Network Slicing PRACH Configuration via Minimum System Information

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Solution Overview

Problem

In current network slicing technologies, there is a challenge in efficiently conveying physical random access channel (PRACH) configuration information to user equipment (UE), as existing system information methods are not optimized for accommodating multiple network slices, leading to redundant information acquisition and reduced efficiency in accessing network slices.

Innovation Solution

The proposed solution involves generating and sending 'minimum system information' that includes indication information about the presence of PRACH configuration for one or more network slices within other system information, allowing the UE to determine if PRACH configuration is present and acquire it efficiently, or fall back to common random access channel configuration if necessary.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the network side sends all PRACH configuration information through system information, then the UE can acquire complete configuration information, but the UE has to acquire redundant information for multiple network slices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of configuration informationVSAvoidamount of information acquired by UE
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments system information into two parts: minimum system information (containing common PRACH configuration and indication information) and other system information (containing slice-specific PRACH configuration). This segmentation allows the UE to first acquire essential common information, then selectively acquire slice-specific information only when needed, avoiding redundant information acquisition while ensuring complete configuration is available when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the network side includes indication information in minimum system information, then the UE can efficiently determine PRACH configuration location, but the minimum system information structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveefficiency of acquiring PRACH configurationVSAvoidstructure of minimum system information
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by including indication information in the minimum system information that points ahead to the location of slice-specific PRACH configuration in other system information. This allows the UE to efficiently determine where to find additional configuration without having to acquire or process all system information, thereby improving acquisition efficiency while the added complexity is minimal and structured.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3641433B1Network slicing access methods and apparatuses
Publication Date: 2022.03.16 BEIJING XIAOMI MOBILE SOFTWARE CO LTD
  • EP3641433B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3641433B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3641433B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a network slicing access method and apparatus, The method comprises: generating a minimum system message, the minimum system message comprising the following two items: indication information that PRACH configuration information corresponding to one or more network slices is present in another system message, and public random access channel configuration information; sending the minimum system message to a user device. The minimum system message and the other system message are used to clearly indicate the PRACH configuration information corresponding to the network slices, thereby facilitating user device analysis.