Relay UE Slice Mapping for Multi-Slice PDU Session Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems face challenges in efficiently determining and selecting appropriate network slices for remote user equipment in overlay-underlay networking scenarios, particularly in 5G networks, due to limitations in identifying supported network slice instances and establishing optimal PDU sessions across different network layers.
Innovation Solution
A relay user equipment is provided with mechanisms to receive and process PLMN identifiers and requested slice information from remote devices, using slice mapping rules to determine and transmit a slice identifier set that is supported by the relay equipment, facilitating the establishment of appropriate PDU sessions for relayed traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a relay user equipment receives multiple S-NSSAIs from remote user device, then the remote device can access multiple network slices, but it becomes difficult to determine which slices are actually supported by the relay equipment and underlay network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces slice mapping rules as an intermediary mechanism between the remote user device and the underlay network. These rules act as a translator that maps requested S-NSSAIs to supported slice identifiers, resolving the difficulty of determining slice support. The mapping rules are stored in the relay user equipment and provide a clear indication of which network slices can be accessed through the relay, thus solving the identification problem while maintaining multi-slice access capability.
2Productivity
If the relay user equipment forwards all requested S-NSSAIs to the overlay network, then the remote device can potentially access more slices, but unnecessary signaling and resource allocation occur for unsupported slices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring slice mapping rules in the relay user equipment before actual network slice access occurs. These rules are established in advance to identify which S-NSSAIs are supported by the underlay network. When a remote device requests network slice access, the relay uses these pre-configured rules to filter and translate only the supported slices, preventing unnecessary signaling for unsupported slices and improving overall access efficiency while reducing energy waste.
3Measurement precision
If slice mapping rules are implemented in the relay user equipment, then accurate slice selection is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements slice mapping rules that transform the parameter representation of network slice identifiers. Instead of directly handling complex S-NSSAI structures with multiple components, the mapping rules convert them into simplified supported slice identifiers that the relay user equipment can manage. This parameter transformation maintains precise slice selection accuracy while reducing the computational and structural complexity required in the relay device, as the mapping tables can be pre-computed and stored efficiently.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and computer program product are provided for supporting the identification and selection of multiple network slices for remote user equipment. In the context of a method, the method includes receiving a first request from a remote user device, the request comprising a network identifier and requested slice information. The method also includes, based at least on the network identifier and the requested slice information, obtaining a slice identifier set comprising at least one slice identifier, and causing transmission of the slice identifier set to the remote user device for use in a session.