5G Paging Differentiation for Slice-Aware Resource Overload
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G networks, paging procedures for communication devices in IDLE or INACTIVE states can lead to resource wastage due to broadcasting paging requests for connections belonging to overloaded partitions, resulting in inefficient utilization of signaling, hardware, and random-access resources.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating Single-Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI) and Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) identifiers into paging messages allows gNBs to disregard requests for overloaded partitions, optimizing resource usage by prioritizing paging based on available resources and priority levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If paging requests are broadcast to all gNBs in tracking area for communication devices in IDLE state, then all communication devices can be reached, but network resources (signaling, hardware, random-access) are wasted for overloaded partitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating paging behavior based on local gNB conditions. Each gNB evaluates its own resource availability and partition status locally, and only pages communication devices if resources are available. This allows the system to maintain reliable paging where possible while avoiding resource waste in overloaded areas, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive coverage and resource efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of paging selection criteria from broadcast-to-all to conditional-based-on-resource-availability. By introducing resource availability as a filtering parameter, the system can selectively page only when conditions permit, reducing wasted resources while maintaining reliability for successful deliveries.
2Productivity
If paging requests are broadcast to all gNBs in tracking area, then communication devices can be reached, but signaling and random-access procedures are wasted for overloaded partitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having gNBs perform admission control and resource availability assessment before initiating paging procedures. This preliminary evaluation prevents time-consuming signaling and random-access procedures from being executed when resources are overloaded, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining device accessibility when conditions are favorable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the paging procedure from the universal broadcast approach and separates it into conditional execution based on partition status. By taking out the paging action from the set of operations performed regardless of conditions, the system avoids wasting time on procedures that would fail due to resource unavailability.
3Loss of energy
If gNBs disregard paging requests for overloaded partitions, then resource efficiency is improved, but accessibility for high-priority services may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of paging selection by introducing priority level as a filtering criterion. High-priority services can trigger paging even when resources are partially overloaded, while lower-priority services are blocked. This parameter-based differentiation maintains resource efficiency by avoiding unnecessary paging for low-priority services while preserving accessibility for critical high-priority communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different paging behaviors for different service types within the same gNB. High-priority services receive preferential treatment and can bypass resource availability restrictions, while low-priority services are subject to normal resource constraints. This differentiated local behavior resolves the contradiction between resource efficiency and service accessibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A first network node, operating in a communications network that includes a second network node, can receive a message from the second network node. The message can include a request to page a communication device and a single-network slice selection assistance information, S-NSSAI, and/or a public land mobile network, PLMN, identifier, ID, associated with the request. The first network node can determine whether to page the communication device based on the S-NSSAI and/or the PLMN ID.