Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus (100) for improving a mobile network system, in particular a 4G or 5G system. The apparatus (100) is configured to support multiple Quality of Service (QoS) levels (101) for a session (102) related to an application (103) or a service. In particular, the apparatus (100) may comprise an Application Function, AF, (200) and a Policy Control Function, PCF, (201), wherein the AF (200) is configured to request (202) from the PCF (201) to configure the multiple QoS levels (101) for the session (102). Advantageously, the apparatus (100) may switch from a current QoS level (101) for the session (102) to another QoS level (101) for the session (102) in case of a modification of the session (102), in particular if one or more parameters of the session (102) are modified.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a radio access network (RAN) control unit for determining a functional operation of a dynamic small cell, in particular an unplanned small cell, a nomadic node or a relay, in a radio communication network comprising at least one slice associated with at least one user equipment and at least one radio channel connecting the at least one user equipment (UE) to the radio communication network, the RAN control unit comprising a processor configured to determine a functional operation of the dynamic small cell (DSC) based on information based on channel measurements of the at least one radio channel and/or requirement information of the at least one slice, and/or estimated or measured performance of the RAN, and/or location information of the DSC.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mobile device configured to receive from a network a notification of a predicted change of a Quality-of-Service, QoS related to a local end-to-end data communication path; and configured to provide a report to the network, the report comprising at least one of the following information: location information, application layer information, mobile device status information, experienced QoS at mobile device side, radio channel conditions. The disclosure further relates to a network device configured to transceive communication data via a communication path, in particular a local end-to-end data communication path between a mobile device and another mobile device, based on a Quality-of-Service, QoS, requirement for the communication path; and configured to notify the mobile device about a predicted change of the QoS related to the communication path.

Abstract: A configuration module allows for the establishment of a local end-to-end (E2E) path connecting at least one source node and at least one target node via at least one radio access network (RAN) node. The configuration module is configured to select data radio bearers (DRBs) per quality of service (QoS) flow based on inter-node information from the at least one source node, the at least one target node, the at least one RAN node and all other nodes involved in establishing the local E2E path, and is also configured to initiate, after selecting the DRBs per QoS flow, a radio resource communication connection configuration using an identification of the local E2E path to be established. Thereby, a localized traffic between the at least one source node and the at least one target node can be exchanged with QoS guarantees.

Abstract: The present invention provides a control device for providing network-slice-aware licensed assisted access (LAA). The control device is configured to determine, for at least one slice-type, an unlicensed frequency band and/or an LAA configuration parameter. Furthermore, the control device is configured to provide, to at least one radio access node, configuration information comprising the determined frequency band and/or the LAA configuration parameter. The present invention also provides a radio access node for configuring network-slice-aware LAA. The radio access node is configured to receive, from a control device, configuration information comprising, for at least one slice-type, a frequency band and/or an LAA configuration parameter. The radio access node is further configured to request and receive, from a UE, a channel measurement report on one or more unlicensed frequency bands.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to serving cells and methods for discovering slice-related information within a communication system. One example method comprises identifying at least one target cell in a neighborhood of a serving cell by obtaining identification information from a user equipment (UE) device, obtaining slice-related information of the identified at least one target cell, establishing a connection between the serving cell and the identified at least one target cell, and updating a neighbor relation table (NRT) of the serving cell with the slice-related information of the identified at least one target cell, where the UE device, which has an active communication with the serving cell, is associated with at least one of at least one slice or a slice-type.

Abstract: The invention relates to a network entity configured to control a handover of a user equipment from a serving base station to a candidate target base station of a mobile communication network, wherein the serving base station provides at least a first slice of a first slice type and the candidate target base station provides at least a second slice of a second slice type, wherein the user equipment is registered to the first slice of the serving base station. The network entity comprises a processor configured to control, in response to a handover trigger, the handover of the user equipment on the basis of a requested slice type and the second slice type provided by the candidate target base station. Moreover, the invention relates to a corresponding target base station.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a slice management entity for a radio access network (RAN), the slice management entity comprising a processor configured: to receive RAN slice information including at least one key performance indicator (KPI), a slice identifier (ID), and/or network slice selection assistance information (NSSAI) and the context changes, to determine a configuration comprising a pre-configuration for at least one slice of the RAN based on the RAN slice information, and to transmit a RAN slice configuration message to the RAN based on the configuration.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a radio access network (RAN) control unit for determining a functional operation of a dynamic small cell, in particular an unplanned small cell, a nomadic node or a relay, in a radio communication network comprising at least one slice associated with at least one user equipment and at least one radio channel connecting the at least one user equipment (UE) to the radio communication network, the RAN control unit comprising a processor configured to determine a functional operation of the dynamic small cell (DSC) based on information based on channel measurements of the at least one radio channel and/or requirement information of the at least one slice, and/or estimated or measured performance of the RAN, and/or location information of the DSC.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a Radio-resource management (RRM) configuration device, and corresponding method, for a network comprising a plurality of access nodes. The device is configured to divide the plurality of access nodes of the network into clusters, and to select at least one access node of each cluster as RRM controller. Further, the device is configured to determine the non-selected access nodes of each cluster as slave nodes, and to select, for each cluster, an RRM split between each slave node and the at least one RRM controller of the respective cluster. The device is also configured to transmit, to each access node, information about its cluster, the at least one RRM controller of the cluster, and the selected RRM split.