IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,956,856
Granted Patent B2
US 11,956,856 · App. 17/957,092 · Granted Apr 9, 2024

Network slice isolation information for session management function discovery

Inventors: Weihua Qiao (Herndon, VA); Esmael Hejazi Dinan (McLean, VA); Kyungmin Park (Vienna, VA); Peyman Talebi Fard (Vienna, VA)
Assignee: Ofinno, LLC
H04W8/14H04L41/0893H04L67/143H04L67/148H04W8/065H04W60/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,956,856
App. No.
17/957,092
Granted
Apr 9, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A network repository function (NRF) receives, from an access and mobility management function (AMF), a discovery request for an address of a session management function (SMF), the discovery request comprising network slice isolation information for at least one network slice. The NRF sends, to the AMF and based on the discovery request, a discovery response comprising the address of the SMF.

Claims (32)

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a network repository function (NRF) from an access and mobility management function (AMF), a discovery request for an address of a session management function (SMF), the discovery request comprising network slice isolation information for at least one active isolated network slice of a plurality of active network slices, wherein the network slice isolation information indicates a level of at least three levels of isolation of the at least one active isolated network slice from one or more other active network slices; and

sending, by the NRF to the AMF and based on the discovery request, a discovery response comprising the address of the SMF.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discovery request is associated with a registration request for a wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the AMF sends a session create request to the SMF.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discovery response comprises a fully qualified domain name of the SMF.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discovery request comprises a user identity of a wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the discovery request comprises at least one data network name.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the NRF from the AMF, a message requesting to release the SMF, wherein the message comprises at least one of:

an address of the SMF;

an identifier of the SMF; or

a user identity of a wireless device.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network slice isolation information comprises a first indicator to indicate a network slice of the plurality of active network slices is isolated from one or more other active network slices.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least three levels comprise fully isolated network slice, partly isolated network slice with radio access network shared, or partly isolated network slice with radio access network and AMF shared.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network slice isolation information comprises a network slice instance identifier of the at least one active isolated network slice.

11. A network repository function (NRF) comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the NRF to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from an access and mobility management function (AMF), a discovery request for an address of a session management function (SMF), the discovery request comprising network slice isolation information for at least one active isolated network slice of a plurality of active network slices, wherein the network slice isolation information indicates a level of at least three levels of isolation of the at least one active isolated network slice from one or more other active network slices; and

sending, to the AMF and based on the discovery request, a discovery response comprising the address of the SMF.

12. The NRF of claim 11 , wherein the discovery request is associated with a registration request for a wireless device.

13. The NRF of claim 11 , wherein the AMF sends a session create request to the SMF.

14. The NRF of claim 11 , wherein the discovery response comprises a fully qualified domain name of the SMF.

15. The NRF of claim 11 , wherein the discovery request comprises a user identity of a wireless device.

16. The NRF of claim 11 , wherein the discovery request comprises at least one data network name.

17. The NRF of claim 11 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving, from the AMF, a message requesting to release the SMF, wherein the message comprises at least one of:

an address of the SMF;

an identifier of the SMF; or

a user identity of a wireless device.

18. The NRF of claim 11 , wherein the network slice isolation information comprises a first indicator to indicate a network slice of the plurality of active network slices is isolated from one or more other active network slices.

19. The NRF of claim 11 , wherein the at least three levels comprise fully isolated network slice, partly isolated network slice with radio access network shared, or partly isolated network slice with radio access network and AMF shared.

20. The NRF of claim 11 , wherein the network slice isolation information comprises a network slice instance identifier of the at least one active isolated network slice.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2023
From: QIAO, WEIHUA; DINAN, ESMAEL HEJAZI; PARK, KYUNGMIN; TALEBI FARD, PEYMAN
To: OFINNO, LLC
Reel/Frame 062412/0156 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17020288 · Sep 14, 2020
Continuation 16195231 · Nov 19, 2018
Provisional Application 62587997 · Nov 17, 2017
Related Publication 20230042948A1 · Feb 9, 2023