Network Slice Selection for Seamless 5G Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G communications systems, network slices may not be supported by target cells during handover, leading to disruptions in service as terminal devices move between cells, necessitating a method to select appropriate network slices based on the status of supported slices by access-network devices.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a first network node sends a message to a second network node with network slice identifiers, allowing the second node to determine suitable network slices for the terminal device based on the status of supported slices, ensuring smooth handover by exchanging information about supported network slices between access-network nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If network slices are deployed locally in specific network areas (industrial park or stadium), then user experience is improved when terminal devices initiate services in those areas, but service continuity deteriorates when terminal devices are handed over to cells that do not support the required network slices
Solution Approach 1:
The source access-network node performs preliminary actions by determining a target network slice before handover occurs. It sends first indication information to the terminal device containing the network slice identifier of the target network slice, enabling the terminal to prepare for handover to a cell supporting the required network slice, thus preventing service interruption
Solution Approach 2:
The source access-network node acts as an intermediary between the terminal device and the target cell. It determines the appropriate target network slice based on the current network slice and sends indication information to guide the terminal device to handover to a cell that supports the target network slice, ensuring service continuity across different network areas
2Device complexity
If network slice selection is performed without considering the status of supported slices by target access-network nodes, then selection process is simplified, but handover success rate deteriorates when target cells do not support required network slices
Solution Approach 1:
The source access-network node performs preliminary determination of the target network slice before handover execution. It obtains the network slice identifier of the target network slice and sends this information to the terminal device in advance, ensuring that the terminal can handover to a cell that actually supports the required network slice, thereby improving handover success rate
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by having the source access-network node determine the target network slice based on the current network slice and send this determination back to the terminal device through indication information. This feedback loop ensures that the terminal device has accurate information about which network slice to access in the target cell, improving handover reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of communications apparatuses, systems, and methods are provided in this disclosure. In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises: at least one processor, and a memory storing instructions for execution by the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: sending, to a network node, a first message comprising a first network slice identifier corresponding to a network slice in a first network slice set, wherein the network slice is accessed by a terminal device to a first access-network node, wherein the network node is a first core-network node or a second access-network node to be accessed by the terminal device, and wherein the first core-network node and the first access-network node are comprised in a first communications system; and receiving, from the network node, a first response message comprising a second network slice identifier corresponding to a network slice in a second network slice set.