Relay selection in cellular sliced networks

A method for use in a cellular communication system (CSS), the cellular communication system, the cellular communication system comprising a radio access network (RAN) comprising multiple cellular base stations (BS) and a core network (CN), the cellular communication system providing a cellular network that supports network slicing and indirect connections,

• each network slice providing a logical network using a shared physical infrastructure of the cellular communication system,
• each indirect connection providing data transfer between a mobile device and the cellular communication system via at least one relay device being a second mobile device arranged for communication with the radio access network and capable of supporting the indirect connection, the cellular communication system comprising at least one network relay entity arranged to provide a network relay function (NRF) for managing the indirect connections,
• the mobile device comprising:
• a transceiver arranged for wireless communication in the cellular network, and
• a connection processor arranged for managing connections to the cellular network, the connection processor providing a relay function for managing at least one indirect connection,
• the relay device comprising:
• a communication unit arranged for communication in the cellular network, and
• a relay processor arranged for managing the communication in the cellular network and for managing an indirect connection between the mobile device and the cellular network,
• the method comprising steps to perform, in the mobile device, the relay function comprising:
• managing at least one indirect connection,
• sending a request message (M) to at least one relay device (UEx) to initiate an indirect connection procedure, the request message including multiple requested identifiers (IDx) including a requested identifier (ID1) indicating a network slice which the mobile device is requesting access to;
• receiving at least one response message (N) from at least one relay device, the response message indicating at least one available slice for relaying via at least one relay device for providing an indirect connection;
• selecting, in dependence of the response message, a relay device (UEy) from the at least one relay device;
• and
• engaging the indirect connection to the requested slice via the selected relay device,
• the method further comprising steps to perform, in the relay device, the function of relaying comprising:
• sending a transfer request message (M′) to the cellular communication system in dependence of the request message, the transfer request message indicating a request from the mobile device to communicate with a requested slice via an indirect connection and including the requested identifier (ID1), wherein the relay device excludes any of the requested identifiers from the transfer request message (M′) when those requested identifiers are configured in the relay device.

A method for use in a cellular communication system (CSS), the cellular communication system the cellular communication system comprising a radio access network (RAN) comprising multiple cellular base stations (BS) and a core network (CN), the cellular communication system providing a cellular network that supports network slicing and indirect connections,

• each network slice providing a logical network using a shared physical infrastructure of the cellular communication system,
• each indirect connection providing data transfer between a mobile device and the cellular communication system via at least one relay device being a second mobile device arranged for communication with the radio access network and capable of supporting the indirect connection, the cellular communication system comprising at least one network relay entity arranged to provide a network relay function (NRF) for managing the indirect connections,
• the mobile device comprising:
• a transceiver arranged for wireless communication in the cellular network, and
• a connection processor arranged for managing connections to the cellular network, the connection processor providing a relay function for managing at least one indirect connection,
• the relay device comprising:
• a communication unit arranged for communication in the cellular network, and
• a relay processor arranged for managing the communication in the cellular network and for managing an indirect connection between the mobile device and the cellular network,
• the method comprising steps to perform, in the relay device, the function of relaying comprising:
• managing the communication in the cellular network,
• managing an indirect connection between the mobile device and the cellular network, receiving the request message (M) from the mobile device, the request message including a requested identifier (ID1) indicating a network slice to which the mobile device is requesting access;
• sending a transfer request message (M′) to the cellular communication system in dependence of the request message, the transfer request message indicating a request from the mobile device to communicate with a requested slice via an indirect connection and including the requested identifier (ID1), wherein the relay device excludes any of the requested identifiers from the transfer request message (M′) when those requested identifiers are configured in the relay device;
• receiving a transfer response message (N′) from the cellular communication system;
• sending the response message (N) to the mobile device in dependence of the transfer response message.

A method for use in a cellular communication system (CSS), the cellular communications system the cellular communication system comprising a radio access network (RAN) comprising multiple cellular base stations (BS) and a core network (CN), the cellular communication system providing a cellular network that supports network slicing and indirect connections,

• each network slice providing a logical network using a shared physical infrastructure of the cellular communication system,
• each indirect connection providing data transfer between a mobile device and the cellular communication system via at least one relay device being a second mobile device arranged for communication with the radio access network and capable of supporting the indirect connection, the cellular communication system comprising at least one network relay entity arranged to provide a network relay function (NRF) for managing the indirect connections,
• the mobile device comprising:
• a transceiver arranged for wireless communication in the cellular network, and
• a connection processor arranged for managing connections to the cellular network, the connection processor providing a relay function for managing at least one indirect connection,
• the relay device comprising:
• a communication unit arranged for communication in the cellular network, and
• a relay processor arranged for managing the communication in the cellular network and for managing an indirect connection between the mobile device and the cellular network,
• the method comprising steps to perform, in the network, the network relay function comprising:
• receiving at least one transfer request message (M′) from a relay device via at least one cellular base station, the transfer request message including a requested identifier (ID1) indicating a network slice to which a mobile device is requesting access, wherein the transfer request message (M′) has been sent by the relay device in response to the reception at the relay device of request message (M), sent by a mobile device to initiate an indirect connection procedure;
• obtaining relay capability data regarding relay devices capable of data transfer for at least one available slice to, and from, the mobile device, the available slice being determined in dependence of the requested identifier (ID1);
• and
• sending at least one transfer response message (N′) via at least one cellular base station, the transfer response message including network relay information indicating at least one available slice and at least one relay device capable of transferring data of the available slice, the method further comprising steps to perform, in the relay device, the function of relaying comprising:
• sending the transfer request message (M′) to the cellular communication system in dependence of the request message, the transfer request message indicating a request from the mobile device to communicate with a requested slice via an indirect connection and including the requested identifier (ID1), wherein the relay device excludes any of the requested identifiers from the transfer request message (M′) when those requested identifiers are configured in the relay device.