Shared-RAN Paging Relay for Multi-Network UE Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a shared radio access network scenario, ensuring normal paging for user equipment accessing different networks, particularly between standalone non-public networks and public or integrated non-public networks, is challenging due to the lack of effective mechanisms for coordinating paging and control plane signaling.
Innovation Solution
A method where an access apparatus sends a first message over a first network to indicate that user equipment is paged by a second network, allowing the user equipment to access the second network, thereby assisting in receiving paging messages and balancing control plane signaling load, reducing signaling storms, and ensuring normal paging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If user equipment accesses multiple networks through a shared-RAN device, then network access flexibility is improved, but paging reliability deteriorates because the shared-RAN device cannot reliably receive and forward paging messages from different networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a first network as an intermediary to assist the second network in paging the user equipment. The first network receives the paging message from the second network and forwards it to the user equipment, ensuring reliable paging delivery while maintaining the shared-RAN access scenario.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the paging function by separating the paging message reception (first network) from the user equipment access (second network). This segmentation allows each network to perform its specific function optimally without interfering with the other, resolving the reliability issue in shared-RAN scenarios.
2Reliability
If the second network continuously sends paging messages to ensure delivery, then paging reliability is improved, but signaling load increases causing signaling storms
Solution Approach 1:
The first network acts as an intermediary that receives paging messages from the second network and forwards them to the user equipment. This prevents the second network from continuously retransmitting paging messages, thereby avoiding signaling storms while maintaining reliable delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the first network acknowledges receipt of paging messages from the second network. This feedback loop allows the second network to stop sending paging messages after successful delivery confirmation, preventing signaling storms.
3Device complexity
If the shared-RAN device handles all paging functions for multiple networks, then device complexity is reduced, but control plane signaling load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control plane signaling load by having the first network handle paging for the second network separately from the user equipment's direct access to the second network. This segmentation distributes the signaling load across multiple networks rather than concentrating it on a single shared-RAN device.
Solution Approach 2:
The first network serves as an intermediary that handles control plane signaling for the second network, reducing the signaling load on the shared-RAN device. The first network receives and forwards paging messages, effectively offloading control plane tasks from the shared-RAN device.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to paging methods and apparatus. One example method includes sending, by a distributed unit (DU), first signaling to a centralized unit (CU), where the first signaling is used to indicate a network that can be accessed by the DU, and receiving, by the DU, second signaling from the CU, where the second signaling is used to send an auxiliary configuration parameter of the CU for the DU, and the second signaling comprises a non-public networks (NPN) identifier.