Network slicing scalability attributes
A mechanism is provided to monitor and control the number of terminals ( 100 ) or number of PDU sessions for a network slice, or both. A new network function called the Network Slice Control Function (NSCF) ( 85 ) is defined that interacts with an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF) ( 40 ) and/or Session Management Function (SMF) ( 45 ) to monitor and control a number of users for a network slice, a number of PDU sessions for a network slice, or both. The NSCF ( 85 ) determines per slice quotas for the number of users and/or number of session for network slices and interacts with the AMF ( 40 ) and/or SMF ( 45 ) to enforce the quotas.
1 . A method implemented by a network node in a wireless communication network, the method comprising the network node:
receiving a registration request from a user to use a network slice, the registration request including a network slice identifier for the network slice;
receiving network slice control information from a network slice control node, wherein the network slice control information comprises a binary indication for each of one or more network slices indicating either that a quota for the network slice has been reached or that the quota for the network slice has not been reached; and
controlling use of the network slice based at least in part on the indication.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the receiving network slice control information comprises:
sending a network slice control request including the network slice identifier to the network slice control node; and
receiving the network slice control information for the indicated network slice responsive to the network slice control request.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the network slice control information comprises a quota indicating a maximum number of users for the network slice, or a maximum number of PDU sessions for the network slice.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the network slice control information comprises a quota indicating a maximum number of users.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the controlling use of the network slice comprises determining whether to accept or reject the request based at least in part on the quota.
6 . The method of claim 5 , the determining whether to accept or reject the request comprises determining whether acceptance of the registration request would exceed the maximum number of users.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining whether to accept or reject the request is further based on a priority of the user.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining whether to accept or reject the request comprises:
accepting the request when acceptance would exceed the maximum number of users and the user has a first priority; and
rejecting the request when acceptance would exceed the maximum number of users and the user has a second priority lower than the first priority.
9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the determining whether to accept or reject the request comprises:
accepting the request of a first user with a first priority; and
de-registering a user with a second priority lower than the first priority when the acceptance of the first user's request exceeds the maximum number of user for the network slice.
10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the determining whether to accept or reject the request is further based on a location of the user.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the determining whether to accept or reject the request comprises:
accepting the request when acceptance would not exceed the maximum number of users for an area in which the user is located;
rejecting the request where acceptance would exceed the maximum number of users for the area in which the user is located.
12 . A network node in a wireless communication network, the network node comprising:
interface circuitry for communicating over a communication network with other network nodes; and
processing circuitry configured to:
receive a registration request from a user to use a network slice, the registration request including a network slice identifier for the network slice;
receive network slice control information associated with the network slice identifier from a network slice control node, wherein the network slice control information comprises a binary indication for each of one or more network slices indicating either that a quota for the network slice has been reached or that the quota for the network slice has not been reached; and
control use of the network slice based at least in part on the quota.