Network slicing coordination over next generation radio access networks
A gNB-DU and a gNB-CU coordinate network slice information over an F1 interface by exchanging F1 setup request/response or gNB-DU configuration update/acknowledge messages indicating PLMNs and supported network slice information. In some embodiments, a UE provides its slice information that is checked at the gNB for support at an AMF. In response to determining that the UE network slice provisioning is unsupported, the gNB-DU triggers an RRC message including network slice information of neighboring cells.
1 . A method, performed by a next generation nodeB (gNB) central unit (CU) (gNB-CU) for coordinating network slice information over an F1 interface with a gNB distributed unit (gNB-DU), the method comprising:
receiving a first message from the gNB-DU over the F1 interface, in which the first message is an F1 setup request or an gNB-DU configuration update, and the first message indicating a first public land mobile network (PLMN) set provisioned at the gNB-DU with each PLMN of the first PLMN set having a first associated single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) set;
comparing the first PLMN set with a second PLMN set provisioned at the gNB-CU, each PLMN of the second PLMN set having a second associated S-NSSAI set, to determine matching network slice information for any common PLMNs among the first and second PLMN sets;
in response to all network slice information matching for a common PLMN, the gNB-CU generates a second message which omits a tracking area identity (TAI) slice support list associated with the common PLMN and in response to a subset of network slice information differing for a common PLMN, the gNB-CU generates the second message which includes a tracking area identity (TAI) slice support list indicating matching network slice information for the common PLMN; and
transmitting the second message to the gNB-DU, in which the second message is an F1 setup response or an gNB-DU configuration update acknowledge.
2 . The method of claim 1 , in which the second message includes an extended TAI slice support list to supplement the TAI slice support list.
3 . The method of claim 1 , in which the first message is the F1 setup request and the second message is the F1 setup response.
4 . The method of claim 1 , in which the first message is the gNB-DU configuration update and the second message is the gNB-DU configuration update acknowledge.
5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising omitting from the second message any common PLMNs lacking at least one matching S-NSSAI.
6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a third message from the gNB-DU, in which the third message is an uplink (UL) radio resource control (RRC) message transfer indicating an S-NSSAI list generated in response to a user equipment (UE) indicating whether it has UE-supported network slicing information; and
triggering a fourth message for an initial registration of the UE with an access and mobility management function (AMF), the fourth message including allowed NSSAI information that is based on the UE-supported network slicing information.
7 . The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
determining whether the UE-supported network slicing information matches AMF-supported network slice information; and
in response to determining there is no match, triggering a UE context release message including an automatic neighbor relation (anr) NSSAISupportList (anr-NSSAISupportList), the anr-NSSAISupportList indicating network slicing information for neighboring cells.
8 . A method, performed by a next generation nodeB (gNB), for coordinating network slice information over an F1 interface between a gNB distributed unit (DU) (gNB-DU) and a gNB central unit (CU) (gNB-CU), the method comprising:
generating, by the gNB-DU, a first message for the gNB-CU, in which the first message is an F1 setup request or an gNB-DU configuration update, and the first message indicating a first public land mobile network (PLMN) set provisioned at the gNB-DU with each PLMN of the first PLMN set having a first associated single-network slice selection assistance information (S-NSSAI) set;
receiving, by the gNB-CU, the first message from the gNB-DU over the F1 interface;
comparing, by the gNB-CU, the first PLMN set with a second PLMN set provisioned at the gNB-CU, each PLMN of the second PLMN set having a second associated S-NSSAI set, so as to determine matching network slice information for any common PLMNs among the first and second PLMN sets;
in response to all network slice information matching for a common PLMN, the gNB-CU generates a second message which omits a tracking area identity (TAI) slice support list associated with the common PLMN and in response to a subset of network slice information differing for a common PLMN, the gNB-CU generates the second message which includes a tracking area identity (TAI) slice support list indicating matching network slice information for the common PLMN;
triggering, by the gNB-CU, the second message for the gNB-DU;
receiving, by the gNB-DU, the second message from the gNB-CU, in which the second message is an F1 setup response or an gNB-DU configuration update acknowledge; and
storing, by the gNB-DU, the matching network slice information for coordination of user equipment (UE) supported (UE-supported) network slicing information with the matching network slice information.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising receiving, by the gNB-DU, a third message from a UE, the third message including the UE-supported network slicing information.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining, by the gNB-DU, that the UE-supported network slicing information is unsupported by an access and mobility management function (AMF) and triggering a radio resource control (RRC) release message including automatic neighbor relation (anr) NSSAISupportList (anr-NSSAISupportList) indicating network slice support of neighboring cells.
11 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining, by the gNB-DU that the UE-supported network slicing information is unsupported by the gNB-DU and triggering an RRC release message including automatic neighbor relation (anr) NSSAISupportList (anr-NSSAISupportList) indicating network slice support of neighboring cells.
12 . The method of claim 8 , in which the second message includes an extended TAI slice support list to supplement the TAI slice support list.
13 . The method of claim 8 , in which the first message is the F1 setup request and the second message is the F1 setup response.
14 . The method of claim 8 , in which the first message is the gNB-DU configuration update and the second message is the gNB-DU configuration update acknowledge.