Geographical Area Description for Multi-RAT Network Slicing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current network slice management architectures are inadequate for describing and combining radio network capabilities across different Radio Access Technologies (RATs) to meet non-uniform service requirements, as they lack the necessary geographical area abstractions and formats to match service requirements with radio network performance capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves defining and storing area base units with uniform network capabilities and features across geographical zones, allowing for the selection and combination of area base units to meet demand network capabilities and features, thereby creating joint radio capabilities across multiple RATs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Tracking Areas (TA) are used to describe coverage area in 3GPP networks, then network slice management can be implemented within the 3GPP framework, but non-3GPP network technologies (WiFi, mmWave) cannot be properly integrated with their distinct coverage and service capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a universal Geographical Area Description (GAD) framework that can describe coverage areas for multiple radio access technologies (3GPP LTE, 5G, WiFi, mmWave) using a common geometric model. This allows the network slice management system to handle diverse RATs through a unified interface, enabling non-3GPP technologies to be integrated without requiring separate management architectures for each technology.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate GAD layer that acts as a mediator between the service requirements and the underlying heterogeneous radio access technologies. The GAD converts service area requirements into geometric representations that can be mapped to multiple RATs, allowing the system to bridge between service-level abstractions and technology-specific implementations without direct coupling.
2Measurement precision
If a single TA is used to represent non-3GPP access networks, then integration is simplified, but distinction in coverage and service capabilities among different RATs is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different geometric area descriptions and capability profiles to be assigned to different spatial regions. Each GAD can have specific geometric boundaries and associated network capabilities that vary by location, enabling the system to represent heterogeneous coverage and service characteristics across different geographical areas with precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network coverage area into multiple Geographical Area Descriptions, each with its own geometric boundaries and network capability characteristics. This segmentation allows different RATs and their specific capabilities to be represented in distinct spatial units, enabling precise differentiation of coverage and service capabilities across the network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If 3GPP TA-based approach is used, then 3GPP network slice management is standardized, but emerging non-3GPP radio technologies cannot be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The GAD framework provides a universal description mechanism that works across all radio access technologies including emerging ones. By defining coverage areas and capabilities in terms of geometric regions rather than technology-specific concepts, the system can accommodate new RATs without requiring changes to the core slice management architecture, ensuring both adaptability and reliable SLA realization.
Data Source
AI summary
There are provided measures for realization of service level agreements in network slice scenarios joining multiple network capabilities. Such measures exemplarily comprise, as a slice management entity, receiving a network resource combination request, transmitting a request for at least one area base unit fulfilling, receiving, from said area base units repository, area base units fulfilling said at least one predetermined criterion out of stored area base units, generating at least one area base units join, selecting at least one selected area base units join of said at least one area base units join such that a combination of join geographical areas of said at least one selected area base units join covers said slice geographical area, and combining said at least one selected area base units join as a network resource combination.