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Slice-aware Resource Allocation and Admission Control for Smart Factory Wireless Networks

Regina Ochonu, Josep Vidal

TL;DR

This work addresses slice-aware radio resource allocation and admission control for smart factory wireless networks using 5G network slicing with CL, URLLC, and TS slices. It formulates a convex optimization framework for instantaneous power minimization, derives closed-form power allocation and a subchannel selection rule via dual decomposition, and introduces a control-loop mechanism to guarantee slice isolation alongside a rate-readjustment admission-control strategy when power is constrained. The approach achieves QoS satisfaction across all slices, preserves isolation under dynamic user counts, and effectively manages congestion through targeted CL-rate reductions without impacting URLLC/TS reliability. The results demonstrate practical utility for dynamic, autonomous slice management in factory environments and outline avenues for extending to mobile terminals and uplink scenarios with realistic channel traces.

Abstract

The 5th generation (5G) and beyond network offers substantial promise as the ideal wireless technology to replace the existing inflexible wired connections in traditional factories of today. 5G network slicing allows for tailored allocation of resources to different network services, each with unique Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. This paper presents a novel solution for slice-aware radio resource allocation based on a convex optimisation and control framework for applications in smart factory wireless networks. The proposed framework dynamically allocates minimum power and sub-channels to downlink mixed service type industrial users categorised into three slices: Capacity Limited (CL), Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC), and Time Sensitive (TS) slices. Given that the base station (BS) has limited transmission power, we enforce admission control by effectively relaxing the target rate constraints for current connections in the CL slice. This rate readjustment occurs whenever power consumption exceeds manageable levels. Simulation results show that our approach minimises power, allocates sub-channels to users, maintains slice isolation, and delivers QoS-specific communications to users in all the slices despite time-varying number of users and changing network conditions.

Slice-aware Resource Allocation and Admission Control for Smart Factory Wireless Networks

TL;DR

This work addresses slice-aware radio resource allocation and admission control for smart factory wireless networks using 5G network slicing with CL, URLLC, and TS slices. It formulates a convex optimization framework for instantaneous power minimization, derives closed-form power allocation and a subchannel selection rule via dual decomposition, and introduces a control-loop mechanism to guarantee slice isolation alongside a rate-readjustment admission-control strategy when power is constrained. The approach achieves QoS satisfaction across all slices, preserves isolation under dynamic user counts, and effectively manages congestion through targeted CL-rate reductions without impacting URLLC/TS reliability. The results demonstrate practical utility for dynamic, autonomous slice management in factory environments and outline avenues for extending to mobile terminals and uplink scenarios with realistic channel traces.

Abstract

The 5th generation (5G) and beyond network offers substantial promise as the ideal wireless technology to replace the existing inflexible wired connections in traditional factories of today. 5G network slicing allows for tailored allocation of resources to different network services, each with unique Quality of Service (QoS) requirements. This paper presents a novel solution for slice-aware radio resource allocation based on a convex optimisation and control framework for applications in smart factory wireless networks. The proposed framework dynamically allocates minimum power and sub-channels to downlink mixed service type industrial users categorised into three slices: Capacity Limited (CL), Ultra Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC), and Time Sensitive (TS) slices. Given that the base station (BS) has limited transmission power, we enforce admission control by effectively relaxing the target rate constraints for current connections in the CL slice. This rate readjustment occurs whenever power consumption exceeds manageable levels. Simulation results show that our approach minimises power, allocates sub-channels to users, maintains slice isolation, and delivers QoS-specific communications to users in all the slices despite time-varying number of users and changing network conditions.
Paper Structure (13 sections, 24 equations, 4 figures, 3 tables, 2 algorithms)

This paper contains 13 sections, 24 equations, 4 figures, 3 tables, 2 algorithms.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. System model
  3. Radio resource allocation
  4. Power
  5. Subchannels
  6. Guaranteed Slice Isolation
  7. Admission Control Strategy - Rate Readjustments
  8. Simulation Results and Analysis
  9. Scenario Description
  10. Slice Isolation and QoS Assessments
  11. Admission Control
  12. Conclusion and Future work
  13. Appendix I

Figures (4)

  • Figure 1: Optimisation control loop for the CL slice
  • Figure 2: Achievement of (a) slice isolation and (b) target QoS for the three slices considered
  • Figure 3: BS transmit power (a) without and (b) with admission control
  • Figure 4: Sum rates (a) and mean rates (b) of users per slice during admission control