Relay Apparatus for 5G Network Slice Information Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the 5G era, conventional cellular networks face challenges in supporting diverse user types and applications due to their 'one-size-fits-all' architecture, which struggles to expand and adapt to changing user requirements, especially in providing slice services across different access network devices.
Innovation Solution
A relay apparatus connected to multiple access network devices obtains and broadcasts slice information to user terminals, ensuring they receive services from various slice services by integrating slice identity, service type, and access control information, allowing for flexible resource allocation and isolation between slices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional 'one-size-fits-all' network architecture is used, then network simplicity is maintained, but the network cannot support diverse user types and applications or expand to meet changing user requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into multiple independent slices, each tailored to specific user types and applications. The network architecture divides resources and services into separate logical slices that can be independently configured and managed, allowing diverse service support while maintaining overall network structure
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device is designed with multi-functionality to handle slice information from multiple access network devices. It can simultaneously receive, process, and broadcast slice information for different slices, enabling a single device to serve multiple slice services and reducing the need for separate dedicated devices for each slice type
2Adaptability or versatility
If different access network devices support different slice services, then service diversity is improved, but user terminals cannot obtain slice information from multiple access network devices
Solution Approach 1:
The relay device acts as an intermediary between multiple access network devices and user terminals. It collects slice information from different access network devices, processes and integrates this information, then broadcasts it to user terminals. This intermediary role ensures that user terminals receive comprehensive slice information without needing direct connections to multiple access network devices
Solution Approach 2:
The relay device merges slice information from multiple access network devices into a unified broadcast message. By combining information about different slices supported by different access network devices, it creates a consolidated view that user terminals can use to access multiple slice services through a single point of contact
3Loss of information
If slice information is broadcast to all user terminals, then information availability is improved, but network overhead and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The broadcast message contains slice information tailored to local conditions and requirements. The relay device determines which slice information to include based on the specific capabilities of connected access network devices and the needs of user terminals in that area, rather than broadcasting all possible slice information universally
Solution Approach 2:
The system broadcasts only the necessary slice information that is currently relevant and available, rather than transmitting complete information about all possible slices. This partial action approach reduces broadcast overhead while still providing user terminals with sufficient information to access available slice services
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of this application disclose a method for obtaining slice information and a relay apparatus, to support a user terminal in obtaining slice information of slice services supported by a plurality of access network devices, thereby ensuring that the user terminal receives services corresponding to a plurality of slice services in a network. In the embodiments of this application, the method includes: obtaining, by the first relay apparatus, first slice information of at least one slice service supported by the first access network device; obtaining, by the first relay apparatus, second slice information of at least one slice service supported by the second access network device; and sending, by the first relay apparatus, a broadcast message to the user terminal, where the broadcast message includes the first slice information and the second slice information.