Programmable network slicing framework for cellular systems

A non-transitory computer readable medium storing computer program instructions which, when executed by an apparatus, cause the apparatus at least to:

• exchange, by a base station of a radio access network with a controller of the radio access network, messages related to configuration of a set of network slices on the base station;
• maintain, by the base station, network slice configuration information for the set of network slices, wherein the network slice configuration information includes, for each network slice in the set of network slices, a respective set of network slice parameters for the respective network slice that includes an operational state of the respective network slice, a radio resource configuration of the respective network slice that is based on the operational state of the respective network slice, and a slice-specific scheduling algorithm of the respective network slice;
• and
• perform, by the base station based on the network slice configuration information for the set of network slices, slice-aware allocation of frequency domain resources of the radio access network to a set of user equipments associated with the base station.

A method, comprising:

• exchanging, by a base station of a radio access network with a controller of the radio access network, messages related to configuration of a set of network slices on the base station;
• maintaining, by the base station, network slice configuration information for the set of network slices, wherein the network slice configuration information includes, for each network slice in the set of network slices, a respective set of network slice parameters for the respective network slice that includes an operational state of the respective network slice, a radio resource configuration of the respective network slice that is based on the operational state of the respective network slice, and a slice-specific scheduling algorithm of the respective network slice;
• and
• performing, by the base station based on the network slice configuration information for the set of network slices, slice-aware allocation of frequency domain resources of the radio access network to a set of user equipments associated with the base station.