CN107071799B

CN107071799B - Network slice configuration method and device, radio access network RAN node and terminal

Info

Publication number: CN107071799B
Application number: CN201710084126.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 江小威
Original assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd
Current assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co Ltd
Priority date: 2017-02-16
Filing date: 2017-02-16
Publication date: 2019-12-06
Anticipated expiration: 2037-02-16
Also published as: CN107071799A

Abstract

the disclosure provides a network slice configuration method and device, a Radio Access Network (RAN) node and a terminal, wherein the method comprises the following steps: sending basic slice configuration information to a terminal so that the terminal reports pre-configured network slice selection auxiliary information for network slice selection; and sending a target message to the terminal according to the network slice selection auxiliary information, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target message. The present disclosure maps a plurality of CN slices to one RAN slice, so that one RAN node can support a large number of CN slices, thereby saving radio resources of the RAN node and improving processing capability of the RAN node.

Description

network slice configuration method and device, radio access network RAN node and terminal

Technical Field

the present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and in particular, to a network slice configuration method and apparatus, a radio access network RAN node, and a terminal.

background

a new generation of communication systems introduces a Network slicing (Network slicing) technique that allows the Network, the Core Network (CN) and the Radio Access Network (RAN) to be divided into multiple slices (slices). Different services are transmitted in different slices without interfering with each other. The charging policy, security policy, quality of service policy, etc. may be different for each slice.

in the related art, CN slice and RAN slice are still in a one-to-one mapping relationship, but the update domain of CN slice is in a location area, and there are possibly very many CN slices in a location area, which means that a RAN node can support a very large number of CN slice slices. If one-to-one mapping between RAN slice and CN slice is required, one RAN node cannot be supported due to its limited radio resources and processing capability. This results in the RAN isolation performance of many CN stripes being very different from RAN node to RAN node.

Disclosure of Invention

in view of this, the present disclosure provides a network slice configuration method and apparatus, a radio access network RAN node, and a terminal, so as to solve the deficiencies in the related art.

according to a first aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a network slice configuration method, where the method is used for a radio access network RAN node, and the method includes:

sending basic slice configuration information to a terminal so that the terminal reports pre-configured network slice selection auxiliary information for network slice selection;

according to the network slice selection auxiliary information, sending a target message to the terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target message;

the target message at least carries target slice configuration information, wherein the target slice configuration information at least comprises a mapping relation between a Core Network (CN) slice and a Radio Access Network (RAN) slice supported by a terminal;

the target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of: a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

wherein the RAN slice area is represented by a RAN slice area code or by a cell identification list.

Optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

a RAN slice area to which the terminal belongs, a RAN slice identification list supported by a cell in which the terminal is located, and radio resource configuration information of the RAN slice;

Optionally, the sending basic slice configuration information to the terminal includes:

broadcasting the basic slice configuration information to a terminal through a system message.

Optionally, the network slice selection auxiliary information reported by the terminal is obtained in the following manner:

receiving a connection establishment request sent by a preset default RAN slice supported by a cell when the terminal is initially accessed to a network;

After establishing connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request, sending a connection establishment message to the terminal;

And receiving a connection establishment completion message which is returned by the terminal based on the connection establishment message and carries an initial NAS message, wherein the initial NAS message and the connection establishment completion message carry the network slice selection auxiliary information.

optionally, the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network includes:

One or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

if one CN slice corresponds to multiple RAN slices, each RAN slice corresponds to a priority, which may be represented from high to low or from low to high in the order of RAN slice identifications in the RAN slice identification list, or used to indicate the priority of each RAN slice, and the CN slices are mapped onto the RAN slices according to the order of the priorities from high to low.

Optionally, the target message is a radio resource control, RRC, connection reconfiguration message.

optionally, after the sending the target message to the terminal, the method further includes:

after receiving a RAN slice area update request sent by the terminal, sending a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice again in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

And after receiving a location update request reported by the terminal, sending a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice again in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

according to a second aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a network slice configuration method, where the method is used for a terminal, and includes:

after receiving basic slice configuration information sent by an RAN node, acquiring network slice selection auxiliary information which is configured in advance by the terminal and used for network slice selection;

sending the network slice selection assistance information to the RAN node;

receiving a target message sent by the RAN node to the terminal according to the network slice selection auxiliary information;

Determining a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target message;

the target message at least carries target slice configuration information, wherein the target slice configuration information at least comprises a mapping relation between a Core Network (CN) slice and a Radio Access Network (RAN) slice supported by the terminal;

the target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

A RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

optionally, after receiving the basic slice configuration information sent by the RAN node, the method further includes:

when initially accessing a network, sending a connection establishment request to a RAN node through a preset default RAN slice supported by a current cell;

Receiving a connection establishment message sent to the terminal after the RAN node establishes connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request;

after receiving the connection establishment message, executing the step of acquiring network slice selection auxiliary information which is preset and configured by the terminal and used for network slice selection;

said sending said network slice selection assistance information to said RAN node, comprising:

sending a connection setup complete message carrying an initial NAS message to the RAN node based on the connection setup message, wherein the initial NAS message and the connection setup complete message carry the network slice selection auxiliary information.

one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

If one CN slice corresponds to multiple RAN slices, each RAN slice corresponds to a priority, which may be represented from high to low or from low to high in the order of RAN slice identifiers in the RAN slice identifier list, or used to indicate the priority of each RAN slice, and the CN slices are mapped onto the RAN slices according to the order of the priorities from high to low;

the determining a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice includes:

And in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice, taking the alternative RAN slice with the highest priority as a target RAN slice.

optionally, after determining the target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice, the method further includes:

when the RAN slice area updating condition is determined to be met, a RAN slice area updating request is sent to the RAN node;

receiving a RAN slice area updating instruction which is returned by the RAN node and carries the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is located currently;

And according to the RAN slice area updating instruction, determining a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice again.

Optionally, the RAN slice area update condition includes:

the periodic RAN slice configuration update timer times out or detects that the terminal enters a new RAN slice region.

after detecting that the terminal generates location update, sending a location update request to the RAN node;

receiving a RAN slice area updating instruction which is sent by the RAN node based on the position updating request and carries the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is located currently;

and updating a target RAN slice determined in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the RAN slice area updating instruction.

according to a third aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a network slice configuration method, where the method is used for a radio access network RAN node, and the method includes:

Sending target slice configuration information to a terminal so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target slice configuration information;

the target slice configuration information at least comprises a mapping relation between a Core Network (CN) slice and a Radio Access Network (RAN) slice supported by the terminal;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

Optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

the RAN slice is divided into a plurality of levels, and each level of the RAN slice except for a top level and a bottom level corresponds to one or more lower levels and one upper level;

when a CN slice corresponds to a RAN slice of a current hierarchy, if the RAN slice of the current hierarchy does not exist, the CN slice is corresponded to a RAN slice of an upper hierarchy of the current hierarchy.

according to a fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a network slice configuration method, where the method is used for a terminal, and the method includes:

receiving target slice configuration information sent by a Radio Access Network (RAN) node;

acquiring CN slice information configured by the terminal from pre-configured network slice selection auxiliary information, wherein the CN slice information comprises RAN slice level information corresponding to CN slices;

determining a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target slice configuration information and the CN slice information;

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

According to a fifth aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a network slice configuration apparatus for a radio access network RAN node, comprising:

a first sending module, configured to send basic slice configuration information to a terminal, so that the terminal reports pre-configured network slice selection auxiliary information for network slice selection;

a second sending module, configured to send a target message to the terminal according to the network slice selection auxiliary information, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target message;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

Optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

Optionally, the first sending module comprises:

a first transmitting sub-module configured to broadcast the basic slice configuration information to a terminal through a system message.

Optionally, the method further comprises:

A first receiving module, configured to receive a connection establishment request sent by a preset default RAN slice supported by a cell where the terminal initially accesses a network;

A third sending module configured to send a connection establishment message to the terminal after establishing a connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request;

a second receiving module, configured to receive a connection establishment complete message carrying an initial NAS message and returned by the terminal based on the connection establishment message, where the initial NAS message and the connection establishment complete message carry the network slice selection auxiliary information.

one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

optionally, the method further comprises:

a fourth sending module, configured to send, after receiving a RAN slice area update request sent by the terminal, a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice again in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

Optionally, the method further comprises:

a fifth sending module, configured to send, after receiving a location update request reported by the terminal, a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice again in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

According to a sixth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a network slice configuration apparatus, where the apparatus is used for a terminal, and the apparatus includes:

a first obtaining module, configured to obtain network slice selection auxiliary information, which is configured in advance by the terminal and used for network slice selection, after receiving basic slice configuration information sent by a RAN node;

a sixth transmitting module configured to transmit the network slice selection assistance information to the RAN node;

a third receiving module configured to receive a target message sent by the RAN node to the terminal according to the network slice selection assistance information;

a first determining module, configured to determine, according to the target message, a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice;

the target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

optionally, the method further comprises:

A seventh sending module, configured to send a connection establishment request to the RAN node through a preset default RAN slice supported by a current cell when initially accessing the network;

a fourth receiving module, configured to receive a connection establishment message sent to the terminal after the RAN node establishes a connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request;

the control module is configured to control the first obtaining module to obtain network slice selection auxiliary information, which is preset and configured by the terminal and used for network slice selection, after the fourth receiving module receives the connection establishment message;

the sixth sending module includes:

A second sending submodule configured to send, to the RAN node, a connection setup complete message carrying an initial NAS message based on the connection setup message, where the initial NAS message and the connection setup complete message carry the network slice selection assistance information.

One or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

the first determining module includes:

a first determining submodule configured to take the alternative RAN slice with the highest priority as a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice.

Optionally, the method further comprises:

an eighth sending module configured to send a RAN slice area update request to the RAN node upon determining that a RAN slice area update condition is satisfied;

a fifth receiving module, configured to receive a RAN slice area update instruction, which is returned by the RAN node and carries the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located;

and a second determining module configured to determine a target RAN slice among a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice again according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

optionally, the RAN slice area update condition includes:

Optionally, the method further comprises:

a ninth sending module, configured to send a location update request to the RAN node after detecting that a location update occurs to the terminal;

a sixth receiving module, configured to receive a RAN slice area update instruction, which is sent by the RAN node based on the location update request and carries the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located;

And a third determining module configured to update, according to the RAN slice area update instruction, a target RAN slice determined in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice.

according to a seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a network slice configuration apparatus, for a radio access network RAN node, including:

a tenth sending module, configured to send target slice configuration information to a terminal, so that the terminal determines, according to the target slice configuration information, a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice;

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

Optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

According to an eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a network slice configuration apparatus, where the apparatus is used for a terminal, and the apparatus includes:

A seventh receiving module, configured to receive target slice configuration information sent by the RAN node;

A second obtaining module, configured to obtain CN slice information configured by the terminal from preconfigured network slice selection auxiliary information, where the CN slice information includes RAN slice level information corresponding to CN slices;

A fourth determining module, configured to determine a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target slice configuration information and the CN slice information;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

according to a ninth aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a radio access network RAN node, comprising:

A processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

Wherein the processor is configured to:

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

according to a tenth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a terminal, including:

a processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to:

sending the network slice selection assistance information to the RAN node;

the target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

according to an eleventh aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a radio access network RAN node, comprising:

a processor;

A memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

Wherein the processor is configured to:

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

according to a twelfth aspect of the embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a terminal, including:

A processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

Wherein the processor is configured to:

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

The technical scheme provided by the embodiment of the disclosure can have the following beneficial effects:

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the RAN node may first send the basic slice configuration information to the terminal, so that the terminal reports the network slice selection auxiliary information. Further, the RAN node selects auxiliary information according to the network slice, and sends a target message to the terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target message. The target message at least carries target slice configuration information, and the target slice configuration information at least includes a mapping relationship between a Core Network (CN) slice and a Radio Access Network (RAN) slice supported by the terminal. Further, the target slice configuration information may further include at least one of: configuring and updating a timer for a RAN slice area and a periodic RAN slice to which a terminal belongs; wherein the RAN slice area is represented by a RAN slice area code or by a cell identification list. Through the above process, it can be seen that the CN slices and the RAN slices are no longer in one-to-one correspondence, and each core network slice may correspond to multiple alternative RAN slices, that is, multiple CN slices are mapped to one RAN slice, so that one RAN node may support a large number of CN slices, thereby saving radio resources of the RAN node and improving processing capability of the RAN node.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, optionally, the RAN node may broadcast the basic slice configuration information to the terminal through a system message. The realization is simple and convenient, and the usability is high.

in the embodiment of the present disclosure, each cell is preset with a default RAN slice, and a RAN node may receive a connection establishment request sent by a terminal through the preset default RAN slice when the terminal initially accesses a network. The RAN node will return a connection setup message to the terminal, and the terminal will send a connection setup complete message carrying an initial NAS message to the RAN node at this time, where the initial NAS message and the connection setup complete message carry the network slice selection assistance information. Therefore, the RAN node can acquire the network slice selection auxiliary information, and the method is simple and convenient to implement and high in usability.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network includes: one or more RAN slices for each CN slice. Wherein, if one CN slice corresponds to multiple RAN slices, each RAN slice corresponds to a priority, the priority may be represented from high to low or from low to high in the list according to the order of the RAN slice identifiers in the RAN slice identifier list, or used to indicate the priority of each RAN slice. Further, the CN slices are mapped to the RAN slices in the order of the priority from top to bottom. That is, in the embodiment of the present disclosure, the CN slice is preferentially mapped to the RAN slice with the highest priority, and when there is no RAN slice with a high priority, the CN slice is mapped to the RAN slice at the next level. Through the process of grading a plurality of RAN slices, when the RAN node cannot provide an isolation scheme with optimal granularity, the isolation scheme with suboptimal granularity can be returned, and therefore the service quality of the RAN node is ensured.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the target message may be an RRC connection reconfiguration message, so that the RAN node may send, to the terminal through the RRC message, mapping relationships between all core network CN slices and RAN slices supported by the terminal, thereby ensuring that the terminal may determine the target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice.

in this embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal may use, as a target RAN slice, one of a plurality of candidate RAN slices corresponding to a current core network CN slice, which has a highest priority level, according to a mapping relationship between all core network CN slices and RAN slices supported by the terminal. Wherein, the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network includes: one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice; if one CN slice corresponds to multiple RAN slices, each RAN slice corresponds to a priority, which may be represented from high to low or from low to high in the order of RAN slice identifications in the RAN slice identification list, or used to indicate the priority of each RAN slice, and the CN slices are mapped onto the RAN slices according to the order of the priorities from high to low. Through the above process, the terminal can select the RAN slice with the highest priority corresponding to the CN slice as the target RAN slice, thereby ensuring the quality of service of the RAN node.

in the embodiment of the present disclosure, when it is determined that the RAN slice area update condition is satisfied, the terminal may send a RAN slice area update request to the RAN node, so as to re-determine, for each CN slice, a target RAN slice with a better matching priority. The quality of service of the RAN node is ensured, so that the wireless resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the terminal may further automatically send a location update request to the RAN node after detecting that location update occurs on the terminal itself, and at this time, the RAN node automatically returns a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located based on the location update request, so as to re-determine a target RAN slice with a more matched priority for each CN slice. And the target RAN is re-determined by multiplexing the position updating process in the related technology, so that the interaction process of the terminal and the RAN node is simplified, the service quality of the RAN node is ensured, the wireless resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the RAN node may also directly send target slice configuration information to the terminal, so that the terminal determines the target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target slice configuration information. The slice configuration process is further simplified, so that one RAN node can support a large number of CN slices, the radio resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a terminal may directly receive target slice configuration information sent by a RAN node, and the terminal may further obtain CN slice information configured by the terminal according to pre-configured network slice selection auxiliary information, where the CN slice information includes RAN slice level information corresponding to CN slices. Further, the terminal determines a target RAN slice from a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target slice configuration information and the CN slice information. On the basis of further simplifying the slice configuration, one RAN node can support a large number of CN slices, so that the radio resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

it is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the disclosure.

drawings

the accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present disclosure and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a flow chart illustrating a network slice configuration method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2A-2C are schematic diagrams of a network slice configuration scenario illustrated by the present disclosure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of another network slice configuration method shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart diagram of another network slice configuration method shown in the present disclosure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart diagram illustrating another network slice configuration method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart diagram illustrating another network slice configuration method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a network slice configuration scenario shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating another network slice configuration method according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart diagram of another network slice configuration method shown in the present disclosure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 10 is a flow chart diagram of another network slice configuration method shown in the present disclosure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of another network slice configuration scenario illustrated by the present disclosure in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a flow chart diagram of another network slice configuration method shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a flow chart diagram of another network slice configuration method shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 14 is a block diagram of a network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 17 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 21 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 22 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an example embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 23 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 24 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 25 is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus shown in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 26 is a block diagram illustrating an architecture of a RAN node according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

Fig. 27 is a schematic diagram illustrating a structure of a terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

Detailed Description

reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the accompanying drawings, like numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the exemplary embodiments below are not intended to represent all implementations consistent with the present disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatus and methods consistent with certain aspects of the present disclosure, as detailed in the appended claims.

The terminology used in the present disclosure is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used in this disclosure and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should also be understood that the term "and/or" as operated herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

It is to be understood that although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various information, such information should not be limited to these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one type of information from another. For example, first information may also be referred to as second information, and similarly, second information may also be referred to as first information, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The word "if," as used herein, may be interpreted as "at … …" or "at … …" or "in response to a determination," depending on the context.

The network slice configuration method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure can be used for a RAN node, such as a base station. As shown in fig. 1, fig. 1 is a network slice configuration method according to an exemplary embodiment, including the following steps:

In step 101, basic slice configuration information is sent to a terminal, so that the terminal reports pre-configured network slice selection auxiliary information for network slice selection.

wherein, optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

the RAN slice area code is an area code preset for a RAN slice area to which the terminal belongs, and the cell identifier list includes a list of all cell identifiers included in the RAN slice area to which the terminal belongs. I.e. the RAN slice area may be represented by a RAN slice area code or by a cell identity list.

in the embodiment of the present disclosure, a RAN slice region to which a terminal belongs is a slice region of a maximum range corresponding to a cell in which the terminal is located. The cell identification list includes cell identifications of all cells included in the RAN slice area corresponding to the cell. I.e. the list of cell identities of all cells covered by the RAN slice area, e.g. as shown in fig. 2A, comprises the cell identities of cell 1, cell 2 and cell 3.

the RAN slice identifier list supported by the cell in which the terminal is located is a list of area identifiers of all RAN slice areas in the RAN slice area, for example, as shown in fig. 2B, the RAN slice identifier list includes a list of area identifiers of a slice area a, a slice area B, and a slice area C.

In the embodiment of the present disclosure, a default RAN slice area is preset for each cell, for example, as shown in fig. 2C, the physical coverage area of the default RAN slice area is the largest. The resources of the default RAN slice region are cell common resources, and all outputs not belonging to a certain slice region are transmitted on the default RAN slice region. The default RAN slice area is pre-configured with a slice area code for identifying the default RAN slice area. The default RAN area does not need area identification, but only needs to be identified by the RAN slice area code.

the radio resource configuration information of the RAN slice area may include information for radio resource configuration in the related art.

in this step, optionally, the RAN node may broadcast the basic slice configuration information to the terminal through a system message.

In step 102, a target message is sent to the terminal according to the network slice selection auxiliary information, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target message.

in this step, the terminal reports network slice selection auxiliary information to the RAN node according to the basic slice configuration information. The network slice selection assistance information is information for assisting the terminal in performing RAN and CN slice selection, and may include slice or service type information, or other information related to performing slice selection.

optionally, a process of acquiring the network slice selection assistance information by the RAN node, as shown in fig. 3, where fig. 3 is a flowchart of another network slice configuration shown on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 1, and may include the following steps:

in step 102-1, a connection establishment request sent by the terminal through the default RAN slice supported by the cell where the terminal initially accesses the network is received.

in this step, the terminal may send a connection establishment request through the default RAN slice to request establishment of a connection with a RAN node when the terminal has just accessed a network. The RAN node may receive the connection establishment request according to a related art.

in step 102-2, after establishing the connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request, a connection establishment message is sent to the terminal.

in this step, the RAN node establishes a connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request according to a related technique. Further, a connection setup message is sent to the terminal.

In step 102-3, a connection setup complete message carrying an initial NAS message returned by the terminal based on the connection setup message is received, where the initial NAS message and the connection setup complete message carry the network slice selection auxiliary information.

In this step, after receiving the connection establishment message, the terminal may obtain network slice selection auxiliary information configured in advance by the terminal and used for network slice selection. The Network slice selection assistance information may be preconfigured in the terminal by a Network, for example, each Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) may be configured separately, and may be updated in an over-the-air active manner. Or the network slice selection auxiliary information is written into the terminal by a terminal manufacturer when the terminal leaves a factory.

And after acquiring the network slice selection auxiliary information, the terminal sends a connection establishment completion message carrying an initial NAS message to the RAN node, wherein the initial NAS message and the connection establishment completion message carry the network slice selection auxiliary information. The initial NAS message is a NAS message that is sent to the RAN node when the terminal initially accesses the network.

in this step, after receiving the connection establishment completion message reported by the terminal according to the related technology, the RAN node selects the auxiliary information according to the network slice, and determines the target common control network function matched with the terminal according to the related technology. The common control network function may be an authentication function, a mobility management function, etc.

further, the target message at least carries target slice configuration information, and the target slice configuration information at least includes a mapping relationship between a core network CN slice and a RAN slice supported by the terminal. And the target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of: a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs; a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer; wherein the RAN slice area is represented by a RAN slice area code or by a cell identification list.

in this embodiment of the present disclosure, the RAN node needs to send the initial NAS message to the target public control network function, so that the target public control network function determines the authorized NAS message according to the initial NAS message according to the related art. Wherein the authorized NAS message includes authorized network slice selection assistance information and a temporary identifier, and the temporary identifier is provided to a RAN node, such as a base station, during a validity period of the temporary identifier, when the terminal can subsequently access the network, and the RAN node sends the NAS message to the target common control network function.

And after receiving the authorized non-access stratum NAS message returned by the target public control network function, the terminal sends a target message to the terminal. Optionally, the target message is a radio resource control, RRC, connection reconfiguration message. The target slice configuration information may be carried in the target message as a part of network slice selection assistance information of RRC, or may be carried in the target message as separate information.

In this embodiment of the present disclosure, the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network includes:

One or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

one CN slice may correspond to one or more RAN slices, each RAN slice corresponding to a priority, which may be represented from high to low or from low to high in the order in the list of RAN slice identifications. I.e. from high to low or from low to high, in the order in the list of RAN slice identities comprised in the list of RAN slice identities in the basic slice configuration information.

alternatively, the priority may also be used to indicate the priority of each RAN slice.

and the terminal preferentially selects to map the CN slice to the RAN slice corresponding to the priority of the highest level, and when the RAN slice is not covered, the terminal returns to the RAN slice of the next level of priority, and the like, and when the RAN slice of the lowest level is not covered, the terminal returns to the default RAN slice. The lower the priority of the RAN slice, the lower the physical isolation level, the more common resources are occupied, e.g. sharing a carrier or a physical channel with other RAN slices, the more CN slices are served, and accordingly the more inter-CN slice interference is serious, and the larger the geographical area is covered. Conversely, the higher the priority, the fewer CN slices it serves, the smaller the inter-CN slice interference, the smaller the geographical area covered, and the smaller the occupied common resources, e.g., using separate physical channels.

a RAN node may support only a few large-level RAN slices or some small-level RAN slices at the same time. Depending on the capabilities of the node, multiple small levels of RAN slices may be supported if the RAN node has more radio resources/processing capacity, or is currently not heavily loaded. And the RAN node dynamically adjusts the size of the resource pool of the large-level slice and the small-level slice according to the increase and decrease of the small-level slice.

the advantage of the multiple RAN slice ranking is that when the RAN node cannot provide the optimal isolation scheme, it can fall back to the suboptimal isolation scheme, rather than having no isolation at all, and thus can provide a certain quality of service guarantee.

in the embodiment of the present disclosure, after sending the target information to the terminal, the RAN node may further send a terminal connection release message to the terminal, so that the terminal returns to an idle state or an inactive state according to the related art. The terminal will then store the authorized network slice selection assistance information and the target slice configuration information.

in the above embodiments, it can be seen that the CN slices and the RAN slices are no longer in one-to-one correspondence, and each core network slice may correspond to multiple alternative RAN slices, that is, multiple CN slices are mapped to one RAN slice, so that one RAN node may support a large number of CN slices, thereby saving radio resources of the RAN node and improving processing capability of the RAN node.

in this embodiment of the present disclosure, after receiving a RAN slice area update request or a location update request, the RAN node may send a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice again in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

as shown in fig. 4, fig. 4 is a flowchart of another network slice configuration shown on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 1, and after completing step 102, the method may further include the following steps:

in step 103, after receiving a RAN slice area update request sent by the terminal, sending a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal.

in this step, after receiving the RAN slice area update request sent by the terminal, the RAN node automatically sends the RAN slice area update instruction to the terminal. The RAN slice area update instruction carries the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located. In this way, the terminal may determine a target RAN slice among a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice again according to the currently received target slice region configuration information.

in the above embodiment, the RAN node may automatically send the RAN slice area update instruction to the terminal after receiving the RAN slice area update request. Thereby ensuring that the update procedure of the RAN slice area of the terminal can be completed.

as shown in fig. 5, fig. 5 is a flowchart of another network slice configuration shown on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 1, and after step 102 is completed, the method may further include the following steps:

in step 104, after receiving the location update request reported by the terminal, sending a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal.

in this step, once receiving the location update request sent by the terminal, the RAN node automatically considers that the terminal also requests to perform RAN slice area update at the same time. That is, at this time, the area of the RAN slice area is the same as the tracking area of the terminal, the RAN slice area multiplexes the tracking area code, and the RAN node does not need to separately instruct the RAN slice area to the terminal, and does not need to use the update timer, but can directly use the location update timer. The terminal carries network slice selection auxiliary information in an RRC connection establishment completion message for sending a region position updating request, and the RAN node automatically returns a RAN slice region updating instruction carrying the target slice region configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice region where the terminal is located to the terminal. In this way, the terminal may determine a target RAN slice among a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice again according to the currently received target slice region configuration information.

in the above embodiment, the RAN node may automatically send the RAN slice area update instruction to the terminal after receiving the location update request. Thereby ensuring that the update procedure of the RAN slice area of the terminal can be completed.

optionally, in the above embodiment, the terminal may also report previously configured target slice configuration information recorded by the terminal, that is, determine a target RAN slice from a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice, so that the RAN node refers to the previously configured slice configuration information to determine new target slice configuration information, speed up a slice area update process, and save RAN node resources.

it should be noted that in the embodiment of the present disclosure, when the terminal leaves the geographic location range covered by the currently corresponding RAN slice area, the slice configuration that the terminal has completed before is invalid, unless the terminal returns to the RAN slice area again. However, if the terminal needs to access the cell in this period, the terminal accesses the cell through the default RAN slice area and carries the request update slice configuration information in the connection setup complete message (or the connection recovery complete message, the connection re-establishment complete message, the RAN location area update request). Optionally, the terminal may report the slice configuration information recorded before at the same time. And the RAN node automatically sends the RAN slice area updating instruction to the terminal. Thereby ensuring that the update procedure of the RAN slice area of the terminal can be completed.

The network slice configuration method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure can also be used for terminals, such as smart phones, tablet computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. As shown in fig. 6, fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating another network slice configuration method according to an example embodiment, including the steps of:

In step 201, after receiving the basic slice configuration information sent by the RAN node, network slice selection auxiliary information configured in advance by the terminal for network slice selection is obtained.

The network slice selection assistance information is information for assisting the terminal in network slice selection, and may include slice or service type information, or other information related to slice selection. The Network slice selection assistance information may be preconfigured in the terminal by a Network, for example, each Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) may be configured separately, and may be updated in an over-the-air active manner. Or the network slice selection auxiliary information is written into the terminal by a terminal manufacturer when the terminal leaves a factory. In this step, the terminal may first receive basic slice configuration information broadcast by the RAN node through the system message according to the related art. The basic slice configuration information includes:

when the terminal initially accesses a network, a connection establishment request may be sent to a RAN node through a preset default RAN slice, and after a connection establishment message that the RAN node establishes a connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request and then sends to the terminal is received, the network slice selection assistance information may be acquired according to a related technique.

and after receiving the connection establishment message, acquiring the network slice selection auxiliary information pre-configured by the terminal according to the mode.

In step 202, the network slice selection assistance information is sent to the RAN node.

in this step, the terminal may send, to the RAN node, a connection establishment complete message carrying an initial NAS message based on the connection establishment message, where the initial NAS message and the connection establishment complete message carry the network slice selection auxiliary information. The RAN node may determine a target common control network function matching the terminal based on the network slice selection assistance information.

And the target public control network function determines the authorized NAS message according to the initial NAS message according to the related technology. Wherein the authorized NAS message includes authorized network slice selection assistance information and a temporary identifier, and the temporary identifier is provided to a RAN node, such as a base station, during a validity period of the temporary identifier, when the terminal can subsequently access the network, and the RAN node sends the NAS message to the target common control network function.

In step 203, a target message sent by the RAN node to the terminal according to the network slice selection assistance information is received.

the target message at least carries target slice configuration information, and the target slice configuration information at least includes mapping relationships between all core network CN slices and RAN slices supported by the terminal.

The target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

A RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

in this step, the terminal may receive the target message according to a related technique.

In step 204, a target RAN slice is determined among a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target message.

in this step, optionally, the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network includes:

one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

and the terminal takes the alternative RAN slice with the highest priority level in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to the current core network slice as a target RAN slice according to the mapping relation between all core network CN slices and RAN slices supported by the terminal. For example, as shown in fig. 7, the RAN slice area a has a large coverage and serves a maximum number of CN slices. RAN slice area B, C and D coverage are small, serving fewer CN slices. CN slice 1 is mapped to RAN slice a and RAN slice B, and CN slice 2 is mapped to RAN slice a and RAN slice C. When the terminal enters the area covered by the RAN slice B, the CN slice 1 is mapped to the RAN slice C, so that the isolation with the optimal granularity is obtained, and when the terminal looks at the area covered by the RAN slice C, the terminal falls back to the RAN slice A, so that the suboptimal isolation can be obtained.

in the above embodiment, the terminal may obtain the target slice configuration information according to the RRC message, so as to determine the target RAN slice in the multiple alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice. Therefore, one RAN node can support a large number of CN slices, so that the radio resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

optionally, as shown in fig. 8, fig. 8 is a flowchart of another network slice configuration shown on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 6, and after step 204 is completed, the method may further include the following steps:

In step 205, upon determining that the RAN slice area update condition is satisfied, a RAN slice area update request is sent to the RAN node.

wherein the RAN slice area update condition includes: the periodic RAN slice configuration update timer times out or detects that the terminal enters a new RAN slice region.

in this step, the terminal may determine that the RAN slice area update condition is satisfied when it is determined that the periodic RAN slice configuration update timer in the target slice configuration information is overtime. Or after the terminal determines that the terminal leaves the geographical position range corresponding to the previous target RAN slice area according to the related technology, the terminal determines that the RAN slice area updating condition is met. At this time, the terminal automatically sends a RAN slice area update request to the RAN node.

in step 206, a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located, returned by the RAN node, is received.

in this step, the RAN node may re-determine the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located, and send the target slice area configuration information to the terminal through the RAN slice area update instruction.

in step 207, according to the RAN slice area update instruction, the target RAN slice is determined again from the multiple alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice.

in this step, the terminal may determine the target RAN slice among the multiple alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice in the above manner directly according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

in the above embodiment, the terminal may send a RAN slice area update request to the RAN node when it is determined that the RAN slice area update condition is satisfied, so as to re-determine a target RAN slice with a better matching physical isolation level for each CN slice. The quality of service of the RAN node is ensured, so that the wireless resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

Optionally, as shown in fig. 9, fig. 9 is a flowchart of another network slice configuration shown on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 6, and after step 204 is completed, the method may further include the following steps:

In step 208, after detecting that the terminal has a location update, a location update request is sent to the RAN node.

in this step, the terminal detects whether position update occurs per se according to a related technology. In the related art, after location update occurs, the terminal may automatically send a location update request to the RAN node. At this time, the area of the RAN slice region is the same as the tracking region area of the terminal, the RAN slice region multiplexes the tracking region code, and the RAN node does not need to separately instruct the RAN slice region to the terminal, and does not need to use the update timer, but can directly use the location update timer. The terminal carries the network slice selection auxiliary information in the RRC connection establishment completion message of the sending region location updating request.

In step 209, a RAN slice area update instruction that is sent by the RAN node based on the location update request and carries the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located is received.

In this step, the RAN node automatically returns a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal.

In step 210, a target RAN slice determined in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice is updated according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

in this step, the terminal may determine a target RAN slice among a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice again according to the currently received target slice area configuration information.

In the above embodiment, the terminal may further automatically send a location update request to the RAN node after detecting that the location update occurs, and at this time, the RAN node automatically returns a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located based on the location update request, so as to re-determine a target RAN slice with a more matched physical isolation level for each CN slice. And the target RAN is re-determined by multiplexing the position updating process in the related technology, so that the interaction process of the terminal and the RAN node is simplified, the service quality of the RAN node is ensured, the wireless resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

as shown in fig. 10, fig. 10 is a flowchart of another network slice configuration shown on the basis of an embodiment, including the following steps:

in step 301, the RAN node broadcasts basic slice configuration information to the terminal via a system message.

Wherein the basic slice configuration information includes:

wherein the RAN slice area is represented by a RAN slice area code or by a cell identification list. In step 302, when initially accessing the network, the terminal sends a connection establishment request to the RAN node through a preset default RAN slice supported by the cell where the terminal is located.

In step 303, the RAN node establishes a connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request.

in step 304, the RAN node sends a connection setup message to the terminal.

in step 305, the terminal acquires the network slice selection assistance information.

in step 306, the terminal sends a connection setup complete message carrying an initial NAS message to the RAN node, where the initial NAS message and the connection setup complete message carry the network slice selection assistance information.

In step 307, the RAN node determines a target common control network function matched with the terminal according to the network slice selection auxiliary information reported by the terminal.

in step 308, the RAN node sends the initial NAS message to the target common control network function.

In step 309, the RAN node receives an authorized non-access stratum, NAS, message returned by the target common control network function.

in step 310, the RAN node sends an RRC connection reconfiguration notification message to the terminal.

the RRC connection reconfiguration notification message at least carries target slice configuration information, where the target slice configuration information at least includes mapping relationships between all core network CN slices and RAN slices supported by the terminal.

The target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

in step 311, the terminal uses, as a target RAN slice, the candidate RAN slice with the highest priority among the multiple candidate RAN slices corresponding to the current core network slice according to the mapping relationship between all core network CN slices and RAN slices supported by the terminal.

wherein, the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network includes:

one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

in step 312, the RAN node sends a terminal connection release message to the terminal.

In step 313, the terminal returns to idle or inactive state.

In step 314, the terminal stores authorized network slice selection assistance information and the target slice configuration information.

in step 315, the terminal detects whether a RAN slice area update condition is satisfied or a location update occurs.

The RAN slice area update condition includes:

if the terminal satisfies the RAN slice area update condition or a location update occurs, the process continues to step 316.

In step 316, the terminal sends a RAN slice area update request or a location update request to the RAN node.

in step 317, the RAN node sends a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal.

in step 318, the terminal determines a target RAN slice among a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice again according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

in the above embodiment, the RAN node sends the target slice configuration information to the terminal through an RRC message, so that the terminal determines the target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target message. And the RAN area update of the terminal can be completed. Therefore, one RAN node can support a large number of CN slices, so that the radio resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

the network slice configuration method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure can be used for a RAN node, such as a base station.

the method comprises the following steps:

in step 401, target slice configuration information is sent to a terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target slice configuration information.

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

in this step, the RAN node directly broadcasts the target slice configuration information to the terminal through a system message, and the terminal directly uses, according to a mapping relationship between a core network CN slice and a RAN slice supported by the terminal, an alternative RAN slice with the lowest level among a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to the current core network slice as the target RAN slice.

The mapping relationship between the core network CN slice and the RAN slice comprises:

in the disclosed embodiment, the RAN slice is divided into multiple levels, and for each level, in addition to the top level and the bottom level, the level may correspond to one or more lower levels, but only one upper level. When a CN slice needs to be corresponded to a current RAN slice of a certain hierarchy, if the current RAN slice does not exist, the CN slice may be corresponded to a RAN slice of a hierarchy above the current hierarchy.

in the above embodiment, the RAN node may also directly send target slice configuration information to the terminal, so that the terminal determines the target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target slice configuration information. The slice configuration process is further simplified, so that one RAN node can support a large number of CN slices, the radio resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

As shown in fig. 11, the CN slice supported by each upper RAN slice is the sum of the CN slices supported by the lower RAN slice. Such as RAN slices A, B and C supporting CN slices 1 and 2, CN slices 3 and 4, and CN slices 5 and 6, respectively, RAN slice D supporting CN slices 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

the network slice configuration method provided by the embodiment of the disclosure can also be used for terminals, such as smart phones, tablet computers, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), and the like. As shown in fig. 12, fig. 12 is another network slice configuration method according to an example embodiment, including the steps of:

In step 501, target slice configuration information sent by a radio access network RAN node is received.

In this step, the terminal directly receives the target slice configuration information broadcasted by the RAN node through the system message according to the related technology. The target slice configuration information at least includes a mapping relationship between a core network CN slice and a RAN slice supported by the terminal, and may further include at least one of the following:

A RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

In step 502, CN slice information configured by the terminal is obtained from pre-configured network slice selection auxiliary information, where the CN slice information includes RAN slice level information corresponding to CN slices.

In this step, the terminal acquires CN slice information configured by the terminal from the preconfigured network slice selection auxiliary information according to the related art. The CN slice information is RAN slice level information corresponding to the CN slice. For example, a certain CN slice supported by the terminal corresponds to a RAN slice of highest priority, or another CN slice supported by the terminal corresponds to another RAN slice of only lower priority than the highest priority.

in step 503, according to the target slice configuration information and the CN slice information, a target RAN slice is determined in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice.

in this step, after entering a cell, the terminal reads the target slice configuration information in the cell system message, thereby obtaining the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice. The mapping relationship between the core network CN slice and the RAN slice comprises:

one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

likewise, a RAN slice is divided into multiple levels, which for each level may correspond to one or more lower levels, but only one upper level, in addition to the top and bottom levels. When a CN slice needs to be corresponded to a current RAN slice of a certain hierarchy, if the current RAN slice does not exist, the CN slice may be corresponded to a RAN slice of a hierarchy above the current hierarchy.

If the cell does not support the RAN slice of the priority level, jumping to a RAN slice of an upper level to find a RAN slice supporting the CN slice until the RAN slice is found. If not, a default RAN slice is employed. Of course, the terminal may report the configured network slice selection assistance information in the initial access, tracking area update, network request, and other situations. And receiving the authorized non-access stratum NAS message returned by the target public control network function and returned by the RAN node in the same manner.

in the above embodiment, the terminal may directly perform the configuration and update of the slice region by reading the system message of each cell without supporting the update mechanism based on the slice region. The slice configuration process is further simplified, so that one RAN node can support a large number of CN slices, the radio resources of the RAN node are saved, and the processing capacity of the RAN node is improved.

As shown in fig. 13, fig. 13 is a flowchart of another network slice configuration shown on the basis of an embodiment, including the following steps:

In step 601, the RAN node broadcasts target slice configuration information to the terminal through a system message.

The target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

in step 602, the terminal acquires pre-configured network slice selection assistance information.

in step 603, the terminal acquires CN slice information configured by the terminal from the network slice selection assistance information.

wherein the CN slice information includes RAN slice level information corresponding to the CN slice.

In step 604, the terminal determines a target RAN slice from a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target slice configuration information and the CN slice information.

Corresponding to the embodiment of the application function implementation method, the disclosure also provides an embodiment of an application function implementation device and a corresponding terminal.

Referring to fig. 14, a block diagram of a network slice configuration apparatus according to an example embodiment may be provided in a radio access network RAN node, and includes:

a first sending module 11, configured to send basic slice configuration information to a terminal, so that the terminal reports pre-configured network slice selection auxiliary information for network slice selection;

a second sending module 12, configured to send a target message to the terminal according to the network slice selection auxiliary information, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target message;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

Optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

referring to fig. 15, which is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment, on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 14, the first sending module 11 includes:

a first transmitting sub-module 11-1 configured to broadcast the basic slice configuration information to the terminal through a system message.

Referring to fig. 16, a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is shown, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 14, the apparatus further includes:

a first receiving module 13, configured to receive a connection establishment request sent by the terminal through the default RAN slice supported by the cell where the terminal is located when initially accessing the network;

a third sending module 14, configured to send a connection establishment message to the terminal after establishing a connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request;

a second receiving module 15, configured to receive a connection setup complete message carrying an initial NAS message and returned by the terminal based on the connection setup message, where the initial NAS message and the connection setup complete message carry the network slice selection auxiliary information.

one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

referring to fig. 17, a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is shown, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 14, the apparatus further includes:

a fourth sending module 16, configured to send, after receiving a RAN slice area update request sent by the terminal, a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice again in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

Referring to fig. 18, a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is shown, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 14, the apparatus further includes:

A fifth sending module 17, configured to send, after receiving the location update request reported by the terminal, a RAN slice area update instruction carrying the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located to the terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice again in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

Referring to fig. 19, a block diagram of a network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may be provided in a terminal, including:

a first obtaining module 21, configured to, after receiving basic slice configuration information sent by a RAN node, obtain network slice selection auxiliary information configured in advance by the terminal for network slice selection;

A sixth sending module 22 configured to send the network slice selection assistance information to the RAN node;

A third receiving module 23, configured to receive a target message sent by the RAN node to the terminal according to the network slice selection assistance information;

A first determining module 24, configured to determine, according to the target message, a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice;

the target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

Referring to fig. 20, a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is shown, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 19, the apparatus further includes:

a seventh sending module 25, configured to send, when initially accessing the network, a connection establishment request to the RAN node through a preset default RAN slice supported by a current cell where the RAN node is located;

A fourth receiving module 26, configured to receive a connection establishment message sent to the terminal after the RAN node establishes a connection with the terminal according to the connection establishment request;

a control module 27, configured to control the first obtaining module 21 to obtain network slice selection auxiliary information, configured by the terminal in advance, for network slice selection after the fourth receiving module 26 receives the connection establishment message;

the sixth sending module 22 includes:

a second sending submodule 22-1, configured to send, to the RAN node, a connection setup complete message carrying an initial NAS message based on the connection setup message, where the initial NAS message and the connection setup complete message carry the network slice selection assistance information.

one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

referring to fig. 21, which is a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment, on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 19, the first determining module 24 includes:

a first determining submodule 24-1, configured to take the alternative RAN slice with the highest priority as a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice.

referring to fig. 22, a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is shown, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 19, the apparatus further includes:

An eighth sending module 28 configured to send a RAN slice area update request to the RAN node when it is determined that a RAN slice area update condition is satisfied;

a fifth receiving module 29, configured to receive a RAN slice area update instruction, which is returned by the RAN node and carries the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located;

a second determining module 210, configured to determine a target RAN slice again in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the RAN slice area update instruction.

optionally, the RAN slice area update condition includes:

Referring to fig. 23, a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment is shown, and on the basis of the embodiment shown in fig. 19, the apparatus further includes:

a ninth sending module 211, configured to send a location update request to the RAN node after detecting that the location update of the terminal occurs;

a sixth receiving module 212, configured to receive a RAN slice area update instruction, which is sent by the RAN node based on the location update request and carries the target slice area configuration information corresponding to the RAN slice area where the terminal is currently located;

a third determining module 213, configured to update, according to the RAN slice area update instruction, the determination of the target RAN slice in the multiple alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice.

referring to fig. 24, a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus, which may be provided at a radio access network node, according to an example embodiment, includes:

a tenth sending module 31, configured to send target slice configuration information to a terminal, so that the terminal determines a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice according to the target slice configuration information;

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

Optionally, the basic slice configuration information includes:

referring to fig. 25, a block diagram of another network slice configuration apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment may be provided in a terminal, including:

a seventh receiving module 41, configured to receive the target slice configuration information sent by the RAN node;

a second obtaining module 42, configured to obtain CN slice information configured by the terminal from preconfigured network slice selection auxiliary information, where the CN slice information includes RAN slice level information corresponding to a CN slice;

A fourth determining module 43, configured to determine, according to the target slice configuration information and the CN slice information, a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

With regard to the apparatus in the above-described embodiment, the specific manner in which each module performs the operation has been described in detail in the embodiment related to the method, and will not be elaborated here.

correspondingly, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a radio access network RAN node, including:

a processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to:

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

Correspondingly, the embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a terminal, including:

A processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to:

Sending the network slice selection assistance information to the RAN node;

the target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

A processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to:

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

A processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to:

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

as shown in fig. 26, fig. 26 is a schematic structural diagram illustrating a network slice configuration apparatus 2600 according to an exemplary embodiment. Apparatus 2600 can be provided as a RAN node, e.g., a base station. Referring to fig. 26, device 2600 includes a processing component 2622, a wireless transmit/receive component 2624, an antenna component 2626, and signal processing portions specific to the wireless interface, the processing component 2622 may further include one or more processors.

one of the processors in processing component 2622 may be configured to perform the network slice configuration method described above.

fig. 27 is a schematic structural diagram illustrating a network slice configuration apparatus 2700 according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, the apparatus 2700 may be a terminal, which may be embodied as a mobile phone, a computer, a digital broadcast terminal, a messaging device, a game console, a tablet device, a medical device, an exercise device, a personal digital assistant, and the like.

referring to fig. 27, the apparatus 2700 may include one or more of the following components: a processing component 2702, a memory 2704, a power component 2706, a multimedia component 2708, an audio component 2710, an input/output (I/O) interface 2712, a sensor component 2714, and a communications component 2716.

the processing component 2702 generally controls the overall operation of the device 2700, such as operations associated with display, telephone calls, data communications, camera operations, and recording operations. The processing components 2702 may include one or more processors 2720 to execute instructions to perform all or part of the steps of the methods described above. Further, processing component 2702 can include one or more modules that facilitate interaction between processing component 2702 and other components. For example, the processing component 2702 can include a multimedia module to facilitate interaction between the multimedia component 2708 and the processing component 2702.

Memory 2704 is configured to store various types of data to support operation at device 2700. Examples of such data include instructions for any application or method operating on the device 2700, contact data, phonebook data, messages, pictures, videos, and so forth. The memory 2704 may be implemented by any type or combination of volatile or non-volatile memory devices such as Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic memory, flash memory, magnetic or optical disks.

the power supply component 2706 provides power to the various components of the device 2700. The power components 2706 may include a power management system, one or more power supplies, and other components associated with generating, managing, and distributing power for the apparatus 2700.

the multimedia component 2708 includes a screen that provides an output interface between the device 2700 and a user. In some embodiments, the screen may include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) and a Touch Panel (TP). If the screen includes a touch panel, the screen may be implemented as a touch screen to receive an input signal from a user. The touch panel includes one or more touch sensors to sense touch, slide, and gestures on the touch panel. The touch sensor may not only sense the boundary of the touch or slide action but also detect the duration and pressure associated with the touch or slide operation. In some embodiments, the multimedia component 2708 includes a front facing camera and/or a rear facing camera. The front camera and/or the rear camera may receive external multimedia data when the device 2700 is in an operating mode, such as a shooting mode or a video mode. Each front camera and rear camera may be a fixed optical lens system or have a focal length and optical zoom capability.

The audio component 2710 is configured to output and/or input audio signals. For example, the audio component 2710 includes a Microphone (MIC) configured to receive external audio signals when the apparatus 2700 is in operating modes, such as a call mode, a recording mode, and a voice recognition mode. The received audio signals may further be stored in the memory 2704 or transmitted via the communication component 2716. In some embodiments, the audio component 2710 also includes a speaker for outputting audio signals.

the I/O interface 2712 provides an interface between the processing component 2702 and peripheral interface modules, which can be keyboards, click wheels, buttons, etc. These buttons may include, but are not limited to: a home button, a volume button, a start button, and a lock button.

The sensor assembly 2714 includes one or more sensors for providing various aspects of condition assessment for the apparatus 2700. For example, the sensor assembly 2714 can detect the open/closed state of the device 2700, the relative positioning of the components, such as a display and keypad of the device 2700 described above, the sensor assembly 2714 can also detect changes in the position of the device 2700 or a component of the device 2700, the presence or absence of user contact with the device 2700, the orientation or acceleration/deceleration of the device 2700, and changes in the temperature of the device 2700. The sensor assembly 2714 may include a proximity sensor configured to detect the presence of nearby objects without any physical contact. The sensor assembly 2714 can also include a light sensor, such as a CMOS or CCD image sensor, for use in imaging applications. In some embodiments, the sensor assembly 2714 may also include an acceleration sensor, a gyroscope sensor, a magnetic sensor, a pressure sensor, or a temperature sensor.

The communication component 2716 is configured to facilitate communication between the apparatus 2700 and other devices in a wired or wireless manner. The device 2700 may access a wireless network based on a communication standard, such as WiFi, 2G or 3G, or a combination thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication component 2716 receives a broadcast signal or broadcast related information from an external broadcast management system via a broadcast channel. In an exemplary embodiment, the communication component 2716 described above further includes a Near Field Communication (NFC) module to facilitate short-range communications. For example, the NFC module may be implemented based on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, infrared data association (IrDA) technology, Ultra Wideband (UWB) technology, Bluetooth (BT) technology, and other technologies.

in an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus 2700 may be implemented by one or more Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Digital Signal Processors (DSPs), Digital Signal Processing Devices (DSPDs), Programmable Logic Devices (PLDs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors or other electronic components for performing the above-described methods.

in an exemplary embodiment, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, such as the memory 2704 including instructions executable by the processor 2720 of the apparatus 2700 to perform the network slice configuration method described above is also provided. For example, the non-transitory computer readable storage medium may be a ROM, a Random Access Memory (RAM), a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and the like.

Other embodiments of the disclosure will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the disclosure disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure following, in general, the principles of the disclosure and including such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice within the art to which the disclosure pertains. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the disclosure being indicated by the following claims.

the above description is only exemplary of the present disclosure and should not be taken as limiting the disclosure, as any modification, equivalent replacement, or improvement made within the spirit and principle of the present disclosure should be included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. a network slice configuration method, for a radio access network, RAN, node, comprising:

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

2. the method of claim 1, wherein the basic slice configuration information comprises:

3. the method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sending basic slice configuration information to the terminal comprises:

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the network slice selection assistance information reported by the terminal is obtained by:

5. the method according to claim 1, wherein the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network comprises:

One or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

6. the method of claim 1, wherein the target message is a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein after sending the target message to the terminal, further comprising:

8. the method of claim 1, wherein after sending the target message to the terminal, further comprising:

9. A network slice configuration method, which is used for a terminal, includes:

sending the network slice selection assistance information to the RAN node;

The target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

10. the method of claim 9, wherein the basic slice configuration information comprises:

11. the method of claim 9, wherein after receiving the basic slice configuration information sent by the RAN node, further comprising:

12. the method according to claim 9, wherein the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network comprises:

one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

13. the method of claim 9, wherein after determining a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice, further comprising:

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the RAN slice area update condition comprises:

15. the method of claim 9, wherein after determining a target RAN slice in a plurality of alternative RAN slices corresponding to each supported core network slice, further comprising:

16. a network slice configuration method, for a radio access network, RAN, node, comprising:

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

17. the method of claim 16, wherein the basic slice configuration information comprises:

18. the method according to claim 17, wherein the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network comprises:

19. a network slice configuration method, which is used for a terminal, includes:

the target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

20. the method according to claim 19, wherein the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network comprises:

21. an apparatus for network slice configuration, the apparatus being for a Radio Access Network (RAN) node, comprising:

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

22. the apparatus of claim 21, wherein the basic slice configuration information comprises:

23. the apparatus of claim 21 or 22, wherein the first sending module comprises:

24. the apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

25. the apparatus of claim 21, wherein the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network comprises:

One or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

26. the apparatus of claim 21, wherein the target message is a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection reconfiguration message.

27. the apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

28. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

29. a network slice configuration apparatus, wherein the apparatus is used for a terminal, and comprises:

The target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

a RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

30. the apparatus of claim 29, wherein the basic slice configuration information comprises:

31. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

The sixth sending module includes:

32. the apparatus of claim 29, wherein the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network comprises:

one or more RAN slices corresponding to each CN slice;

the first determining module includes:

33. the apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

34. the apparatus of claim 33, wherein the RAN slice area update condition comprises:

35. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising:

36. an apparatus for network slice configuration, the apparatus being for a Radio Access Network (RAN) node, comprising:

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

37. the apparatus of claim 36, wherein the basic slice configuration information comprises:

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the mapping relationship between the CN slice and the RAN slice of the core network comprises:

39. A network slice configuration apparatus, wherein the apparatus is used for a terminal, and comprises:

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

40. the apparatus of claim 39, wherein the mapping relationship between the core network CN slice and the RAN slice comprises:

41. a radio access network, RAN, node, comprising:

a processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to:

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

42. a terminal, comprising:

a processor;

A memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to:

Sending the network slice selection assistance information to the RAN node;

The target slice configuration information further comprises at least one of:

A RAN slice region to which the terminal belongs;

A periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

43. a radio access network, RAN, node, comprising:

A processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

wherein the processor is configured to:

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;

44. a terminal, comprising:

A processor;

a memory for storing processor-executable instructions;

Wherein the processor is configured to:

a periodic RAN slice configuration update timer;