Network Slice Indication Signaling in 5G NR Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems, particularly in the context of 3GPP LTE and emerging NR technologies, face challenges in efficiently supporting network slicing and mobility procedures, which are crucial for providing optimized services across diverse usage scenarios and deployment scenarios, including enhanced mobile broadband, massive machine-type communications, and ultra-reliable and low-latency communications.
Innovation Solution
The method involves RAN nodes transmitting and receiving slice support indications through RAN-RAN interface setup messages and handover requests, utilizing identifiers such as global gNodeB IDs and C-CPF IDs, to facilitate efficient slice selection and mobility procedures, enabling the exchange of slice-related information and ensuring seamless interactions between RAN nodes and the core network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network slicing is implemented in NR systems to support diverse usage scenarios, then service quality and availability are improved, but system complexity increases due to additional slice support indications and procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple network slices, each optimized for specific usage scenarios (eMBB, mMTC, URLLC). Each slice is independently configured and managed with dedicated RAN nodes, allowing services to be divided and allocated according to specific requirements, thereby improving service quality without overwhelming the entire system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary configuration of slice support indications in RAN nodes before mobility procedures occur. The source RAN node determines slice support capabilities in advance and includes this information in handover request messages, enabling the target RAN node to prepare appropriate slice configurations beforehand, thus reducing complexity during actual mobility execution.
2Measurement precision
If slice support indications are transmitted between RAN nodes during cell-specific and mobility procedures, then slice selection accuracy is improved, but signaling overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts slice support indication information from general RAN node configuration and separates it into dedicated fields within handover request and setup messages. This extraction allows slice-related information to be transmitted efficiently without embedding it within broader signaling structures, reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining slice selection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the slice support indication mechanism to serve multiple functions: it enables slice selection, supports mobility decisions, and provides capability exchange between RAN nodes. By making this signaling element multi-functional, the patent reduces the need for separate dedicated signaling messages for each function, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead.
Data Source
AI summary
A new cell specific procedure and/or a mobility procedure may be defined to more efficiently support a network slice function in new radio access technology (NR), which is a part of a 5G communication system. In terms of a radio access network (RAN)—RAN interface, the cell specific procedure comprises that a first RAN node transmits a first indicator related with the slice support of the first RAN node to a second RAN node, and receives from the second RAN node a second indicator related with the slice support of the first RAN node. The mobility procedure comprises that a target RAN node transmits a path change request message including slice-related information to a core network (CN) node, and receives from the CN node a path change response message including at least one of a common control plane function (C-CPF) identifier (ID), a finally selected slice-related ID or U-Plane information.