Programmable RAN Slicing for State-Aware Frequency Resource Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems struggle to efficiently manage network slices in cellular networks, particularly in allocating frequency domain resources based on the operational states of network slices and user equipment requirements, leading to suboptimal resource utilization and service quality.
Innovation Solution
A programmable network slicing framework that enables a base station to exchange messages with a controller, maintain network slice configuration information, and perform slice-aware allocation of frequency domain resources using slice-specific and system-level scheduling algorithms, considering the operational states of network slices and user equipment configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional resource allocation methods are used in cellular networks, then system simplicity is maintained, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates due to inability to differentiate between different network slice requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into multiple network slices, each with dedicated configuration information including operational states, radio resource configurations, and slice-specific scheduling algorithms. This segmentation enables differentiated resource allocation while maintaining overall system manageability through modular slice structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic resource allocation by allowing network slices to transition between different operational states (idle, dedicated, prioritized, shared, hybrid) and by using slice-aware scheduling algorithms that adaptively allocate frequency domain resources based on current slice states and user equipment requirements, rather than using static allocation methods.
2Reliability
If network slices are allocated without considering operational states, then allocation speed is maintained, but service quality deteriorates due to suboptimal resource distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary configuration of network slice parameters including operational states, radio resource configurations, and scheduling algorithms before actual resource allocation occurs. This pre-configuration enables faster execution during allocation while ensuring service quality requirements are met, as the system already has optimized parameters ready for each slice state.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes allocation parameters dynamically based on network slice operational states. Different operational states (idle, dedicated, prioritized, shared, hybrid) have different associated parameters such as quantity of radio resources, priority levels, and scheduling algorithm selections. The system selects and applies appropriate parameters based on current slice states, ensuring optimal service quality without excessive computation during allocation.
3Productivity
If frequency domain resources are allocated without slice-aware scheduling, then scheduling simplicity is maintained, but resource utilization deteriorates due to inability to optimize for different slice requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing slice-specific scheduling algorithms tailored to each network slice's requirements. Each slice can have customized scheduling parameters and algorithms appropriate to its service type and operational state, rather than using a uniform scheduling approach. This enables optimized resource utilization for each slice while maintaining overall scheduling functionality.
Data Source
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AI summary
Various example embodiments of the programmable network slicing framework may be configured to support programmable network slicing in a radio access network (RAN) portion of a cellular communication system based on a programmable RAN slicing framework. Various example embodiments of the programmable RAN slicing framework may be configured to support programmable network slicing in a RAN based on use of a set of RAN slices having associated therewith network slice operational states and associated network slice configurations which may be used for assignment of RAN resources to user equipments (UEs) of the RAN, based on use of a frequency domain scheduling capability to assign frequency domain resources of RAN slices to UEs of the RAN based on network slice operational states and network slice configurations of the RAN slices, based on use of various types of messaging to support various aspects of RAN slicing, and so forth.