Network Slice Continuity in 5G Handover via Dedicated Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G network slicing handover techniques face challenges in maintaining service continuity when the target gNB does not support the required slice, leading to service interruptions and privacy concerns due to broadcasting slice information.
Innovation Solution
The system provides a method for User Equipment (UE) to receive a message from a network node indicating nearby cells that support a specific network slice, allowing it to select a target cell for handover while preserving privacy through dedicated signaling, ensuring service continuity without revealing private network information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If slice information is broadcast in system information or RRCRelease message, then cells can indicate slice support, but private network information is exposed and privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts slice support information from public broadcast channels (system information, RRCRelease messages) and transfers it to dedicated signaling channels. The network node provides slice support indications directly to the UE through dedicated RRC signaling, separating sensitive information from public broadcasts while maintaining its availability for handover decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The network node acts as an intermediary that selectively controls the transmission of slice support information. Instead of broadcasting all slice information publicly, the network node mediates by providing specific slice support indications only to UEs that need them through dedicated signaling, thus protecting private network information while ensuring service continuity.
2Speed
If the UE selects a target cell without knowing slice support, then handover can proceed quickly, but service continuity is interrupted when the target cell doesn't support the required slice
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by providing slice support indications to the UE before the handover execution. The network node includes slice support information in dedicated signaling messages (e.g., handover command or prior configuration messages), enabling the UE to make informed target cell selections and avoid handovers to cells that cannot support the required network slice, thus preventing service interruption.
3Loss of information
If the UE requests measurement report for all cells, then complete information is available, but unnecessary information about non-slice-supporting cells increases signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the information requirements for different cells. Instead of treating all cells uniformly, the network node provides slice support indications specifically for cells that are relevant to the UE's current network slice usage. The UE then requests measurement reports only for cells indicated as supporting the required slice, reducing unnecessary signaling while maintaining complete information for slice continuity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for network slice continuity in handover of a communication network are provided. In some embodiments, a User Equipment (UE) is configured to receive, from a network node on a first cell, a first message comprising an indication of at least one cell that supports a particular network slice and engage in a handover operation based on the 5 indication comprised in the received first message. In some embodiments, a network node is configured to sending, to a UE on a first cell, a first message comprising an identification of at least one cell that supports a particular network slice.