Service area definition at network slicing

A radio access node for a cellular communications network, comprising:

• a network interface;
• at least one processor;
• and
• memory comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor whereby the radio access node is operable to:
• send, to a mobility function entity in a core network of the cellular communications network, first information indicative of one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node and one or more network slices supported by the radio access node;
• and
• receive, from the mobility function entity, second information indicative of one or more network slices that are:
• (a) supported by the radio access node and the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of at least one of the one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node, or
• (a) supported by the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of at least one of the one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node.

A method of operation of a mobility function entity in a core network of a cellular communications network, comprising:

• receiving, from a radio access node of the cellular communications network, first information indicative of one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node and one or more network slices supported by the radio access node;
• determining one or more network slices that are:
• (a) supported by the radio access node and the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of at least one of the one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node;
• and
• sending, to the radio access node, second information indicative of the one or more network slices that are:
• (a) supported by the radio access node and the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of the at least one of the one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node.

A network node that implements a mobility function entity for a core network of a cellular communications system, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• memory comprising instructions executable by the at least one processor whereby the network node is operable to:
• receive, from a radio access node of the cellular communications network, first information indicative of one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node and one or more network slices supported by the radio access node;
• determine one or more network slices that are:
• (a) supported by the radio access node and the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of at least one of the one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node;
• and
• send, to the radio access node, second information indicative of the one or more network slices that are:
• (a) supported by the radio access node and the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of the at least one of the one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node.

A method of operation of a mobility function entity in a core network of a cellular communications network, comprising:

• determining one or more network slices that are:
• (a) supported by the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of at least one of one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node;
• and
• sending, to the radio access node, second information indicative of the one or more network slices that are:
• (a) supported by the mobility function entity and (b) permitted by one or more network policies, for each of the at least one of the one or more tracking areas supported by the radio access node.