UE Slice Misalignment Detection in 5G RRC Idle
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G-NR mobile communication networks, user equipment (UE) devices in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE states lack awareness of network slices, leading to inefficient cell selection and reselection processes, resulting in unsuccessful connection attempts and increased radio and processing resource consumption due to misalignments between configured and allowed slices.
Innovation Solution
The method involves enabling UE devices to collect and report slice-specific information when in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE states, which is then used by the infrastructure to adjust configured and allowed slices, prioritizing slice selection over traditional cell selection criteria, and detecting and reporting slice misalignments to optimize system performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE devices in RRC_IDLE or RRC_INACTIVE states perform traditional cell selection without slice awareness, then cell selection process is simple, but connection attempts fail due to misalignment between configured and allowed slices
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary actions by configuring slice information in system broadcast messages before the UE attempts cell selection. The UE collects slice-specific information from multiple cells in advance, stores it locally, and uses this pre-collected data to make informed cell selection decisions, avoiding failed connection attempts later
Solution Approach 2:
Slice information acts as an intermediary element between the network and UE during cell selection. The UE collects and stores slice-specific information from broadcast messages as intermediate data, then uses this intermediate information to identify suitable cells that support the UE's configured slices, bridging the gap between UE requirements and network capabilities
2Reliability
If UE devices perform multiple cell reselection procedures to find suitable slices, then slice alignment is achieved, but radio and processing resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The UE performs preliminary collection of slice information from multiple cells while in idle or inactive states, storing this data locally before actual cell selection occurs. This advance preparation eliminates the need for multiple reselection procedures, as the UE can directly identify suitable cells using pre-collected slice information, thereby conserving radio and processing resources
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the network receives reports from UEs about slice misalignments and uses this feedback to optimize slice configurations. The UE provides feedback on which slices are configured locally and which are available in detected cells, enabling the network to adjust configurations and reduce future misalignments without requiring extensive reselection procedures
3Measurement precision
If the network configures detailed slice information for all cells, then slice-aware cell selection accuracy improves, but network configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of uniformly configuring detailed slice information for all cells, the network applies local quality by providing slice-specific information only where relevant. Each cell broadcasts slice information tailored to its actual capabilities and the local network slice configuration, allowing UEs to make accurate cell selection decisions without requiring comprehensive global configuration data
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides a method for enabling a user equipment, UE, device to obtain information for assisting cell selection in a mobile communication network in which the mobile communication network is sub-divided into virtual networks termed network slices, each slice being having an identifier unique within the mobile communications network, the identifier comprising an expected network behaviour indicator and a slice differentiator, the method comprising enabling the UE device to collect slice specific information when the UE device is in a radio resource control idle or inactive state.