Network Slicing for Service Coverage and Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication network architectures face challenges in efficiently managing the growing capacity and diversity of mobile broadband data traffic, particularly with the emergence of new services like video applications and IoT, which stresses existing network assumptions and operational paradigms, necessitating more flexible and scalable solutions.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of network slicing allows for the creation of virtualized network slices with specific functionalities, enabling each slice to support different services and use cases, allowing for optimized resource allocation and reduced redundancy by indicating supported functionalities on the S1 interface between radio network nodes and network nodes, thereby optimizing processing load and resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network nodes implement all functionalities in traditional communication networks, then service coverage is comprehensive, but device complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication network into multiple virtual network slices, where each slice is dedicated to specific services or functionality sets. This allows the overall network to maintain comprehensive service coverage while each individual network node instance only implements the functionalities required for its specific slice, thereby reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic selection and instantiation of network slice types based on service requirements. Network nodes can dynamically activate or deactivate specific functionality sets corresponding to different service types, allowing the system to adapt to varying service demands without permanently implementing all possible functionalities, thus reducing overall device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If network nodes support multiple service types, then service diversity is improved, but processing load and resource usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the network into specialized virtual slices, each handling specific service types, the patent enables service diversity while distributing processing loads across multiple specialized nodes rather than concentrating all service types in single nodes, thereby managing processing load more efficiently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by configuring each network node with specific functionality sets tailored to particular service requirements. Each node is optimized for its designated service type with appropriate processing capabilities, rather than uniformly implementing all functionalities, which reduces unnecessary processing load while maintaining service diversity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If network nodes implement comprehensive functionalities, then service capability is complete, but resource allocation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network functionalities into distinct virtual slices, allowing resources to be allocated specifically to each slice based on its service requirements. This segmentation enables complete service capability across the network while improving resource allocation efficiency by avoiding the waste that occurs when all nodes implement all functionalities regardless of actual service needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of network nodes by dynamically configuring functionality sets based on service type and demand. This allows the system to maintain complete service capability while optimizing resource allocation by adjusting which functionalities are active in which nodes, thereby improving resource allocation efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a network node (100, 13) for enabling communication between the network node and a radio network node (12) comprised in a communication network. The network node (100, 13)supports a first set of functionalities out of a total set of functionalities in the communication network (1), which first set of functionalities is separated from a different set of functionalities out of the total set of functionalities in the communication network. The network node (100, 13) initiates a transmission of an indication to the radio network node (12), which indication indicates the supported first set of functionalities.