Relay Selection for Network Slices Using Relay Capability Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing 5G cellular communication systems face challenges in selecting appropriate relay devices for mobile devices that require specific network slices, considering factors like resource availability, authorization, security, and dynamic network conditions, especially for out-of-coverage devices.
Innovation Solution
A network relay function (NRF) is introduced to manage indirect connections, assisting mobile devices in selecting relay devices capable of supporting requested network slices by providing up-to-date information on relay capabilities, authorization, and network policies, ensuring efficient and secure relay device selection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If relay devices are selected based on available information, then indirect connections can be established for out-of-coverage devices, but the information may be outdated leading to suboptimal relay selection
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary actions by proactively discovering relay devices and updating their capability information before actual relay selection occurs. The network maintains current information about relay devices including their supported slices, capabilities, and resource availability, so when a remote device needs relay services, the most up-to-date information is already available for optimal relay selection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple relay devices are monitored for capability updates, then optimal relay selection for network slices is improved, but network complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network manages relay devices by segmenting them according to their supported network slices and capabilities. Each relay device is associated with specific slice information and capability parameters, allowing the network to efficiently match remote devices with appropriate relays based on slice requirements without needing to process all relay devices uniformly, thus reducing overall management complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If relay devices are selected without considering network slice requirements, then relay establishment is simpler, but network slice performance and QoS cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The solution applies local quality by associating specific capability information with each relay device based on its performance characteristics and supported slices. Different relay devices have different quality attributes (supported slices, capabilities, resource availability) that are locally determined and stored in the network, enabling the network to select relays with appropriate quality for specific slice requirements while maintaining efficient matching processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A cellular communication system supports network slicing and has a network relay function (140) for managing the indirect connections. A mobile device (110) may send a request message to a relay device (120), the request message including a slice to access. A response message indicates available slice(s) and relay device(s). The device selects a slice and/or relay device in dependence of the response message. The relay device receives the request message and sends a transfer request message to the cellular communication system indicating a request to transfer data via an indirect connection and including the requested slice, and sends the response message. The network relay function receives the transfer request message, obtains relay capability data regarding relay device(s) capable of data transfer for available slice(s) in dependence of the requested slice; and sends a transfer response message including network relay information indicating the available relay device(s) that can serve as relay device for indirect communication with the requested network slice.