Multi-Slice User Plane Switching for 5G Service Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G mobile communication networks, network slice unavailability can lead to degradation of user experience due to interrupted application traffic transmission and reception, and insufficient throughput in single slices can fail to meet application requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method allowing a UE to transmit and receive application data via data plane resources allocated to two or more network slices and radio access technologies (RATs), enabling simultaneous data transmission and reception across multiple slices and RATs to ensure continuous service even in slice or RAT unavailability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single network slice is used for data transmission, then the network structure is simple and easy to manage, but the user experience deteriorates when the slice becomes unavailable and the throughput is insufficient to meet application requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple network slices and radio access technologies (RATs) into a unified data transmission system. The UE simultaneously establishes data radio bearers across multiple slices and RATs (e.g., NR and E-UTRA), merging their capabilities to provide continuous service. When one path becomes unavailable, other paths maintain connectivity, thereby improving service continuity while managing complexity through standardized protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes transmission parameters by selecting different combinations of slices and RATs based on network conditions, slice availability, and service requirements. The system adjusts the active data radio bearers, modulation schemes, and resource allocation parameters to optimize throughput and reliability, allowing the network to adapt to varying application requirements and environmental conditions.
2Productivity
If multiple network slices and RATs are used simultaneously for data transmission, then the throughput increases and service continuity is ensured, but the system complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the data transmission system into independent data radio bearers, each associated with specific slice-RAT combinations. This segmentation allows the UE to establish multiple parallel transmission paths (e.g., one bearer for NR slice1, another for E-UTRA slice2) that can be independently managed, configured, and optimized. Each segment operates autonomously, simplifying the overall management of complex multi-slice multi-RAT resources while maximizing throughput through parallel transmission.
3Reliability
If multiple data radio bearers are established across different slices and RATs, then the data transmission reliability improves, but the control plane signaling overhead and resource allocation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universal data radio bearer management protocols that function across multiple slices and RATs. The same bearer establishment, modification, and release procedures apply whether the bearer is on NR or E-UTRA, on slice1 or slice2. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain high reliability through diverse transmission paths while using standardized control mechanisms to manage the complexity of bearer resources uniformly across the entire multi-slice multi-RAT environment.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a 5G or 6G communication system for supporting higher data transfer rates. A method performed by a terminal in a wireless communication system of the present disclosure may comprise the steps of: receiving terminal policy information from an access and mobility management function (AMF) entity via a base station; updating a terminal policy on the basis of the received terminal policy information; transmitting the updated terminal policy information to the AMF entity; when traffic occurs, selecting at least one radio access technology (RAT) associated with the traffic on the basis of the updated terminal policy information; and transmitting, to the AMF entity, a protocol data unit (PDU) session establishment request message on the basis of the selected at least one RAT.