Slice-Specific RACH Configuration for Network Slice Prioritization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wireless communication systems, such as those based on 3GPP NR Rel-15, lack slice awareness during initial access and do not support Random-Access resource partitioning for network slices, leading to inefficient random access procedures and prioritization challenges.

Innovation Solution

Implementing slice-specific Random Access Channel (RACH) configurations that allow for implicit signaling of slice-specific parameters, resource partitioning, and prioritization, using a 'slice group identity' to differentiate and allocate resources per network slice, enabling efficient and prioritized access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If common RACH configuration is used for all network slices, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but resource allocation efficiency deteriorates and access latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandom access procedure simplicityVSAvoidresource allocation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the common RACH configuration into slice-specific configurations by introducing slice group identities (SGI) that partition RACH resources among different network slices. Each slice group receives dedicated RACH parameters including preamble sets, time resources, and frequency resources, enabling differentiated resource allocation while maintaining structured configuration management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If slice-specific RACH configurations are implemented, then resource allocation efficiency is improved and access latency is reduced, but device complexity and configuration complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverandom access efficiencyVSAvoidRACH configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces slice group identity (SGI) as an intermediary that maps network slices to RACH configurations. The SGI acts as a mediator between the slice identifier and the detailed RACH parameters, simplifying the configuration structure by grouping slices with similar access requirements together and reducing the number of individual configuration entries needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes key RACH parameters to be slice-specific, including preamble sets, time resources, frequency resources, and power ramping parameters. These parameter changes enable differentiated resource allocation per slice group, improving random access efficiency and reducing collisions while maintaining manageable complexity through the SGI grouping mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If RACH resources are shared among all slices, then device complexity is minimized, but collision probability increases and reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveRACH resource management complexityVSAvoidrandom access success rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments shared RACH resources into slice-specific resource pools by allocating dedicated preamble sets, time slots, and frequency resources to each slice group. This segmentation reduces collision probability between different slice traffic types while maintaining structured resource management through the SGI-based configuration framework.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Ease of operation

If uniform RACH configuration is used across slices, then ease of operation is maintained, but prioritization capability is lost and access latency increases for critical slices

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidaccess latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by configuring different RACH parameters for different slice groups based on their specific requirements. Critical slices receive configurations with more preambles, dedicated time/frequency resources, and favorable power ramping parameters, while non-critical slices use standard configurations. The SGI mechanism maintains operational simplicity by grouping slices with similar quality requirements together.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20240064817A1Slice-specific random access configuration

Publication Date: 2024.02.22 LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE LTD

AI summary

Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for slice-specific RACH configuration. One apparatus (1000) includes a processor (1005) and a transceiver (1025) that receives (1205) a first set of slice-specific RACH configurations and receives (1210) a mapping of slice group identities to network slices of a communication network. Here, each slice-specific RACH configuration contains a set of random access parameters specific to a slice group identity. The processor (1005) selects (1215) a first RACH configuration for a first network slice based on the mapping and performs (1220) a random-access procedure in accordance with the first RACH configuration. Via the transceiver (1025), the processor (1005) transmits (1225) a service request to the communication network in accordance with the first RACH configuration.