Service-Driven Mobility Management for Network Slice-Aware RAT Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current LTE-NR tight interworking deployments do not adequately support network slicing, particularly when an NR gNB serves as the anchor node connected to a 5G-CN, and there is a need for UEs to connect to suitable radio access technologies (RATs) that can support their desired network slices and services.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for service-driven mobility management, where a UE in RRC inactive or idle state identifies a required network slice/service using Single Network Slice Selection Assistance Information (S-NSSAI), measures signals from RATs and frequency bands supporting the slice/service, and selects a cell that supports the required network slice/service, with assistance from the non-access stratum (NAS) and access stratum (AS) of the UE.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If LTE-NR tight interworking deployments use traditional mobility management, then general network connectivity is maintained, but network slice support is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mobility management parameters by introducing service-specific parameters (S-NSSAI, service requirements) into the cell selection and reselection process. The UE now evaluates cells based on service requirements and selects cells that support the required network slices, transforming the traditional signal-strength-only mobility management into a service-aware mobility management system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the UE identify and store service requirements (S-NSSAI) before mobility decisions are made. The network also pre-configures the UE with service-specific cell selection parameters and restrictions, enabling the UE to proactively select appropriate cells that support required network slices before service degradation occurs.
2Ease of operation
If UEs connect to any available RAT, then connection availability is maximized, but service-specific RAT selection is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making the RAT selection process service-specific rather than uniform. Different services with different S-NSSAI values have different RAT preferences and cell selection criteria. The UE applies service-specific parameters locally to each mobility decision, allowing optimal RAT selection for each service type while maintaining overall connection availability.
3Speed
If traditional cell selection is used, then signal strength optimization is achieved, but service requirement matching is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by making cell selection criteria adaptive rather than static. The UE dynamically adjusts cell selection parameters based on current service requirements, S-NSSAI values, and available network conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain fast connection establishment while accurately matching service requirements through real-time parameter adjustment.
Data Source
Figure 1A~3B
Figure 4A~4B
Figure 5A~5D
AI summary
A user equipment (UE) includes a processor configured to execute computer-executable instructions to: determine whether a required network slice/service of the UE is supported by a network node; perform at least one of a plurality of mobility management procedures, when the required network slice/service of the UE is not supported by the network node; where the plurality of mobility management procedures includes: selecting another master node (MN), or intra-MN handover or inter-MN handover to another MN; selecting or reselecting a secondary node (SN), intra-SN handover to another SN, modifying an existing SN, or adding a new SN; changing the UE's anchor node to a target new radio (NR) next generation node B (gNB) or a target evolved long term evolution (eLTE) evolved node B (eNB).