Cell Reselection Prioritization for Network Slice Availability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile communication systems lack a specific method for slice-specific cell reselection, which is essential for network slicing in 5G and future generations, as they do not effectively prioritize frequencies and network slices during cell reselection processes.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a cell reselection method where user equipment receives slice frequency information from the network, prioritizes frequencies based on network slice support, and selectively reselects cells within supported frequencies to ensure optimal network slice availability, even when the highest ranked cell does not provide the selected network slice.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional cell reselection methods are used without slice-specific prioritization, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is maintained, but network slice availability and service reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cell reselection process by introducing slice-specific frequency information and separate priority mechanisms. The network provides slice frequency information that associates specific frequencies with network slices, allowing the terminal to perform differentiated reselection evaluations based on slice requirements rather than using a unified reselection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the network pre-configure and provide slice frequency information to the terminal before cell reselection is needed. This information includes frequency-slice associations and priorities, enabling the terminal to make informed reselection decisions without complex real-time analysis.
2Reliability
If slice-specific frequency prioritization is implemented, then network slice service reliability is improved, but information processing overhead and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts slice-specific frequency information as a separate entity from general cell reselection parameters. The network provides dedicated slice frequency information including frequency-slice mappings and priorities, which the terminal processes independently from standard reselection criteria, reducing the need to analyze all possible parameters simultaneously.
3Reliability
If the terminal strictly selects only cells providing the selected network slice, then network slice availability is ensured, but cell reselection flexibility and connectivity reliability worsen when no suitable cell is available
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic adaptability by allowing the terminal to adjust its reselection strategy based on availability. When cells providing the selected network slice are available, the terminal prioritizes them. When none are available, the terminal dynamically switches to selecting from cells on frequencies indicated in the slice frequency information, even if those cells don't provide the selected slice, ensuring continuous connectivity.
Data Source
AI summary
In a first aspect, a cell reselection method is performed by a user equipment in a mobile communication system. The cell reselection method includes: receiving, from a network, slice frequency information indicating a plurality of frequencies and a network slice group supported by each of the plurality of frequencies; and when a predetermined frequency not supporting a predetermined network slice group, of which an AS layer is notified by a NAS layer of a user equipment, is present in the slice frequency information, performing control in which a cell belonging to the predetermined frequency is less likely to be selected as a serving cell than a cell belonging to a frequency supporting the predetermined network slice group.