Network Slice Service Area Identifier for 5G Terminal Cell Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G mobile communications, ensuring service continuity and experience for terminal devices when they move across different network slices is challenging due to the assumption that a network can always select an appropriate slice, which is not considered in actual deployments, leading to difficulties in maintaining service continuity.
Innovation Solution
A target cell access method that provides a network slice service area identifier and configuration information to terminal devices, allowing them to determine and access the appropriate target cell based on pre-allocated tracking area identifiers and network slice configuration, ensuring service continuity even when the serving cell changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the network assumes it can always select an appropriate network slice for the terminal device, then network slice selection flexibility is improved, but service continuity deteriorates when the terminal device moves across local network areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing the terminal device with network slice service area identifier information and configuration information in advance, before the terminal device moves. This allows the terminal device to proactively determine and access the appropriate target cell when moving, ensuring service continuity without relying on the network to dynamically select slices during movement.
2Manufacturing precision
If network slices are deployed locally to serve specific areas (e.g., industrial parks, stadiums), then local service quality is improved, but service continuity deteriorates when terminal devices move outside these local areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a new dimension of service area identifier information that extends the local network slice deployment model to a broader spatial dimension. By providing terminal devices with information about which network slices are available in which service areas, the system enables terminal devices to proactively select appropriate target cells when moving between different service areas, thereby maintaining service continuity across multiple local deployments.
3Device complexity
If the terminal device stores only the NSID allocated by the network, then network slice association simplicity is improved, but the terminal device's ability to maintain service continuity deteriorates when serving cells change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the terminal device's information storage with network slice service area identifier information and configuration information in advance. This preliminary provision of information enables the terminal device to autonomously determine the appropriate target cell when moving, maintaining service continuity without increasing the complexity of the network slice association process.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of this application disclose a cell access method and a device, to provide a network slice service area identifier and network slice configuration information for a terminal device, so that the terminal device accesses a target cell. The method in the embodiments of this application includes: obtaining, by a terminal device, a network slice service area identifier from a serving access network device corresponding to a serving cell in which the terminal device is located, where the network slice service area identifier is used to indicate an area served by a network slice; determining, by the terminal device, a target cell based on network slice configuration information and the network slice service area identifier, where the network slice configuration information includes a correspondence among a network slice, an area, and a service; and accessing, by the terminal device, the target cell.