RAN Node Routing for Network Slice Selection in NR Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless communication systems, particularly with new radio access technology (NR), there is a challenge in performing mobility management (MM) attach and service request procedures efficiently, especially when a user equipment (UE) requests services simultaneously, as existing methods struggle to determine the final selected network slice and corresponding common core network control plane (CN CP) for routing network connection and service requests.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus are provided where a radio access network (RAN) node receives network connection and service requests from a UE, including slice-related information, and routes these requests to a dedicated common control plane function (C-CPF), enabling the selection of the appropriate network slice and core network control plane for service provisioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UE requests services simultaneously during MM attach procedure, then service availability is improved, but the ability to determine final selected network slice and routing destination deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN node performs preliminary routing of the MM attach request to a default C-CPF before the final network slice selection is made. This preliminary action allows the system to establish initial service availability while deferring the final routing decision to after slice selection is completed, thus resolving the contradiction between immediate service availability and accurate routing determination
2Adaptability or versatility
If network slicing is implemented to support multiple services, then service versatility is improved, but the complexity of managing multiple C-CPF instances increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the C-CPF functionality into multiple dedicated C-CPF instances, each responsible for specific network slices or service types. This segmentation allows the system to support versatile services through network slicing while managing complexity by distributing C-CPF responsibilities across multiple specialized instances rather than one monolithic complex system
Solution Approach 2:
The RAN node acts as an intermediary that receives service requests from UEs, determines the appropriate network slice based on slice-related information, and routes requests to the corresponding dedicated C-CPF instance. This intermediary role simplifies the overall system by centralizing the decision-making logic at the RAN node while maintaining the benefits of multiple specialized C-CPF instances
3Measurement precision
If slice-related information is collected and processed, then routing precision is improved, but the processing time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Slice-related information is collected and processed in advance during the MM attach procedure, before the actual service request needs to be routed. This preliminary processing of slice information allows the RAN node to have the routing decision already prepared when the service request arrives, thus achieving high routing precision without adding significant processing delay to the service delivery path
Data Source
AI summary
When a user equipment (UE) requests a service simultaneously during a mobility management (MM) attach procedure in a new radio access technology (NR; or new RAT) system, slice related information may be transmitted together. In detail, a radio access network (RAN) node receives a network connection request, a service request and slice related information from the UE, and routes the network connection request, the service request to a dedicate common control plane function (C-CPF) according to the slice related information.