Slice Session Suspension for Cell Capability Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The frequent release and/or establishment of sessions associated with network slices in a terminal device as it moves between cells leads to increased signaling overheads and power consumption, which existing communication methods fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a central unit or network device manages radio bearers and sessions by establishing or suspending them proactively based on the capabilities of cells within a registration area, reducing unnecessary session handling through centralized control and feedback mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the terminal device moves between cells with different slice capabilities, then the session can be maintained according to cell capabilities, but frequent session release and establishment increases signaling overheads and power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The network side proactively suspends the session when detecting that the terminal will move to a cell incapable of providing the required slice service, based on mobility prediction or pre-acquired cell capability information. This preliminary suspension prevents the terminal from attempting to use services that will soon be unavailable, avoiding the need for frequent session releases and re-establishments, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining session continuity
2Reliability
If the terminal device moves between cells with different slice capabilities, then the session can be maintained according to cell capabilities, but frequent session release and establishment increases signaling overheads
Solution Approach 1:
The network side performs preliminary session suspension based on predicted terminal mobility or pre-acquired cell capability information, suspending the session before the terminal actually moves to an incompatible cell. This proactive approach prevents subsequent session releases and re-establishments, significantly reducing signaling overheads while ensuring session continuity through centralized management
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized network entity continuously monitors terminal mobility status and cell capability information, using this feedback to make intelligent decisions about session suspension and resumption. This feedback mechanism enables the network to proactively manage sessions based on actual terminal movements, reducing unnecessary session releases and re-establishments, thereby lowering signaling overheads while maintaining service continuity
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method and apparatus are provided. The method includes: A central unit sends first indication information to a distributed unit, where the first indication information indicates the distributed unit to establish a radio bearer corresponding to a session associated with a first slice, and/or indicates the distributed unit to suspend the session. The first cell is incapable of providing a terminal device with a service corresponding to the first slice, the first cell is a cell managed by the central unit, and is within a registration area of the terminal device, the first slice belongs to a first slice set, and the first slice set includes a slice allowed within all or a part of areas in the registration area for usage and/or a slice rejected within a part of areas in the registration area for usage.