Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) slicing in wireless communication networks
Various embodiments comprise wireless communication networks to support slicing in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core. In some examples, the wireless communication network comprises a multimedia function and a network data system. The multimedia function receives a registration request indicating a User Equipment (UE) Identifier (ID). The multimedia function queries a network data system for UE subscription information. The network data system correlates the UE ID to slice information associated with a UE and indicates the slice information to the multimedia function. The multimedia function receives the slice information from the network data system and responsively caches the slice information in association with the UE ID.
1 . A method of operating a wireless communication network to support network slicing in a multimedia system, the method comprising:
A multimedia function receiving a registration request indicating a User Equipment (UE) Identifier (ID) for a UE;
the multimedia function querying a network data system for UE subscription information, wherein the network data system comprises a Unified Data Management (UDM); and
the multimedia function receiving slice information from the network data system and responsively caching the slice information in association with the UE ID and the multimedia function receiving a service request sent by the UE;
the multimedia function forwarding the service request, the slice information, and the UE ID to a second multimedia function; and
the second multimedia function serving the UE and a service provider.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
the second multimedia function receiving the service request, the slice information, and the UE ID and responsively caching the slice information in association with the UE ID;
the second multimedia function forwarding the service request, the slice information, and the UE ID to the service provider wherein the service provider receives the service request, the slice information, and the UE ID, caches the slice information in association with the UE ID, and serves the UE over the second multimedia function.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the slice information comprises a slice ID for the UE.
4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the service request comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message.
5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the multimedia function comprises a Proxy-Call State Control Function (P-CSCF) and the second multimedia function comprises a Serving-Call State Control Function (S-CSCF).
6 . The method of claim 2 wherein the service provider comprises an Application Server (AS).
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the network data system comprises the UDM and a Home Subscriber Service (HSS).
8 . A wireless communication network configured to support network slicing in a multimedia system, the wireless communication network comprising:
a multimedia function and a network data system, wherein the network data system comprises a Unified Data Management (UDM);
the multimedia function configured to:
receive a registration request indicating a User Equipment (UE) Identifier (ID) of a UE; and
query the network data system for UE subscription information;
the network data system configured to correlate the UE ID to slice information associated with a UE and indicate the slice information to the multimedia function; and
the multimedia function further configured to receive the slice information from the network data system and responsively cache the slice information in association with the UE ID and a second multimedia function; and wherein:
the multimedia function is further configured to:
receive a service request sent by the UE; and
forward the service request, the slice information, and UE ID to the second multimedia function and serves the UE over the second multimedia function; and
serve the UE and a service provider.
9 . The wireless communication network of claim 8 further comprising: the second multimedia function is configured to:
receive the service request, the slice information, and the UE ID and responsively cache the slice information in association with the UE ID;
forward the service request, the slice information, and the UE ID to the service provider wherein the service provider receives the service request, the slice information, and the UE ID, caches the slice information in association with the UE ID.
10 . The wireless communication network of claim 9 wherein the slice information comprises a slice ID for the UE.
11 . The wireless communication network of claim 9 wherein the service request comprises a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message.
12 . The wireless communication network of claim 9 wherein the multimedia function comprises a Proxy-Call State Control Function (P-CSCF) and the second multimedia function comprises a Serving-Call State Control Function (S-CSCF).
13 . The wireless communication network of claim 9 wherein the service provider comprises an Application Server (AS).
14 . The wireless communication network of claim 8 wherein the network data system comprises the UDM and a Home Subscriber Service (HSS).
15 . A method of operating a wireless communication network to support network slicing in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) core, the method comprising:
a Proxy-Call State Control Function (P-CSCF) receiving an IMS registration request indicating a User Equipment (UE) Identifier (ID) for a UE;
the P-CSCF querying a Unified Data Management (UDM) for UE subscription information;
in response to the query, the UDM correlating the UE ID with a slice ID associated with the UE and indicating the slice ID to the P-CSCF; and
the P-CSCF receiving the slice ID from the UDM and responsively caching the slice ID in association with the UE ID and the P-CSCF receiving a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message sent by the UE; and
the P-CSCF retrieving the slice ID, including the slice ID and in a message header of the SIP message, and forwarding the SIP message to a Control-Call State Control Function (C-CSCF) and the C-CSCF serving the UE and an Application Server (AS).
16 . The method of claim 15 further comprising:
the C-CSCF receiving the SIP message, identifying the slice ID in the message header, caching the slice ID in association with the UE ID, and selecting the Application Server (AS) based on the SIP message;
the C-CSCF forwarding the SIP message to the AS wherein the AS identifies the slice ID in the message header, caches the slice ID in association with the UE ID, and serves the UE over the C-CSCF.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the SIP message comprises a SIP invite message.
18 . The method of claim 16 wherein the IMS registration request comprises a SIP registration message.
19 . The method of claim 2 wherein the slice information comprises allowed Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) for the UE.
20 . The wireless communication network of claim 9 wherein the slice information comprises allowed Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) for the UE.