Network Slice Band Association for Radio Frequency Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network slicing technologies face challenges in efficiently selecting and managing resources within sliced networks, particularly in determining the support of network slices on different radio frequencies, leading to suboptimal resource utilization and user experience.
Innovation Solution
A wireless terminal and access node system that receives and transmits network slice band association information, allowing for the selection of appropriate network slices based on supported radio frequencies, initiating cell reselection or PLMN selection procedures as needed to ensure optimal resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network slice band association information is not provided, then the terminal cannot determine slice support on current frequency, but providing this information increases signaling overhead and message complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The network slice band association information is segmented into individual network slice identifiers, each associated with specific radio frequency indications. This allows the terminal to process and evaluate slice support on a per-frequency basis rather than handling all slices uniformly, improving determination accuracy while managing message complexity through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The network provides network slice band association information in advance during the cell reselection evaluation phase, before the terminal actually needs to select a frequency. This preliminary provision of information allows the terminal to proactively evaluate slice support availability and make informed decisions about frequency selection, avoiding the need for additional signaling during the actual selection process.
2Reliability
If the terminal performs cell reselection to find supported frequencies, then network slice support is ensured, but service interruption and time loss occur during reselection
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal uses network slice band association information to pre-evaluate which frequencies support the required network slices before initiating cell reselection. This preliminary evaluation filters out unsuitable frequencies in advance, ensuring that the reselection process directly targets frequencies that support the needed slices, thereby minimizing reselection time while guaranteeing slice support availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal autonomously performs frequency evaluation and cell reselection based on the provided network slice band association information without requiring network assistance during the reselection process. The terminal independently determines which frequencies support its required slices and executes reselection accordingly, reducing signaling overhead and accelerating the reselection process.
3Productivity
If the terminal evaluates all available frequencies for network slice support, then optimal frequency selection is achieved, but processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network provides network slice band association information that pre-indicates which radio frequencies support which network slices. This preliminary information allows the terminal to quickly filter and identify suitable frequencies without having to evaluate all available frequencies in detail, significantly reducing processing time while still achieving optimal frequency selection for the required slices.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of evaluating all frequency parameters in detail, the terminal performs a partial evaluation using the network slice band association information to identify frequencies that definitely support the required slices. This partial evaluation approach focuses only on the critical frequency-slice associations needed for decision-making, avoiding unnecessary processing of unrelated frequency parameters.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless terminal comprises receiver circuitry which receives a message comprising network slice band association information, and processor circuitry. The processor circuitry selects at least one network slice of a serving PLMN and, based on the message, makes a determination of whether the slice is: (1) supported on the first radio band; (2) supported on a second radio band but not supported on the first radio band, or; (3) not supported on any radio band(s). The processor circuitry initiates a cell reselection procedure to select a second cell on the second radio band, in a case that the slice is supported on the second radio band but not supported on the first radio band, and; initiates a PLMN selection procedure to select a PLMN different from the serving PLMN, in a case that the slice is not supported in any radio band(s).