a respective threshold value or underrunning the respective threshold value by being below the respective threshold value;
discover a network function that supports network slice notification reporting;
transmit a second subscribe request to the network function, the second subscribe request comprising the event identifier and the event reporting information;
receive a first notification message from the network function, the first notification message comprising the event identifier and an event report corresponding to the reporting condition,
wherein the event report comprises a confirmation that the respective threshold value is exceeded or a confirmation that the respective threshold value is underrun; and
send a second notification message to the AF, the second notification message comprising the event identifier and the event report.
8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second subscribe request comprises the S-NSSAI.
9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the first subscribe request comprises a subscribe request for network slice event exposure.
10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the reporting condition comprises a time interval for periodic reporting, and wherein the event report contains a current number of UEs registered to the network slice or a current number of data connections established for the network slice.