Network Slice Identity Mapping for Wireless Mobility
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, especially with network slicing, wireless devices face issues with erroneous and rejected connection requests due to uncoordinated network slice identities across different networks, leading to unnecessary signaling and potential service disruptions during mobility procedures like cell reselection.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves enhancing NAS signaling to provide 'slice support information' from the core network node to the wireless device, indicating equivalent network slices and slice identities, allowing the device to select cells that support the required network slice, thereby minimizing incorrect connections and optimizing network performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network slice identities are not coordinated across different networks, then network flexibility and independence are improved, but connection reliability deteriorates due to erroneous and rejected connection requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mapping mechanism that translates uncoordinated network slice identities from different networks into equivalent slice identities. The network node maintains a mapping between slice identities of a first network and slice identities of a second network, allowing wireless devices to successfully connect across networks with uncoordinated slice identities while preserving network independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the slice identity parameter through mapping relationships. When a wireless device requests connection with a specific slice identity in the first network, the system translates this identity to an equivalent slice identity in the second network using pre-established mapping tables, enabling cross-network connectivity despite identity non-coordination.
2Speed
If wireless devices attempt connection to cells without verifying network slice support, then connection speed is improved, but signaling overhead increases due to rejected connection requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the network node provide slice support information to the wireless device before the connection attempt. The network node transmits information indicating which network slices are supported by which cells, allowing the wireless device to pre-select appropriate cells and avoid rejected connection requests, thereby reducing signaling overhead while maintaining connection speed.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a wireless device, for handling a mobility procedure in a communication network. The communication network comprises a first network and a second network. The first network is associated with a core network node and a first RAN node. The second network is associated with a second RAN node. The first RAN node and the second RAN node each support a set of cells. The first and the second network comprise partitioned sets of functionalities, wherein a first set of functionalities belongs to a first network slice supporting the wireless device. The wireless device is associated with the first network and the first network slice in a first cell of the first RAN node. The network slices and corresponding network slice identities are uncoordinated between the first and the second network. The wireless device receives, from the core network node, a message comprising an indication of combinations of networks and network slices equivalent to the first network slice. The wireless device determines a cell from the second set of cells supported by the second RAN node, which cell supports an equivalent of the first slice, based on the indication received from the core network node.