Radio Resource Slicing Controller for 5G Network Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

5G cellular networks face challenges in efficiently sharing radio resources among different vertical applications due to the dynamic nature of wireless environments, requiring tight isolation and application-specific customization while minimizing overhead and maintaining high resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A network-wide radio resource slicing method using a slice controller that abstracts and dynamically allocates radio resources across base stations, employing reinforcement learning to optimize slice allocation and customization, ensuring minimal architectural changes and compatibility with legacy systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network slicing is implemented to provide application-specific customization, then service requirements fulfillment is improved, but device complexity and overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication-specific customizationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments radio resources into multiple isolated slices, each dedicated to specific network slices or applications. This segmentation allows independent management and customization of resources for different services while maintaining overall system organization through a structured slicing framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a radio resource slicing manager as an intermediary component that handles the complexity of resource allocation and slice management. This mediator abstracts the complex slicing operations from base stations, reducing their operational complexity while enabling sophisticated resource customization across different network slices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If tight isolation is achieved across radio slices, then service reliability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveisolation guaranteeVSAvoidresource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic resource allocation within isolated slices, allowing resources to be flexibly assigned and reconfigured based on real-time network conditions and slice-specific requirements. This dynamic approach maintains strict isolation boundaries while optimizing resource utilization within each slice through adaptive management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables independent parameter configuration for each radio slice, allowing optimization of transmission parameters, resource allocation strategies, and quality of service settings specific to each slice's requirements. This parameter customization within isolated boundaries achieves both reliability through isolation and efficiency through optimized configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If bandwidth-based reservations are implemented, then service quality is improved, but resource flexibility deteriorates due to varying channel quality

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice qualityVSAvoidresource flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from fixed bandwidth-based reservations to flexible resource unit allocations that can be dynamically adjusted based on channel quality and slice requirements. Resource units can be reallocated across different slices and time periods, maintaining service quality through guaranteed minimum allocations while providing flexibility for optimization based on varying wireless conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If retransmissions are handled individually per slice, then isolation is maintained, but overhead increases and utilization decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveisolationVSAvoidoverhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges retransmission handling operations across multiple slices by implementing shared retransmission buffers and coordinated retransmission mechanisms at the base station level. This merging reduces redundant overhead while maintaining slice isolation through logical separation of data streams and targeted retransmission delivery to the appropriate slices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10264461B2Radio resource slicing in a radio access network

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 KK TOSHIBA

AI summary

A method of providing radio resources to a number of communication flows in a radio access network that comprises a slice controller and a plurality of base stations. The method comprises in the slice controller abstracting radio resources that are available to the plurality of base stations and dynamically allocating the abstracted radio resources to a number of isolated slices, each slice accommodating one or more of the communication flows and communicating the radio resource allocations to the base stations. The method further comprises, in the base stations, performing application specific customisation radio resources within an allocated slice.