Radio Network Node Slice-Aware Mobility Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, especially with network slicing, wireless devices face challenges in efficiently performing mobility procedures such as cell reselection due to the lack of information about which frequency bands support specific network slices, leading to unnecessary measurements and potential loss of connection.
Innovation Solution
Introducing additional signaling procedures that include messages from radio network nodes to wireless devices indicating which frequency bands support specific network slices, allowing the devices to determine whether to initiate mobility procedures, thereby reducing energy consumption and improving network performance by focusing on relevant frequency bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wireless devices perform mobility procedures by measuring all available frequency bands, then the device can ensure reliable connectivity, but the energy consumption increases and battery life decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The network node performs preliminary action by providing mobility control information that includes indications of which frequency bands support network slices before the wireless device performs measurements. This allows the device to pre-determine which frequency bands are relevant for its specific network slice requirements, avoiding unnecessary measurements on bands that don't support the required slices, thus reducing energy consumption while maintaining connectivity reliability.
2Loss of information
If wireless devices measure all frequency bands for mobility procedures, then comprehensive service area information is obtained, but the procedure time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network node provides mobility control information in advance that includes indications of frequency bands supporting specific network slices. This preliminary information allows the wireless device to quickly identify relevant frequency bands for measurement without having to evaluate all available bands, thus reducing mobility procedure time while maintaining complete service area information for the device's specific network slice requirements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless devices perform measurements on all frequency bands, then all possible service areas are identified, but unnecessary measurements increase energy consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The mobility control information includes specific indications of which frequency bands support which network slices, allowing the wireless device to apply local quality filtering - measuring only on frequency bands that are relevant to its specific network slice requirements. This eliminates energy waste on measurements of frequency bands that don't support the device's required network slices, while maintaining adaptability to select appropriate service areas.
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a radio network node (12) for handling mobility of a wireless device (10) in a communication network (1), which communication network (1) comprises partitioned sets of functionalities wherein each set of functionalities belongs to a network slice, and wherein a set of functionalities is separated from other sets of functionalities out of a total set of functionalities in the communication network (1). The radio network node (12, 15) transmits, to the wireless device (10), a message comprising information indicating at least one frequency band supported by the communication network (1), and which information further indicates one or more network slices supported by respective frequency band of the at least one frequency band.