Network Slice Handover Signaling Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, especially with network slicing, wireless devices face challenges in performing mobility procedures such as handovers and cell reselections due to the lack of information about which cells support the specific network slice they are connected to, leading to erroneous connections and increased signaling, which affects network performance and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves providing slice support information to the source radio network node, allowing it to select suitable cells for mobility procedures, thereby minimizing unnecessary signaling and ensuring the wireless device connects to cells that support its network slice, using explicit or implicit slice support indications like slice IDs and Tracking Area Identities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wireless device performs mobility procedures without slice support information, then the mobility procedure can be initiated, but the device may connect to cells that do not support its network slice, leading to erroneous connections and increased signaling
Solution Approach 1:
The source radio network node receives and stores slice support information from target radio network nodes before the handover is executed. This preliminary action ensures that when the handover decision is made, the source node already has the necessary information to verify that the target cell supports the wireless device's network slice, preventing erroneous connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The target radio network node provides feedback to the source radio network node about which network slices it supports. This feedback mechanism allows the source node to make an informed handover decision by comparing the target node's slice support information with the wireless device's required slice, thereby avoiding connections to incompatible cells.
2Productivity
If the source radio network node has complete slice support information from all target nodes, then handover decisions can be optimized, but the signaling overhead and network complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of requiring all radio network nodes to have universal knowledge of all slices in the network, each target radio network node reports only the slices it locally supports. The source node then uses this localized information to make handover decisions. This approach maintains handover efficiency while reducing the information burden on individual nodes.
Solution Approach 2:
The source radio network node receives slice support information from target nodes that are relevant to potential handover decisions, rather than requiring complete information about all nodes in the network. This partial information approach is sufficient for making optimal handover decisions while reducing signaling overhead and network complexity.
3Loss of time
If the wireless device is handed over to a cell without verifying slice support, then the handover procedure is simpler and faster, but the connection may be erroneous and require reconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The verification of slice support is performed in advance during the handover preparation phase, before the actual handover execution. The source radio network node receives slice support information from the target node and makes the verification decision prior to initiating the handover, ensuring both speed and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
By performing slice support verification in advance during the preparation phase, the actual handover execution can proceed quickly without additional verification delays. The critical check is already done, allowing the handover to be executed rapidly while maintaining reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a first radio network node (12) for handling mobility of a wireless device (10) in a communication network (1). The communication network (1) comprises partitioned sets of functionalities. Each set of functionalities belongs to a network slice and is separated from other sets of functionalities out of a total set of functionalities in the communication network (1). The first radio network node (12) transmits a message comprising information indicating one or more slice identities supported by the first radio network node (12) to a second radio network node (13) in the communication network: The first radio network node (12) receives a response message comprising information indicating one or more slice identities supported by the second radio network node (13) from the second radio network node (13) in the communication network. The first radio network node (12) further obtains a support indication indicating the slice ID the wireless device (10) supports, during a connection setup of the wireless device (10) to the network slice. The first radio network node (12) determines to initiate a mobility procedure towards the second radio network node (13) taking the information in the received response message and the obtained support indication into account.