Connecting to Virtualized Mobile Core Networks

• US 20170332421A1
• Filed: 05/12/2017
• Published: 11/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Convida Wireless LLC
• Inventors: Sternberg, Gregory S., Starsinic, Michael F., Mladin, Catalina Mihaela, Di Girolamo, Rocco, Li, Hongkun
• Granted Patent: US 10,986,675 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0895 Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/062 Pre-authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/75 Temporary identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/51 based on terminal or device properties
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/11 Allocation or use of connection identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A 5G Network Architecture uses virtualization and network slicing. The user equipment (UE) interacts with an underlay network that interacts with virtual network slices. The UE interacts with the underlay network (ULN) to establish a connection to a virtual network slice. Procedures are defined to assign a new slice instance to a UE (UE initiated and ULN initiated); to change a UE Profile (UE initiated and ULN Initiated); and to change a UE'"'"'s assigned slice instance (ULN Initiated).

Claims

1. A method for use by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a processor and memory, and wherein the apparatuses further includes computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, perform functions of a method comprising:

receiving an initial connection message from a User Equipment (UE) including a temporary identifier and service descriptors;

using the temporary identifier to determine an authentication server;

communicating with the authentication server to authenticate the UE;

determining at least one network slice that the UE should connect to; and

responding to the UE with a response message including an indication of whether or not connection is permitted and new temporary identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial connection message includes UE capabilities.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial connection message includes a service descriptor.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising using the service descriptor to determine what network slices the UE should connect to.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the response message includes an indication of whether or not connection to network slices can be provided.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying a node to determine what network slices the UE should connect to.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying a node to determine whether the UE is authorized to use the at least one network slice.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying a node for policies related to what services the UE may access.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the response message includes an indication of whether or not connection to all requested services can be provided.

10. A method for use by an apparatus, wherein the apparatus comprises a processor and memory, and wherein the apparatuses further includes computer-executable instructions stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, perform functions of a method comprising:

at an underlay network, receiving a request to access the core network;

providing a slice instance identifier; and

using the slice instance identifier to connect the user equipment to a virtualized network slice of the core network.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the apparatus implements the underlay network.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the request includes information to be used by the underlay network to determine an authorization and authentication server point of contact.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the information is an authorization and authentication server address or identity.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the information is user equipment temporary identifier that is used to look up an authorization and authentication server address or identity.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the request includes a UE identifier.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the underlay network does authentication and authorization of user equipment.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein a user equipment profile or service descriptor are used to determine network functions to be associated with the user equipment or to determine one or more virtualized network slices to connect to.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein a change in a user equipment profile or service descriptor is used to modify network functions to be provided to the user equipment.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the underlay network provides broadcast information to at least one access point.

20. The method of claim 10, wherein the underlay network provides the virtualized network slice the identity of the user equipment that was provided the slice instance identifier.

21. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the apparatus further including computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:

receive a initial connection message from a User Equipment (UE) including a temporary identifier and service descriptors;

use the temporary identifier to determine an authentication server;

communicate with the authentication server to authenticate the UE;

determine at least one network slice that the UE should connect to; and

respond to the UE with a response message including an indication of whether or not connection is permitted and new temporary identifier.

22. An apparatus comprising a processor and a memory, the apparatus further including computer-executable instructions stored in the memory of the apparatus which, when executed by the processor of the apparatus, cause the apparatus to:

at an underlay network, receive a request to access the core network;

provide a slice instance identifier; and

use the slice instance identifier to connect the user equipment to a virtualized network slice of the core network.