APPARATUS COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE PROCESSOR

Abstract

An apparatus, comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions, the at least one memory and the instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a network node to transmit a first information to at least one terminal device, wherein the first information characterizes at least one cell and/or frequency of a radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session of the at least one terminal device.

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. An apparatus, comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions, the at least one memory and the instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a network node at least to: transmit first information to at least one terminal device, wherein the first information characterizes at least one cell and/or frequency of a radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session (PDU-SESS) of the at least one terminal device.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node at least to: receive slice overload information (SOI) characterizing at least one of: a) an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell, or b) an estimated duration of an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node at least to: transmit the first information in a radio resource control, RRC, Release message.

23. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the first information comprises at least one of: a) a list (LST) of cells of the radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session of the at least one terminal device, b) for at least one cell of a or the list of cells, slice information (SLI) identifying at least one overloaded slice of the at least one cell, or c) an estimated duration (DUR) of an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell.

24. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the network node at least to: determine, based on a threshold (THR) associated with a load of a specific cell, to which terminal devices the first information should be sent, and to transmit the first information to the determined terminal devices.

25. An apparatus, comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions, the at least one memory and the instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a terminal device at least to: receive first information which characterizes at least one cell and/or frequency of a radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session of the terminal device.

26. The apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the instructions, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the terminal device at least to: perform a cell selection or cell re-selection taking into account the first information.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein taking into account the first information comprises deprioritizing the at least one cell in the cell selection or re-selection.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein taking into account the first information comprises deprioritizing the frequency of the at least one cell in the cell selection or re-selection.

29. An apparatus, comprising at least one processor, and at least one memory storing instructions, the at least one memory and the instructions configured to, with the at least one processor, cause a network node at least to: transmit slice overload information characterizing at least one of: a) an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell, or b) an estimated duration of an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0052] FIG. 1 schematically depicts a simplified block diagram according to some embodiments,

[0053] FIG. 2 schematically depicts a simplified block diagram according to some embodiments,

[0054] FIG. 3 schematically depicts a simplified block diagram according to some embodiments,

[0055] FIG. 4 schematically depicts a simplified flow chart according to some embodiments,

[0056] FIG. 5 schematically depicts a simplified block diagram according to some embodiments,

[0057] FIG. 6 schematically depicts a simplified flow chart according to some embodiments,

[0058] FIG. 7 schematically depicts a simplified flow chart according to some embodiments,

[0059] FIG. 8 schematically depicts a simplified signalling diagram according to some embodiments,

[0060] FIG. 9 schematically depicts a simplified block diagram according to some embodiments,

[0061] FIG. 10 schematically depicts a simplified block diagram according to some embodiments,

[0062] FIG. 11 schematically depicts a simplified block diagram according to some embodiments,

[0063] FIG. 12 schematically depicts a simplified block diagram according to some embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0064] Some embodiments, see for example FIG. 1, 3, 4, relate to an apparatus 100 (FIG. 1), comprising at least one processor 102, and at least one memory 104 storing instructions 106, the at least one memory 104 and the instructions 106 configured to, with the at least one processor 102, cause a network node 10 (FIG. 3) to transmit 302 (FIG. 4) a first information I-1 to at least one terminal device 20 (FIG. 3), wherein the first information I-1 characterizes at least one cell C-1 and/or frequency of a radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session PDU-SESS of the at least one terminal device 20. In some embodiments, this may increase a probability of successful service continuity for the terminal device 20, e.g. when reconnecting to a cell of the radio access network notification area.

[0065] In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 may be an apparatus for a wireless communications system 1.

[0066] In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 or its functionality, respectively, may be provided in a network device, for example network node, 10 of the communications system, for example in a base station, e.g. gNodeB (gNB), 10, for example in an anchor gNB, e.g. last serving gNB.

[0067] In some embodiments, the apparatus 100 according to the embodiments or its functionality, respectively, may be used for or within wireless communications systems, e.g. networks, 1 based on or at least partially adhering to third generation partnership project, 3GPP, radio standards such as 5G (fifth generation) or other radio access technology.

[0068] In some embodiments, the network node 10 may be a last serving node, for example last serving NG-RAN (Next Generation Radio Access Network) node of terminal device, e.g. user equipment, 20 before the terminal device 20 is sent in a radio resource control, RRC, inactive state, e.g. an RRC INACTIVE state according to some accepted standards.

[0069] In some embodiments, the instructions 106 (FIG. 1), when executed by the at least one processor 102, cause the network node 10 to receive 300 (FIG. 4) a slice overload information SOI characterizing at least one of: a) an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell, b) an estimated duration of an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell. In some embodiments, the slice overload information SOI may be received by the network node 10 via Xn signaling, e.g. an XnAP (Xn Application Protocol) message, according to some accepted standard, e.g. from another gNB, e.g. peer gNB, 10 (FIG. 3), e.g. if a respective cell associated with the slice overload information belongs to the other gNB 10.

[0070] In some embodiments, the first information I-1 may be transmitted by the network node 10 to the at least one terminal device 20 based on the slice overload information SOI.

[0071] In some embodiments, the first information I-1 may be transmitted repeatedly, for example periodically or event-triggered. In some embodiments, the first information I-1 may be transmitted based on at least one of an update of the radio access network notification area and a connected transaction. In some embodiments, the first information I-1 may be transmitted when the network node 10 wants to send the user equipment 20 into RRC_INACTIVE state.

[0072] In some embodiments, the instructions 106, when executed by the at least one processor 102, cause the network node 10 to transmit 302 the first information I-1 in a radio resource control, RRC, Release message e4 (FIG. 8), e.g. in an RRC RELEASE message according to some accepted standard.

[0073] In some embodiments, the network node 10 may decide to move the at least one terminal device 20 into an RRC INACTIVE state using the RRC Release message e4, e.g. with suspend indication and a configured radio access network notification area. In some embodiments, the first information I-1 may be transmitted within such RRC Release message e4 suspending the at least one terminal device 20 into the RRC_INACTIVE state.

[0074] In some embodiments, FIG. 5, the first information I-1 comprises at least one of: a) a list LST of cells (e.g., list of cell IDs) of the radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session PDU-SESS (FIG. 3) of the at least one terminal device 20, b) slice information SLI (FIG. 5) identifying for at least one of the cells of the list LST at least one overloaded slice of a cell of the RNA, c) an estimated duration (DUR) of an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell, e.g. in the form of a timer or timer value, respectively, corresponding to an anticipated expected duration for the overload condition.

[0075] In some embodiments, the network node 10, e.g. anchor gNB, may have received the timer value from a peer gNB 10, e.g. over an Xn interface.

[0076] In some embodiments, FIG. 6, the instructions 106, when executed by the at least one processor 102, cause the network node 10 to determine 310, based on a threshold THR, to which terminal devices 20 the first information I-1 should be sent, and to transmit 312 the first information I-1 to the determined terminal devices. As an example, in some embodiments, the network node, e.g. anchor gNB, 10 may condition a transmission of the first information I-1, e.g. comprising the list of cell IDs, to a given overload threshold reached and may accordingly transmit the first information not to all terminal devices, e.g. UEs, but rather a specific group of UEs 20. For example, in some embodiments, the anchor gNB 10 may decide to send the first information I-1 if a load threshold is higher than e.g. 80%, and then the anchor gNB 10 may decide to send the first information I-1 selectively to some UEs 20 (e.g., not all UEs), for example targeting at distributing a load. In some embodiments, this may enable a better load balancing/distribution.

[0077] Further exemplary embodiments, FIG. 4, relate to a method comprising: transmitting 302, by a network node 10, a first information I-1 to at least one terminal device 20, wherein the first information I-1 characterizes at least one cell C-1 and/or frequency of a radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session PDU-SESS of the at least one terminal device 20.

[0078] Further exemplary embodiments, FIG. 10, relate to an apparatus 100 comprising means 102 for transmitting 302 a first information I-1 to at least one terminal device 20, wherein the first information I-1 characterizes at least one cell C-1 and/or frequency of a radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session PDU-SESS of the at least one terminal device 20. In some embodiments, the means 102 for transmitting 302 the first information I-1 may e.g. comprise at least one processor 102, and at least one memory 104 storing instructions 106, the at least one memory 104 and the instructions 106 configured to, with the at least one processor 102, perform said step(s).

[0079] Further exemplary embodiments, FIG. 2, 3, 7, relate to an apparatus 200, comprising at least one processor 202, and at least one memory 204 storing instructions 206, the at least one memory 204 and the instructions 206 configured to, with the at least one processor 202, cause a terminal device 20 to receive 350 (FIG. 7), and optionally store, a first information I-1 which characterizes at least one cell C-1 and/or frequency of a radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session PDU-SESS of the terminal device 20.

[0080] In some embodiments, the apparatus 200 may be an apparatus for a wireless communications system 1.

[0081] In some embodiments, the apparatus 200 or its functionality, respectively, may be provided in a terminal device, for example user equipment (UE), 20 of the communications system 1.

[0082] In some embodiments, the apparatus 200 according to the embodiments or its functionality, respectively, may be used for or within wireless communications systems, e.g. networks, 1 based on or at least partially adhering to third generation partnership project, 3GPP, radio standards such as 5G (fifth generation), beyond 5G, e.g., 6G, or other radio access technology.

[0083] In some embodiments, the instructions 206, when executed by the at least one processor 202, cause the terminal device 20 to perform 352 a cell selection or cell re-selection taking into account the first information I-1. In some embodiments, this way, the mobile terminal 20 may take into account potential overload conditions of the involved slices, e.g. to deprioritize the cell.

[0084] In some embodiments, taking into account the first information I-1 comprises deprioritizing the at least one cell in the cell selection or re-selection.

[0085] In some embodiments, taking into account the first information I-1 comprises deprioritizing the frequency of the at least one cell in the cell selection or re-selection.

[0086] Further exemplary embodiments, FIG. 7, relate to a method comprising: receiving 350, and optionally storing, by a terminal device 20, a first information I-1, which characterizes at least one cell C-1 and/or frequency of a radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session PDU-SESS of the terminal device 20.

[0087] Further exemplary embodiments, FIG. 11, relate to an apparatus 200 comprising means 202 for receiving 350, and optionally storing, a first information I-1, which characterizes at least one cell C-1 and/or frequency of a radio access network notification area, RNA, which is overloaded for at least one slice associated with an existing PDU session PDU-SESS of the terminal device 20. In some embodiments, the means 202 for receiving 350 the first information I-1 may e.g. comprise at least one processor 202, and at least one memory 204 storing instructions 206, the at least one memory 204 and the instructions 206 configured to, with the at least one processor 202, perform said step(s).

[0088] Further exemplary embodiments, FIG. 3, 9, relate to an apparatus 30, comprising at least one processor 32, and at least one memory 34 storing instructions 36, the at least one memory 34 and the instructions 36 configured to, with the at least one processor 32, cause a network node 10 to transmit e2 (FIG. 8) a slice overload information SOI (also see FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, block 300) characterizing at least one of: a) an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell, b) an estimated duration of an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell. In some embodiments, this may enable a further network node, e.g. an anchor gNB, 10 to which the slice overload information SOI is transmitted, to provide the first information I-1 according to the embodiments, e.g. based on the received slice overload information SOI, to at least one terminal device 20.

[0089] Further exemplary embodiments relate to a method comprising: transmitting, by a network node 10 (FIG. 3), a slice overload information SOI characterizing at least one of: a) an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell, b) an estimated duration of an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell.

[0090] Further exemplary embodiments, FIG. 12, relate to an apparatus 30 comprising means 32 for transmitting a slice overload information SOI characterizing at least one of: a) an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell, b) an estimated duration of an overload condition of a slice supported by a specific cell. In some embodiments, the means 32 for transmitting the slice overload information SOI may e.g. comprise at least one processor 32, and at least one memory 34 storing instructions 36, the at least one memory 34 and the instructions 36 configured to, with the at least one processor 32, perform said step(s).

[0091] FIG. 8 schematically depicts a simplified signalling diagram according to some embodiments. Reference sign 10 denotes a network device such as an anchor gNB for the terminal, e.g. UE, 20. Reference signs 10, 10 denote further gNBs which, in some embodiments, may provide one or more cells for the radio access network notification area of the UE 20. As an example, gNB 10 provides a cell 4 associated with a slice 1, and gNB 10 provides a cell 3 also associated with the slice 1.

[0092] In some embodiments, it is assumed that the UE 20 has an existing PDU session 1 of slice 1 in RRC connected mode in the serving gNB, e.g. anchor gNB 10, see for example block e3 of FIG. 8. In some embodiments, the serving gNB 10 is made aware, e.g. through Xn signaling e1, e2, that neighbour cell 3, see gNB 10, which supports slice 1, has slice 1 NOT overloaded, and that neighbour cell 4 (see gNB 10), which supports also slice 1, has slice 1 overloaded for a duration of at least 30 seconds.

[0093] In some embodiments, the serving gNB 10 may decide to move the UE 20 to RRC_Inactive state and may send an RRC Release message e4 with suspend indication and a configured RNA (RAN Notification Area). The serving gNB 10 provides a list of cells containing cell 4 (e.g. identified by PCI (Physical Cell ID) of cell 4) for which slice 1 is overloaded, for example to be considered as deprioritized for the UE 20, wherein the list of cells is e.g. transmitted within or in form of the first information, e.g. within the RRC Release message e4. In some embodiments, the RRC Release message e4 may also include the slice which is overloaded in cell 4 i.e. slice 1, and, additionally, may also include an estimated minimum duration of 30 seconds for the overload for slice 1 in cell 4, e.g. as a part of the first information, e.g. the duration information DUR, also see for example FIG. 5.

[0094] In some embodiments, block e5 of FIG. 8 symbolizes the UE 20, being in the RRC inactive state, moving within the RAN Notification Area. In some embodiments, the UE 20 has cells 3 and 4 as candidate for cell re-selection and selects cell 3, see block e6, taking into account, e.g. among other criteria, the first information I-1 received within the RRC Release message e4. In some embodiments, the UE 20 may then, e.g. later, trigger a service request for PDU session 1 and a RRC resume request e7 reaches the gNB 10 serving cell 3.

[0095] In some embodiments, the gNB 10 of cell 3 may fetch a context from the last serving (e.g., anchor) gNB 10, see the arrows e8 of FIG. 8, and may recover PDU session 1 of slice 1, see block e9, which it continues because slice 1 is not overloaded for cell 3.

[0096] Further embodiments, FIG. 3, relate to a communications system 1 comprising at least one apparatus 30, 30, 100, 100, 200, 200 according to the embodiments.

[0097] Further embodiments relate to a computer program comprising instructions 36, 106, 206 which, when the program is executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method according to the embodiments. In some embodiments, the computer program may be stored on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium 34, 104, 204.

[0098] Further embodiments relate to a data carrier signal carrying the computer program according to the embodiments.

[0099] Further embodiments relate to a use of the apparatus according to the embodiments and/or of the method according to the embodiments and/or of the computer program according to the embodiments and/or of the data carrier signal according to the embodiments for at least one of: a) providing at least one terminal device, e.g. user equipment, 20 with the first information I-1, b) increasing a probability of successful service continuity for the at least one terminal device 20, e.g. when reconnecting to a cell of the radio access network notification area, see for example elements e7, e8, e9 of FIG. 8, c) load balancing.