5G Slice-Aware Cell Selection for Coverage Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communication networks, existing cell selection methods fail to account for network slicing, leading to potential loss of coverage when a cell does not support the intended slice, resulting in suboptimal cell selection or reselection.
Innovation Solution
The terminal obtains information indicating that a second cell does not support the intended slice and adjusts its cell selection or reselection process accordingly, using predefined or pre-stored parameters to ensure slice continuity and avoid coverage loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal performs cell selection or reselection based on conventional methods without considering network slicing, then the cell selection process is simple and fast, but the terminal may select a cell that does not support the intended slice, resulting in loss of coverage and service interruption
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides slice-related information to the terminal in advance through system information blocks (SIB) or RRC release messages before the terminal performs cell selection or reselection. This allows the terminal to proactively identify cells that support the intended slice, preventing coverage loss rather than reacting after failed access attempts
Solution Approach 2:
The invention modifies the cell selection criteria by incorporating slice support information as an additional parameter. The terminal now evaluates cells based on both conventional metrics (signal strength, quality) and the new parameter (slice support indication), changing the selection behavior to avoid cells that cannot support the intended network slice
2Reliability
If the network provides slice information for all cells in system information messages, then the terminal can make informed cell selection decisions, but the system information message size and transmission overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of providing uniform slice information for all cells, the network provides slice-related information selectively and locally. The SIB or RRC release message contains slice support indications only for specific neighboring cells or target cells where the terminal might reselect, rather than all cells in the network, thus reducing message size while maintaining selection accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts only the necessary slice-related information (slice support indication) from the complete cell configuration data and includes it in the system information or RRC release message. This selective extraction provides the terminal with sufficient information for slice-aware cell selection without transmitting the entire cell configuration set, reducing overhead
3Reliability
If the terminal considers slice information in cell selection, then coverage loss is avoided, but the terminal requires additional processing capability and memory to store and evaluate slice information
Solution Approach 1:
The slice support information is provided as lightweight, temporary data in system information blocks or RRC release messages rather than as permanent configuration stored in the terminal. The terminal processes this information temporarily during cell selection/reselection events and then discards it, avoiding the need for long-term storage and reducing memory requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The system information block or RRC release message that carries slice support information also performs its conventional functions of providing cell selection criteria, frequency information, and other parameters. This multi-functionality means the terminal's existing processing infrastructure can handle slice information without requiring dedicated specialized processing units, minimizing additional complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
This disclosure provides a cell selection method and apparatus, a terminal, and a storage medium and belongs to the field of wireless communication technology. The method includes the following. A terminal obtains first information; the first information indicates that a second cell does not support a first intended slice. The terminal performs cell selection or reselection according to the first information. With the above solution, when performing cell selection or resection, the terminal takes the slice information supported by a cell into consideration, which can ensure that the terminal can make normal cell selection when the second cell does not support a slice and avoid loss of coverage.