Network Slice Context Preservation Across Multi-Network Handovers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network slicing information is lost when User Equipment (UE) moves out of 5G coverage, requiring reestablishment upon return, which disrupts user experience and service continuity.
Innovation Solution
An open end-to-end network architecture with service-driven coordinated network intelligent controllers across access, transport, core, and end devices preserves network slicing information by packetizing and conveying it with handover information, utilizing microservices and voice over wireless protocols for seamless transitions between different network types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If user equipment moves out of 5G coverage to maintain service continuity, then service availability is improved, but network slicing information is lost requiring reestablishment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing network slicing information in the core network before the UE moves out of coverage. When the UE returns or handovers occur, the pre-stored slicing information is quickly retrieved and applied, avoiding the need for reestablishment. This is implemented through the AMF storing S-TFT rules and slice identification information in the core network, enabling fast restoration of slicing context without requiring full reestablishment procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The core network acts as an intermediary that preserves and transfers network slicing information across different network access points. The AMF and SMF in the core network maintain slicing context information, which is then forwarded to appropriate network equipment during handover or fast return scenarios. This intermediary storage mechanism ensures slicing information continuity even when the UE moves between different 5G coverage areas or returns from fallback states.
2Measurement precision
If network slicing information is reestablished upon return to 5G coverage, then information accuracy is improved, but service disruption time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The core network pre-establishes and stores slicing configuration information (S-TFT rules, slice identification, QoS parameters) before the UE needs to return to 5G coverage. When the UE returns or handovers occur, this pre-prepared information is immediately retrieved and applied, eliminating the time-consuming reestablishment process while maintaining configuration accuracy through the stored data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates and maintains copies of network slicing information in the core network (AMF/SMF) that can be quickly replicated and transferred to target network equipment during handover. These copied slicing context records contain all necessary configuration data, enabling rapid restoration of slicing services without requiring time-consuming reestablishment procedures, thus reducing service disruption time while preserving configuration accuracy.
3Loss of information
If centralized storage of slicing configuration data is implemented, then information preservation is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The core network components (AMF, SMF) perform multiple functions including mobility management, session management, and slicing information storage/forwarding. By making these existing universal components responsible for slicing information preservation, the patent avoids adding dedicated complex storage infrastructure, thus improving information preservation while minimizing increases in network complexity through multi-functional utilization of existing elements.
Data Source
AI summary
Facilitating network slicing information preservation in advanced networks in advanced networks is provided herein. Operations of a system include receiving, from second network equipment, network slice configuration information for a user device during a first handover of the user device from the second network equipment to the first network equipment. The network slice configuration information can include information indicative of a first network slice and a second network slice generated via a microservice of a network intelligent controller. Further the operations can include transmitting, to third network equipment, the network slice configuration information for the user device during a second handover of the user device from the first network equipment to the third network equipment.