Network Slice Signaling for Faster 5G UE Connection Establishment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing 5G networks face challenges in efficiently connecting idle user equipment (UE) to the appropriate network slice due to the lack of differentiation between network slices at the wireless side, leading to prolonged connection establishment times and resource consumption.

Innovation Solution

The method involves the core network sending network slice information corresponding to the service to be transmitted to both the base station and the UE, allowing the UE to establish a connection based on this information, thereby reducing the need for individual trial connections with each supported network slice.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the UE tries each network slice supported by itself one by one to connect to the base station, then the UE can establish connection with the appropriate network slice, but the connection establishment time and resource consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection establishment successVSAvoidconnection establishment time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary action by determining the appropriate network slice for the UE before the UE attempts connection. The base station sends the determined network slice information to the UE in advance (in the paging message or system information), so when the UE initiates connection, it already knows which network slice to use, eliminating the need for trial connections and significantly reducing connection establishment time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the UE tries each network slice supported by itself one by one to connect to the base station, then the UE can establish connection with the appropriate network slice, but the network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection establishment successVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The base station performs preliminary action by determining the appropriate network slice for the UE before the UE attempts connection. The base station sends the determined network slice information to the UE in advance (in the paging message or system information), so when the UE initiates connection, it already knows which network slice to use, eliminating the need for trial connections and significantly reducing connection establishment time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If the base station does not provide network slice information to the UE, then the network architecture remains simple, but the UE cannot efficiently establish connection to the appropriate network slice

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork architecture complexityVSAvoidconnection establishment efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The base station acts as an intermediary between the core network and the UE. It receives network slice information from the core network, determines the appropriate network slice for the UE based on service requirements and UE capabilities, and provides this determined network slice information to the UE. This intermediary role enables efficient connection establishment without requiring complex changes to the overall network architecture.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4054247B1Method and apparatus for connection establishment, base station, user equipment, and core network device
Publication Date: 2025.10.15 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP4054247B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4054247B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP4054247B1 patent drawingFigure 7~8

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for connection establishment, a base station, a user equipment, and a core network device. The method for connection establishment comprises: receiving network slice information and target user equipment (UE) information that correspond to a service to be transmitted and that are sent by a core network; and sending the network slice information to the target UE corresponding to the target UE information, the network slice information being used for establishing a connection between the target UE and a base station. In embodiments of the present disclosure, by receiving the network slice information corresponding to the service to be transmitted sent by the core network and sending the network slice information to the target UE, the target UE can connect to the base station according to the network slice corresponding to the service to be transmitted, and the time and resources which are consumed during connection establishment can be reduced relative to the target UE attempting one by one to use each network slice supported by same to connect to the base station.