Slice Session Suspension for Reduced Handover Signaling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The frequent release and establishment of sessions associated with network slices in a terminal device as it moves between cells lead to increased signaling overheads and power consumption, making it difficult to meet diverse service requirements efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a central unit manages the establishment and suspension of radio bearers and sessions based on slice availability and resource limitations, reducing unnecessary session handling through centralized control and feedback mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal device moves between cells with different slice services, then the terminal device can access different services, but the session associated with the slice needs to be frequently released and established, increasing signaling overheads and power consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The central unit determines in advance whether to establish or suspend a radio bearer corresponding to a session associated with a first slice before the terminal device actually moves to a first cell that cannot provide the slice service. This preliminary determination prevents the terminal device from unnecessarily establishing and releasing sessions during mobility, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining service adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The central unit uses feedback information from the second cell (which can provide the slice service) to make informed decisions about session management. By receiving and processing feedback about slice availability and terminal device status, the central unit can optimize session establishment and suspension decisions, reducing unnecessary signaling and power consumption
2Adaptability or versatility
If the terminal device moves between cells with different slice services, then the terminal device can access different services, but the signaling overheads between the terminal device and network device increase due to frequent session releases and establishments
Solution Approach 1:
The central unit performs preliminary determination of whether to establish or suspend the radio bearer before the terminal device moves to a cell that cannot provide the slice service. This advance decision-making prevents frequent session releases and re-establishments, thereby reducing signaling overheads while maintaining the terminal device's ability to access appropriate services
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the central unit receives information from cells about slice availability and terminal device status. This feedback enables the central unit to make optimized decisions about session management, reducing unnecessary signaling exchanges between the terminal device and network devices
3Adaptability or versatility
If a new network is built for each type of service, then each service can be provided in a targeted manner, but costs are greatly increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements network slicing technology that allows a single physical network infrastructure to provide multiple virtualized network services. Each slice can be customized for different service requirements (e.g., enhanced mobile broadband, ultra-reliable low-latency communication), yet all slices share the same underlying network resources, avoiding the need to build separate physical networks for each service type
Solution Approach 2:
The network is segmented into multiple logical slices that can be independently managed and configured for different services. This segmentation allows targeted service provision through customized slice parameters while maintaining resource efficiency through shared physical infrastructure
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
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. According to the method, the central unit may indicate the distributed unit to establish the radio bearer corresponding to the session associated with the first slice and/or suspend the session, instead of releasing the session, so that frequent release and/or establishment of the session associated with the first slice can be avoided.