N14 Interface Support Signaling for Seamless NG-RAN Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In non-public networks (NPNs), unauthorized user equipments (UEs) attempt to access the network, leading to resource wastage, while authorized UEs may face delays in accessing authorized networks due to lack of network configuration awareness, necessitating methods to ensure service continuity without unnecessary delays.
Innovation Solution
A method where a Next Generation Radio Access Network (NG-RAN) node receives information about supported N14 interfaces and initiates handovers based on this information to ensure seamless transitions between networks, reducing unnecessary handover attempts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network performs handover procedures without checking N14 interface support information, then handover attempts are made to all available networks, but this causes unnecessary delays and resource wastage when the target network does not support N14 interface
Solution Approach 1:
The AMF retrieves and stores N14 interface support information from the NRF before the handover procedure. This preliminary action allows the network to know in advance whether the target network supports N14 interface, enabling efficient handover decisions without causing delays during the actual handover execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The network uses feedback information about N14 interface support status from the NRF to make informed handover decisions. The AMF checks the N14 interface support status and uses this feedback to determine whether to proceed with handover to a particular network, avoiding unnecessary handover attempts to networks that do not support N14 interface.
2Reliability
If the network checks N14 interface support information for every handover decision, then service continuity is improved, but network complexity increases due to additional information retrieval and processing
Solution Approach 1:
The AMF retrieves N14 interface support information from the NRF in advance and stores it in a data structure. This preliminary action consolidates the complexity into a single information retrieval operation rather than multiple checks during handover decisions, simplifying the overall network configuration management.
Solution Approach 2:
The network uses the NRF's existing capabilities to provide N14 interface support information automatically. The AMF leverages the NRF's data collection and storage functions, allowing the network to self-configure and self-manage handover decisions without requiring complex manual configuration or additional signaling protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a method and device for an N14 interface support indicator for service continuity. A next generation radio access network (NG-RAN) node of a first network receives an initial UE context configuration request message from an access and mobility management function (AMF) of the first network. The initial UE context configuration request message includes (i) a registration acceptance message that is a response to a registration request message, and (ii) information on at least one second network supported by the first network, and the registration acceptance message includes information on whether an N14 interface between the AMF of the first network and an AMF of the at least one second network is supported. The NG-RAN node of the first network initiates handover to one network among the at least one second network, based on the information on the at least one second network.