Cisco Technology, Inc.

Aditya Prakash

Sridhar Bhaskaran

Vimal Srivastava

Ravi Shekhar

Ramakumar Rajagopalan

Hassan Khani Sidhiq

Mohan Rangan

Kartik Shashikant Raval

Nirav Salot

Ameo Ghosh

Jis Abraham

Poojan Tanna

Vinod Suresh Kamble

Lakshman Kumar Narayanan

Amit Shivhare

Mukesh Yadav

Dishant Mukesh Parikh

Lakshuman Kumar Narayanan

A control plane (CP) function for mobility management may receive, from a user equipment (UE), a message which indicates a registration request for registration to a network slice. The CP function may select, as an allowed slice ID, a first slice ID of a first network slice in which to register the UE. The first slice ID has a slice/service type (SST) value indicating an SST and a first slice differentiator (SD) value associated with a first level of service to be provided. The CP function may alternatively select, as the allowed slice ID, a second slice ID of a second network slice in which to register the UE based on unavailability of the slice type associated with the first level of service. The second slice ID has the SST value indicating the slice type and a second SD value associated with a second level of service to be provided.

Registration procedure for ensuring service based on a selection of the best available network slice of the same slice type

A network function selectively supports a mobile device with network settings appropriate for the device context of the mobile device. The network function obtains a device profile for the mobile device, which identifies multiple device groups, with each device group being associated with a corresponding set of network settings. The network function selects a device group among the device groups in the device profile based on a device context of the mobile device. Responsive to a notification of the mobile device in a different device context, the network function supports the mobile device with a different set of network settings that cause a Session Management Function (SMF) to reconfigure the user plane for the mobile device.

Dynamic user equipment (UE) group creation to coordinate devices

Presented herein are techniques to provide data session continuity for parallel data sessions involving a multiple Universal Subscriber Identity Module (MUSIM) user equipment (UE). In one example, a method may include obtaining an indication that session continuity for a first session associated with a first data network and a first USIM of a UE is allowed with respect to a second USIM in which the UE communicates first traffic for the first session via the first USIM. The method may further include determining that second traffic for a second session is to be communicated via the second USIM of the UE and, based on the indication that session continuity for the first session is allowed with respect to the second USIM, providing service information to the UE for the first session to enable the UE to communicate both the first traffic and the second traffic via the second USIM.

Providing session continuity for parallel sessions involving a multiple universal subscriber identity module user equipment

A network function selectively supports a mobile device with network settings appropriate for the device context of the mobile device. The network function obtains a device profile for the mobile device, which identifies multiple device groups, with each device group being associated with a corresponding set of network settings. The network function selects a device group among the device groups in the device profile based on the device context of the mobile device. The network function directs at least one network function in the network to support the mobile device with a set of network settings corresponding to the selected device group.

A control plane function node may be used in a Fifth Generation (5G) Non-Standalone (NSA) architecture having Radio Access Network (RAN) level interworking between a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) RAN and a 5G New Radio (NR). The node obtains usage report data which are based on traffic of a user equipment (UE) via primary and secondary Radio Access Technologies (RATs). The node also obtains secondary RAT usage report data which are based on traffic of the UE via the secondary RAT. The node constructs a message which indicates a request for charging based on the usage report data and the secondary RAT usage report data. In constructing the message, the node populates, in association with a corresponding rating group and usage data of the UE, an identifier of a flow or bearer associated with secondary RAT usage, together with the secondary RAT usage report data.

Radio access technology (RAT) type usage differentiation for differential charging in 5G non-standalone (5G NSA) architecture deployments

Fifth Generation (5G) standards specify use of a Subscription Concealed Identifier (SUCI) (i.e. a concealed identity) for a user equipment (UE) during initial registration, where the SUCI is derived from a Subscription Permanent Identifier (SUPI) of the UE. Given the identity concealment and use of different identities on different interfaces in a 5G network, maintaining subscriber state with a stateless network architecture may be challenging. Accordingly, one or more techniques and mechanisms are provided herein for subscriber management with a stateless network architecture in a 5G network, even without the need to maintain intermediate states of a UE in an external data store. The one or more techniques and mechanisms may be provided in relation to processing of Next Generation (NG) Application Protocol (NGAP) signaling messages at an access and mobility management function (AMF), and in particular, in relation to a registration procedure for the UE.

Subscriber management with a stateless network architecture in a fifth generation (5G) network

This disclosure relates to a system and method for dynamically managing load on network devices in a distributed manner. As the proliferation of data rich content and increasingly more capable mobile devices has continued, the amount of data communicated over mobile operator's networks has exponentially increased. Upgrading the existing network to accommodate increased data traffic is neither desirable nor practical. One way to accommodate increased data traffic is by utilizing network resources more efficiently. This disclosure provides systems and methods for efficiently utilizing network resources by dynamically configuring the network in a distributed manner based on real-time load information.

Distributed load management on network devices

Systems and methods are provided for avoiding excessive paging through messaging-based solutions on a mobile network that supports multiple radio access technologies (RATs), such as both Long Term Evolution (LTE) and Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM)/Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE)/Universal Mobile Communications System (UMTS) technology, even in situations where the present location of the UE is not known. Preventing paging in access networks where the UE is not present ensures efficient use of radio resources in the paging channel and reduces signaling load on other interfaces. In one embodiment, a user equipment (UE) is simultaneously connected to a Serving General Packet Radio System (GPRS) Support Node (SGSN) and a Mobility Management Entity (MME). By using signaling between the SGSN and MME, the location of the UE may be tracked without requiring unnecessary paging, even when the UE is in IDLE mode or is inactive.

System and method for reducing paging in UTRAN/GERAN/E-UTRAN networks when idle signaling reduction is active

In one embodiment, a method comprises activating a signaling reduction mode on a wireless access node for a mobile device in an idle state where the signaling reduction mode permits the mobile device to switch radio access technologies while maintaining registration with both the wireless access node and a peer wireless access node, exchanging with the peer wireless access node a first control tunnel identifier of the wireless access node and a second control tunnel identifier of the peer wireless access node, selecting at the wireless access node a second gateway to replace a first gateway, establishing a control connection with the second gateway, transmitting to the second gateway the second control tunnel identifier of the peer wireless access node so that the second gateway may establish a control connection with the peer wireless access node, and continuing the signaling reduction mode.

Growing community of inventors

Distt. Hathras, India

Aditya Prakash