A method for UE route selection policy (URSP) rule matching enhancement is proposed. When an application is executed, the upper layer of a UE sends the application information to URSP entity for matching a URSP rule. The UE finds an RSD of the matching URSP rule, and the UE tries to reuse an existing PDU session, e.g., the association of the application with the existing PDU session have certain exceptions. In one example, regarding DNN, S-NSSAI, SSC mode, and PDU session type, the above listed parameters in the RSD can either match with stored PDU session parameters of the existing PDU session or match with PDU session parameters requested by the UE during the PDU session establishment procedure.

This application provides a packet processing method and a device. In this application, a control identifier field is added to a packet, and the control identifier field indicates whether forwarding of the packet is allowed when a resource corresponding to a slice identifier fails to be matched. The control identifier field and a slice identifier of a network slice are carried in the packet, so that the slice identifier and the control identifier field are transmitted on a network together. When a receive end fails to match the resource corresponding to the slice identifier, the receive end can discard the packet based on the control identifier field, instead of forwarding the packet by using routing information.

A method for establishing message priority in network slices based on quality of service (QoS) parameters includes receiving, by a network slice configuration service provider entity and from a network slice management service provider entity, a network slice creation notification message containing at least a QoS profile corresponding to a created network slice, utilizing the QoS profile to derive a service based interface (SBI) message priority (SMP) associated with the network slice, and providing the SMP to a requesting access and mobility management function (AMF) entity in response to receiving a network slice selection request message from the AMF entity, wherein the AMF entity assigns the SMP level value to network traffic directed to the network slice.

The present disclosure relates to communication methods, apparatus, and systems. In one example method, a network slice selection network element sends identification information of a first slice to a mobility management network element. The network slice selection network element receives a slice authentication result corresponding to the first slice from the mobility management network element. If the slice authentication result corresponding to the first slice indicates that slice authentication succeeds, the network slice selection network element performs user counting on the first slice. The network slice selection network element determines, based on a user counting result corresponding to the first slice, whether to allow a terminal device to access the first slice.

The disclosure relates to a fifth generation (5G) or sixth generation (6G) communication system. A method for Network slice admission control for interworking with an Evolved Packet Core Network (EPC) in a wireless network by a Session Management Function-Packet Data Network Gateway (SMF-PGW-C) is provided. The method includes detecting that at least one UE transfers a Packet Data Network (PDN) connection or a Protocol Data Unit (PDU) session from a N1 mode to a S1 mode during an intersystem change. Further, the method includes determining that an EPC counting is not required for a network slice of the wireless network. Further, the method includes transmitting a message to a Network Slice Admission Control Function (NSACF) in the wireless network to update or reduce a number of User Equipments (UEs) per network slice and a number of PDU sessions per network slice.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for enhancement of network slicing for a UE. A UE may receive, from an AMF of a network, application related information associated with network slice data routing for data associated with an application. The information may be provided to the network by network slice customers. The UE may, in response to application initiation, determine traffic routing for data associated with the application. Traffic routing may be based on the application related information and a UE configuration associated with user privacy (e.g., user privacy setting) associated with the application. When the user UE configuration is enabled, the data may be routed via a default network slice and when the UE configuration is disabled, the data may be routed via a network slice indicated by the application related information. The UE configuration may be indicated by the application via a Boolean flag and/or via a user interface setting.

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for performing cell selection/reselection on a radio frequency associated with a network slice. One apparatus includes a processor and a transceiver that camps on a first frequency layer of a RAN while in a RRC idle state, the first frequency layer supporting a first set of network slices, where the first set of network slices is prioritized for use with a first frequency. The processor iteratively performs cell search on a second frequency layer while the apparatus is camped on the first frequency layer, the second frequency layer supporting a second set of network slices, where the second set of network slices is prioritized for use with a second frequency. The processor maintains in parallel the second frequency layer while in the RRC idle state.

A method for determining a User Equipment (UE) policy behavior includes: a first network element acquires at least one of the following information: first information sent by UE, second information sent by a Policy Control Function (PCF), third information sent by a Session Management Function (SMF) or fourth information sent by an application server; and the first network element determines, according to the at least one of the information, a UE policy behavior performed by the UE.

A method for route selection policy (URSP) rule matching enhancement in EPS is proposed. When an application is executed, the upper layer of a UE sends the application information to URSP entity for matching a URSP rule. The UE selects and evaluates a route selection descriptor (RSD) from a list of RSDs of a selected URSP rule to be matched with a PDN connection. If there is a “PDU session pair ID type” and/or “RSN type” route selection descriptor components in an RSD, such RSD components are intended for a redundant PDU session, which is not supported in EPS. Therefore, the UE ignores the specific RSD components and continues to evaluate the RSD with the remaining RSD components.

A network device includes a plurality of network interfaces configured to couple with a plurality of physical network links. A packet processor is configured to process packets received via the plurality of network interfaces. The packet processor includes a path selection engine that is configured to: for each of at least some packets processed by the packet processor, successively make path selection decisions that correspond to respective routing domains within a hierarchical communication network, the path selection decisions for forwarding the packet through the hierarchical communication network.