Method and system for operating a central office distribution point instance of a broadband access network for a telecommunications network

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for operating a central office distribution point instance of a broadband access network of a telecommunication network, wherein the method comprises the following steps: -- In a first step, the central office distribution point management entity and the hardware host entity exchange configuration and setting information to enable the central office distribution point instance to run on the hardware host entity; -- In a second step, the central office distribution point management entity manages the operation of the central office distribution point instance running on the hardware host entity, and the central office distribution point instance operably implements access functions for end users of the telecommunication network using a plurality of access nodes and their physical subscriber lines.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for operating a broadband access network of a telecommunication network or for a central office distribution point instance of the broadband access network, the central office distribution point instance being connected to a central office distribution point management entity.

[0002] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system for operating a broadband access network of a telecommunication network or for a central office distribution point instance of the broadband access network, the system comprising a central office distribution point instance and a central office distribution point management entity, the central office distribution point instance being connected to the central office distribution point management entity.

[0003] Additionally, the present invention relates to a telecommunication network for operating a broadband access network of a telecommunication network or for a central office distribution point instance of the broadband access network, wherein the central office distribution point instance is connected to a central office distribution point management entity.

[0004] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a central office distribution point instance or a central office distribution point management entity to be used in the system or the telecommunication network of the present invention.

[0005] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a program and a computer-readable medium for operating a broadband access network of a telecommunication network or for a central office distribution point instance of the broadband access network, the central office distribution point instance being connected to a central office distribution point management entity. Background Art

[0006] The exchange of packetized information in telecommunication networks (whether in fixed-line or wireless communication systems (or in fixed-line communication networks and mobile communication networks)) has grown significantly and may also grow in the future due to the rapid expansion of different data services in such communication networks.

[0007] In a conventionally known telecommunication network architecture involving multiple central office distribution points, these central office distribution points are typically operated by the respective network operators who also provide the backbone network or the core network. This means that the two levels of service provision are usually bundled together, and thus there are deficiencies in terms of the flexibility in providing telecommunication services to different levels of customers. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a technically simple, efficient and cost-effective solution for operating a broadband access network of a telecommunication network or for a central office distribution point instance of such a broadband access network, which central office distribution point instance is connected to a central office distribution point management entity. A further object of the present invention is to provide a corresponding system for operating a central office distribution point instance including both the central office distribution point instance and the central office distribution point management entity, a corresponding telecommunication network for operating a broadband access network of a telecommunication network or for a central office distribution point instance of such a broadband access network, and a corresponding central office distribution point instance or central office distribution point management entity according to the present invention.

[0009] The object of the present invention is achieved by a method for operating a broadband access network of a telecommunication network or for a central office distribution point instance of such a broadband access network, wherein the central office distribution point instance is connected to a central office distribution point management entity.

[0010] -- The central office distribution point instance includes a control function or control plane, a management function or management plane, a transport function or service, and an edge function or service, and

[0011] -- The central office distribution point management entity similarly includes additional control functions or control plane, additional management functions or management plane, additional transport functions or services, and additional edge functions or services,

[0012] wherein the central office distribution point instance includes or is connected to an access function implemented by means of a plurality of access nodes that terminate the physical subscriber lines of end-users serving the telecommunication network, and the central office distribution point instance is operated or instantiated using a hardware host entity.

[0013] wherein the method comprises the following steps:

[0014] -- In a first step, the central office distribution point management entity and the hardware host entity exchange configuration and setting information to enable the central office distribution point instance to operate on the hardware host entity.

[0015] -- In a second step, the central office distribution point management entity manages the operation of the central office distribution point instance running on the hardware host entity, and the central office distribution point instance operably implements an access function for end-users of the telecommunication network using the plurality of access nodes and their physical subscriber lines.

[0016] Thus, according to the present invention, advantageously, a solution can be provided such that two central office distribution points (or their corresponding functions) are cascaded, which allows the extension of an existing central office distribution point (hereinafter also referred to as "primary central office distribution point" or central office distribution point management entity) along a well-defined demarcation line having one or more satellite central office distribution points (hereinafter also referred to as "satellite central office distribution points" or central office distribution point instances).

[0017] Therefore, according to the present invention, it is advantageously possible, in a remote location, to implement the functions of a satellite central office distribution point (or central office distribution point instance) in a relatively easy and straightforward manner. For example, a network operator (or operator) can use its own broadband infrastructure (such as, by way of example, a fiber optic infrastructure) in combination with the functions of a satellite central office distribution point (or central office distribution point instance), or use the infrastructure of, for example, other network operators, operators, local utilities, municipal infrastructure, or cooperatives. Additionally, the functions of a satellite central office distribution point (or central office distribution point instance) can be operated by the network operator itself, or by a provider of the broadband infrastructure (e.g., another network operator, another operator, a local utility or municipal provider, or a combination thereof).

[0018] Thus, according to the present invention, a central office distribution point instance (of or for a broadband access network of a telecommunications network) is operated by being connected to a central office distribution point management entity.

[0019] Generally, a central office distribution point instance includes a control function or control plane, a management function or management plane, a transport function or service, and an edge function or service, and similarly, a central office distribution point management entity includes additional control functions or control planes, additional management functions or management planes, additional transport functions or services, and additional edge functions or services.

[0020] Thus, each of the central office distribution points under consideration includes a control function or control plane, a management function or management plane, a transport function or service, and an edge function or service, respectively.

[0021] According to the present invention, a central office distribution point instance is operable for or as part of a physical infrastructure, i.e., the central office distribution point instance includes or is connected to an access function, which is typically implemented by means of a plurality of access nodes that terminate the physical subscriber lines of end users serving the telecommunications network.

[0022] Furthermore, a central office distribution point instance is operated or instantiated using a hardware host entity.

[0023] According to the present invention, in order to configure and operate a central office distribution point instance, the method comprises the following steps:

[0024] -- In a first step, the central office distribution point management entity and the hardware host entity exchange configuration and setting information so that the central office distribution point instance operates on the hardware host entity.

[0025] -- In a second step, the central office distribution point management entity manages the operation of the central office distribution point instance running on the hardware host entity, and the central office distribution point instance operably implements access functions for end users of a telecommunication network using a plurality of access nodes and their physical subscriber lines.

[0026] The telecommunication network according to the present invention can be a fixed-line telecommunication network or a mobile communication network, but can also have two aspects, namely a fixed-line telecommunication network part (or a fixed-line telecommunication network in such a part) and a mobile communication network part (or a mobile communication network in such a part); such a network is also referred to as a fixed-mobile-converged network (FMC network).

[0027] According to the present invention, it is advantageously possible and preferred that, in addition to additional control functions or control planes, additional management functions or management planes, additional transmission functions or services, and additional edge functions or services, the central office distribution point management entity also includes or is connected to an additional access function, which is implemented by means of a plurality of additional access nodes that terminate physical subscriber lines of end users of an additional telecommunication network.

[0028] Thus, according to the present invention, it is advantageously possible that the central office distribution point management entity is also operably used for actually serving customers or integrated in a broadband access network (particularly, but not necessarily, a broadband access network of another telecommunication network compared to the telecommunication network of the central office distribution point instance).

[0029] According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the central office distribution point instance operates as a virtualized central office distribution point on a hardware host entity (particularly including a virtualization layer), and / or the central office distribution point instance particularly includes its own operating system (particularly as part of the virtualization layer), wherein in particular the central office distribution point instance operates as a satellite central office distribution point relative to the central office distribution point management entity.

[0030] Thus, the method according to the present invention can be advantageously and efficiently implemented, and the functions of the central office distribution point instance can also be operated or provided even at a remote location (compared to the location of the central office distribution point management entity) and at a location not belonging to the operator operating the central office distribution point management entity.

[0031] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the exchange of configuration and setting information between the central office distribution point management entity and the hardware host entity involves at least one of the following cases:

[0032] -- The hardware host entity provides tenant information to the central office distribution point management entity, in particular Internet protocol addresses, information slices about subnets, and / or information about physical resources.

[0033] -- The central office distribution point management entity triggers the setting of the operating system of the central office distribution point instance, and / or the setting of the orchestrator and / or the virtualization layer (in particular including Kubernetes), and provides the function of providing microservice functions.

[0034] -- The central office distribution point instance is put into operation by using information slices about the subnets of the central office distribution point instance and / or component data, in particular physical and logical addresses and / or capabilities.

[0035] Thereby, it is advantageously possible to easily and efficiently set up the central office distribution point instance on the hardware host entity.

[0036] Furthermore, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the management of the operation of the central office distribution point instance by the central office distribution point management entity involves the exchange of operation state information via the virtualization layer, and particularly involves at least one of the following cases:

[0037] -- Telemetry and recording functions, involving monitoring application and hardware health, quality, and / or performance, in particular regarding counters, and / or event distribution, or alarms, and / or the transmission of log files.

[0038] -- Exchange of non-customer control plane information, in particular requests from participants for software changes and / or system or component restarts.

[0039] -- Exchange of customer-related control information, in particular customer authentication information, connection information (such as bandwidth information and / or line status information), and / or product parameters.

[0040] Thereby, it is advantageously possible to efficiently operate the central office distribution point instance and provide the functions of the central office distribution point instance as a service.

[0041] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the user plane traffic bypasses the virtualization layer, in particular session establishment and termination information and / or customer payloads.

[0042] Thereby, it is advantageously possible to use the hardware host entity and its infrastructure as a forwarding plane for user plane traffic, and the central office distribution point instance and the virtualization layer are not overloaded by such user plane traffic.

[0043] In addition, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the operating state information is exchanged as part of the payload or in-band, and / or wherein the central office distribution point instance is connected to the core network of the telecommunications network.

[0044] Thereby, the method according to the present invention can be advantageously and efficiently implemented.

[0045] In addition, the present invention relates to a system for operating a broadband access network of a telecommunications network or for a central office distribution point instance of the broadband access network, the system comprising a central office distribution point instance and a central office distribution point management entity, wherein the central office distribution point instance is connected to the central office distribution point management entity, wherein

[0046] -- the central office distribution point instance includes a control function or control plane, a management function or management plane, a transmission function or service, and an edge function or service, and

[0047] -- the central office distribution point management entity similarly includes additional control functions or control planes, additional management functions or management planes, additional transmission functions or services, and additional edge functions or services,

[0048] wherein the central office distribution point instance includes or is connected to an access function implemented by means of a plurality of access nodes, the plurality of access nodes terminating the physical subscriber lines of the end users serving the telecommunications network, and the central office distribution point instance is operated or instantiated using a hardware host entity,

[0049] wherein the system is configured such that:

[0050] -- the central office distribution point management entity and the hardware host entity exchange configuration and setting information to enable the central office distribution point instance to operate on the hardware host entity,

[0051] -- the central office distribution point management entity manages the operation of the central office distribution point instance running on the hardware host entity, and the central office distribution point instance operably implements the access function for the end users of the telecommunications network using the plurality of access nodes and their physical subscriber lines.

[0052] Additionally, the present invention relates to a telecommunications network for operating a broadband access network of a telecommunications network or for a central office distribution point instance of the broadband access network, wherein the central office distribution point instance is connected to a central office distribution point management entity, wherein

[0053] -- the central office distribution point instance includes a control function or control plane, a management function or management plane, a transmission function or service, and an edge function or service, and

[0054] -- The central office distribution point management entity similarly includes additional control functions or control planes, additional management functions or management planes, additional transmission functions or services, and additional edge functions or services.

[0055] Wherein the central office distribution point instance includes or is connected to an access function implemented by means of a plurality of access nodes, the plurality of access nodes terminating the physical subscriber lines of the end users serving the telecommunications network, and the central office distribution point instance is operated or instantiated using a hardware host entity.

[0056] Wherein the telecommunications network is configured such that:

[0057] -- The central office distribution point management entity and the hardware host entity exchange configuration and setting information to enable the central office distribution point instance to operate on the hardware host entity.

[0058] -- The central office distribution point management entity manages the operation of the central office distribution point instance running on the hardware host entity, and the central office distribution point instance operably implements the access function for the end users of the telecommunications network using the plurality of access nodes and their physical subscriber lines.

[0059] Additionally, the present invention relates to a central office distribution point instance or a central office distribution point management entity to be used in the system or telecommunications network of the present invention.

[0060] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a program including computer-readable program code, which, when executed on a computer and / or on a network node of a telecommunications network and / or on a central office distribution point instance and / or on a central office distribution point management entity, or partially on a network node of a telecommunications network and / or partially on a central office distribution point instance and / or partially on a central office distribution point management entity, causes the computer and / or the network node of the telecommunications network and / or the central office distribution point instance and / or the central office distribution point management entity to execute the method of the present invention.

[0061] In addition, the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium including instructions, which, when executed on a computer and / or on a network node of a telecommunications network and / or on a central office distribution point instance and / or on a central office distribution point management entity, or partially on a network node of a telecommunications network and / or partially on a central office distribution point instance and / or partially on a central office distribution point management entity, causes the computer and / or the network node of the telecommunications network and / or the central office distribution point instance and / or the central office distribution point management entity to execute the method of the present invention.

[0062] These and other features, characteristics, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which the principles of the present invention are shown by way of example. This specification is for illustrative purposes only and does not limit the scope of the present invention. The reference figures cited below refer to the accompanying drawings. Description of the Drawings

[0063] Figure 1 Schematically illustrated is a telecommunications network according to the present invention, which has a broadband access network, and as part of the broadband access network, a central office distribution point function is implemented by means of a central office distribution point instance, and the central office distribution point instance is particularly linked to a central office distribution point management entity.

[0064] Figure 2 The central office distribution point instance and the central office distribution point management entity are shown more schematically in more detail. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0065] The present invention will be described with reference to specific embodiments and certain drawings, but the present invention is not limited thereto and is only defined by the claims. The described drawings are only schematic and not restrictive. In the drawings, for illustrative purposes, the sizes of some of the elements may be enlarged and not drawn to scale.

[0066] When referring to a singular noun, an indefinite or definite article is used, e.g., "a", "an", "the" includes the plural form of the noun unless otherwise specified.

[0067] Furthermore, the terms first, second, third, etc. in the specification and in the claims are used to distinguish between similar elements and are not necessarily used to describe a sequential or temporal order; this is especially the case for terms such as "first step", "second step", etc. It should be understood that such terms are interchangeable where appropriate, and the embodiments of the present invention described herein can be operated in an order different from the order described or illustrated herein.

[0068] In Figure 1 is schematically shown a telecommunications network 200 according to the present invention, which preferably has at least a fixed-line part. A mobile (or cellular) part may also be present as part of the telecommunications network 100, but in Figure 1There is no specific explanation. User equipment or client devices 51, 52 are connected to the telecommunications network 200 via the (broadband) access network 220, and the telecommunications network 200 includes - as part of the broadband access network 220 - a central office distribution point function implemented by means of a central office distribution point instance 210, which is in particular linked to the central office distribution point management entity 110. At least one logical or physical central office distribution point instance 210 is preferably implemented or instantiated within a (mini) data center. The central office distribution point instance 210 is in particular capable of handling different access requirements, in particular different access possibilities, of the client devices 51, 52 to network functions provided by or via the telecommunications network 200. In addition, in addition to the broadband access network 220, the telecommunications network 200 generally also includes a core network 201. The client devices 51, 52 are generally connected to the logical or physical central office distribution point instance 210 by means of client equipment devices 50, 50' or by means of client device functions that can be built into or implemented by the client devices 51, 52. Preferably but not necessarily, the central office distribution point instance 210 includes or implements a switching fabric 215, which includes a plurality of backbone network nodes (or virtualized backbone network nodes), and generally also includes Figure 1 a plurality of leaf network nodes (or virtualized leaf network nodes) not explicitly shown in

[0069] Figure 2 The central office distribution point instance 210, which is part of the broadband access network 220 of the telecommunications network 200, and the central office distribution point management entity 110 are explained schematically in more detail, where in addition to the control function or control plane 280 (which generally includes the corresponding business support system (BSS) and / or the corresponding operation support system (OSS)) and the management function or management plane 290, the represented part of the telecommunications network 200 also includes a plurality of line termination nodes 251, 252, 253 as part of the access function 250. In Figure 2 the exemplary representation shown, the central office distribution point management entity 110 also includes a plurality of additional line termination nodes 151, 152, 153 as part of an additional access function 150. In Figure 2 the example shown, the broadband access network 220 includes three line termination nodes, namely a first line termination node 251, a second line termination node 252 and a third line termination node 253. The line termination nodes 251, 252, 253 can be provided to support different access technologies to a home gateway or client equipment or a cable modem 50. In Figure 2In the exemplary embodiment shown, the first line termination node 251 is considered a line termination node in the form of, for example, hybrid fiber coaxial network equipment, which supports connection to a hybrid fiber coaxial network (usually including multiple (passive) coaxial infrastructure access points). In this case, the client device 51 (or Figure 2 multiple client devices not specifically shown therein) is connected to the telecommunications network 200 via a cable modem 50 (or client equipment 50 or home gateway device 50), that is, connected to the first line termination node 251 or hybrid fiber coaxial network equipment. The functions of the client device 51 and the functions of the client equipment 50 (or home gateway device 50 or cable modem 50) may be integrated in one device or "box". However, these functions are shown as separate functions in Figure 2 this figure. In Figure 2 this figure, only one cable modem device 50 (or client equipment 50) is shown (i.e., a specific client equipment), and only one client device 51 is shown. However, the second and / or third line termination nodes 252, 253 may also be implemented as hybrid fiber coaxial network equipment connected to corresponding coaxial infrastructure access points and cable modem devices ( Figure 2 not shown in this figure). In Figure 2 the exemplary embodiment of the central office distribution point instance 210 shown, the central office distribution point instance 210 includes a switching fabric 215, as a transmission function or service 215 within the central office distribution point instance 210. The switching fabric 215 (or transmission function or service 215) includes a plurality of backbone network nodes 271, 272 (or virtualized backbone network nodes) and a plurality of leaf network nodes 261, 262, 263 (or virtualized leaf network nodes), and the leaf network nodes 261, 262, 263 particularly provide edge functions or services 260 within the central office distribution point instance 210. The line termination nodes 251, 252, 253 of the corresponding access function 250 can be respectively connected to at least two of the plurality of leaf network nodes 261, 262, 263 within the central office distribution point instance 210.

[0070] In addition, the central office distribution point management entity 110 includes additional control functions or control plane 180 (usually including a business support system (BSS) and / or an operation support system (OSS)), additional management functions or management plane 190, additional transmission functions 115, and additional edge functions 160, and it may include (and such an embodiment is shown exemplarily in Figure 2 this figure) - as part of the additional access function 150 - a plurality of additional line termination nodes 151, 152, 153.

[0071] According to the present invention, the central office distribution point management entity 110 controls the central office distribution point instance 210 such that the central office distribution point management entity 110 can be referred to as the master central office distribution point (or its corresponding function), and the central office distribution point instance 210 can be referred to as the satellite central office distribution point (or its corresponding function).

[0072] According to the present invention, a method for operating the central office distribution point instance 210 is provided. The central office distribution point instance 210 is part of the broadband access network 220 of the telecommunications network 200, and the central office distribution point instance 210 is connected to the central office distribution point management entity 110. For example, the central office distribution point management entity 110 corresponds to the central office distribution point (function), and the central office distribution point instance 210 also corresponds to the central office distribution point (function). According to the present invention, these two central office distribution points (or corresponding functions) are cascaded, which allows the expansion of the existing central office distribution point (hereinafter also referred to as the "master central office distribution point" or the central office distribution point management entity 110) along a well-defined demarcation line having one satellite central office distribution point or multiple satellite central office distribution points (hereinafter also referred to as "satellite central office distribution points" or the central office distribution point instance 210).

[0073] For example, if an operator or network operator may install a certain number of central office distribution points (e.g., several hundred or approximately one thousand) in its central office, i.e., in a location that serves as a service provision location for a certain number of customers (ranging from several hundred or several thousand customers to tens of thousands of customers) geographically nearby (e.g., a few hundred meters or a few kilometers to dozens of kilometers) for the telecommunications network, these locations may host the operator's own (especially fiber optic) broadband infrastructure, or the broadband infrastructure of other participants (e.g., other operators, local utilities, cooperatives, etc.). As an operator or network operator, operating a network requires a large amount of upfront investment and various skills. Although smaller utilities, villages, local cooperatives, etc. may be inclined to handle the initial infrastructure investment, they are not willing to continuously, especially "24x7" (i.e., 24 hours without interruption), operate the network to guarantee a certain service level to customers, especially including the maximum fault time period; generally, such participants lack both the skills and the funds and scale to complete this competition.

[0074] According to the present invention, advantageously, the central office distribution point instance (function) can be provided as a service, i.e., provided to infrastructure providers (such as villages, cooperatives, smaller towns, utilities, or operators) who wish to establish a new fiber optic network or open up their existing network infrastructure.

[0075] According to the present invention, there is in particular an option to apply the "POD as a service" concept such that: a fully functional central office distribution point (function or instance) or a defunctionalized central office distribution point (function or instance) is provided as a service (in particular by means of using a central office distribution point management entity) as a satellite, where such a remote central office distribution point (function or instance) (also referred to as "satellite POD") is connected to a "main POD". The satellite POD is remotely managed and operated; such central office distribution point functions can generally provide Internet access using service control and IP connectivity.

[0076] In particular, according to the present invention, it is advantageously possible to provide such "satellite PODs" as fully managed services. This significantly reduces the threshold for villages, cooperatives, smaller towns, local utilities, etc. to become "operators" themselves and obtain backbone IP connectivity to the Internet. Thus, it can indirectly stipulate the deployment of broadband infrastructure in remote areas.

[0077] According to the present invention, the exchange of configuration and setting information between the central office distribution point management entity 110 and the hardware host entity 205 particularly relates to at least one of the following cases:

[0078] -- The hardware host entity 205 provides tenant information to the central office distribution point management entity 110, in particular Internet protocol addresses, information segments about subnets, and / or information about physical resources,

[0079] -- The central office distribution point management entity 110 triggers the setting of the operating system of the central office distribution point instance 210 and / or the setting of the orchestrator and / or the virtualization layer (in particular including Kubernetes), the function of providing microservice functions,

[0080] -- The central office distribution point instance 210 is put into operation by means of using information segments about subnets and / or component data of the central office distribution point instance 210, in particular physical and logical addresses and / or capabilities.

[0081] Therefore, the setting phase of the central office distribution point instance 210 particularly includes (between the hardware host entity 205 (for hosting the central office distribution point instance 210) and the central office distribution point management entity 110) the exchange of operation data for deployment and actual deployment:

[0082] -- The hardware host entity 205 provides tenant information (for example, IP addresses, subnets, information about physical resources, etc.) to the central office distribution point management entity 110: the central office distribution point management entity 110 triggers the setting of the operating system (OS) and the orchestrator / virtualization layer (for example, K8s, i.e., Kubernetes), and the deployment of microservices;

[0083] --The central office distribution point instance 210 is put into operation: the internal subnet information of the central office distribution point instance 210, as well as the component data of the central office distribution point instance 210 (physical and logical addresses, capabilities (if the components do not disclose this information), etc.).

[0084] In addition, according to the present invention, the operation of the central office distribution point instance 210 managed by the central office distribution point management entity particularly involves the exchange of operation state information via the virtualization layer, and particularly involves at least one of the following situations:

[0085] --Telemetry and recording functions, involving monitoring application and hardware health, quality, and / or performance, particularly regarding counters, and / or event distribution, or alerts, and / or the transmission of log files,

[0086] --Exchanging non-customer control plane information, particularly requests from participants for software changes and / or system or component restarts,

[0087] --Exchanging customer-related control information, particularly customer authentication information, connection information (such as bandwidth information and / or line status information), and / or product parameters.

[0088] Therefore, the operation state (between the central office distribution point instance 210 and the central office distribution point management entity 110) is exchanged via the virtualization layer (of the hardware host entity 205 and / or the central office distribution point instance 210). The management information of the central office distribution point instance 210 particularly includes one or more of the following:

[0089] --Telemetry: application and hardware health, quality, performance, and data for monitoring;

[0090] --Metrics: counters, sums, event distribution;

[0091] --Alerts: events triggered by the system;

[0092] --Logs: log files.

[0093] In addition, terminal customer-related control information (such as customer authentication information and / or connection information (e.g., bandwidth, line status)) and product parameters are exchanged.

[0094] Additionally, POD non-customer control plane information (such as all participant requests for, e.g., software changes, system and component restarts, scale-out / scale-in, etc. via APIs for container management and POD internal participants) is exchanged.

[0095] User plane data (such as (user) session establishment and termination information or terminal customer payload) is not transmitted via the virtualization layer.

[0096] According to the present invention, the following scenarios are possible and preferred:

[0097] -- The central office distribution point instance 210 (of provider B) can be or correspond to a full - fledged central office distribution point located in the premises of (network or service) provider A, and the IP connectivity is also provided by this provider A. The central office distribution point management entity 110 (of provider B) is located at a remote location and controls the central office distribution point instance 210 (of provider B located in the premises of provider A);

[0098] -- The central office distribution point instance 210 (of provider B) can be or correspond to a full - fledged central office distribution point located in the premises of (network or service) provider A; however, the IP connectivity is provided by provider B. The central office distribution point management entity 110 (of provider B) is located at a remote location and controls the central office distribution point instance 210 (of provider B located in the premises of provider A);

[0099] -- The central office distribution point instance 210 (of provider B) can be or correspond to a full - fledged central office distribution point located in the premises of provider B; however, the IP connectivity (of the central office distribution point instance 210) is provided by (network or service) provider A. The central office distribution point management entity 110 (of provider B) is located at a remote location and controls the central office distribution point instance 210 (of provider B located in the premises of provider B);

[0100] -- The central office distribution point instance 210 (of provider B) can be or correspond to a satellite central office distribution point located in the premises of provider B or in the premises of (network or service) provider A; the IP connectivity is also provided by this provider A. The central office distribution point management entity 110 (of provider B) is located at a remote location and controls the central office distribution point instance 210 (of provider B, located in its own premises or in the premises of provider A).

Claims

1. A method for operating a central office distribution point instance (210) of a broadband access network (220) of a telecommunication network (200), wherein the central office distribution point instance (210) is connected to a central office distribution point management entity (110), wherein -- the central office distribution point instance (210) includes a control plane (280), a management plane (290), a transmission function (215), and an edge function (260), and -- the central office distribution point management entity (110) includes an additional control plane (180), an additional management plane (190), an additional transmission function (115), and an additional edge function (160), wherein the central office distribution point instance (210) is connected to an access function (250) implemented by means of a plurality of access nodes (251, 252, 253), the plurality of access nodes terminating physical subscriber lines of end users serving the telecommunication network (200), and the central office distribution point instance (210) is instantiated using a hardware host entity (205), wherein the central office distribution point management entity (110) is connected to an additional access function (150), the additional access function being implemented by means of a plurality of additional access nodes (151, 152, 153), the plurality of additional access nodes terminating physical subscriber lines of end users serving an additional telecommunication network (100), wherein the method is characterized by the following steps: -- In a first step, the central office distribution point management entity (110) and the hardware host entity (205) exchange configuration and setting information to bring the central office distribution point instance (210) into operation on the hardware host entity (205), wherein the hardware host entity (205) includes a virtualization layer, and the central office distribution point instance (210) operates as a virtual central office distribution point on the hardware host entity (205), and wherein the central office distribution point instance (210) operates as a satellite central office distribution point with respect to the central office distribution point management entity (110), -- In a second step, the central office distribution point management entity (110) manages the operation of the central office distribution point instance (210) running on the hardware host entity (205), and the central office distribution point instance (210) operably implements an access function for end users of the telecommunication network (200) using the plurality of access nodes (251, 252, 253) and their physical subscriber lines, wherein the management of the operation of the central office distribution point instance (210) by the central office distribution point management entity (110) involves the exchange of operation state information via the virtualization layer and involves at least one of the following cases: -- Telemetry and recording functions, involving monitoring application and hardware health, quality, and / or performance, -- Exchange of non-customer control plane information, -- Exchange of customer-related control information, involving customer authentication information, connection information, and / or product parameters, wherein the user plane traffic bypasses the virtualization layer, and the user plane traffic bypassing the virtualization layer is session establishment and termination information and / or customer payloads.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein The exchange of configuration and setup information between the central office distribution point management entity (110) and the hardware host entity (205) involves at least one of the following cases: -- the hardware host entity (205) provides tenant information to the central office distribution point management entity (110), -- the central office distribution point management entity (110) triggers the setup of the operating system of the central office distribution point instance (210) and / or the setup of the orchestrator and / or the setup of the virtualization layer, wherein the virtualization layer includes Kubernetes functionality providing microservices capabilities, -- bringing the central office distribution point instance (210) into operation by using subnet information slices and / or component data about the central office distribution point instance (210), wherein the component data are physical and logical addresses and / or capabilities.

3. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The operation status information is exchanged as part of the payload or in-band.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein The tenant information includes Internet Protocol addresses, information slices about subnets, and / or information about physical resources.

5. A system for operating a central office distribution point instance (210) of a broadband access network (220) of a telecommunications network (200), the system comprising the central office distribution point instance (210) and a central office distribution point management entity (110), wherein the central office distribution point instance (210) is connected to the central office distribution point management entity (110), wherein -- the central office distribution point instance (210) includes a control plane (280), a management plane (290), a transport function (215), and an edge function (260), and -- the central office distribution point management entity (110) includes an additional control plane (180), an additional management plane (190), an additional transport function (115), and an additional edge function (160), wherein the central office distribution point instance (210) is connected to an access function (250) implemented by means of a plurality of access nodes (251, 252, 253), the plurality of access nodes terminating physical subscriber lines serving end users of the telecommunications network (200), and the central office distribution point instance (210) is instantiated using a hardware host entity (205), wherein the central office distribution point management entity (110) is connected to an additional access function (150), the additional access function being implemented by means of a plurality of additional access nodes (151, 152, 153), the plurality of additional access nodes terminating physical subscriber lines serving end users of an additional telecommunications network (100), wherein the system is characterized in that it is configured to: -- The central office distribution point management entity (110) and the hardware host entity (205) exchange configuration and setting information to bring the central office distribution point instance (210) into operation on the hardware host entity (205), where the hardware host entity (205) includes a virtualization layer, and the central office distribution point instance (210) operates as a virtualized central office distribution point on the hardware host entity (205), and the central office distribution point instance (210) operates as a satellite central office distribution point relative to the central office distribution point management entity (110). -- The central office distribution point management entity (110) manages the operation of the central office distribution point instance (210) running on the hardware host entity (205), and the central office distribution point instance operably implements access functions for end users of the telecommunications network (200) using the plurality of access nodes (251, 252, 253) and their physical subscriber lines. Wherein the management of the operation of the central office distribution point instance (210) by the central office distribution point management entity (110) involves the exchange of operation state information via the virtualization layer and involves at least one of the following cases: -- Telemetry and recording functions, involving monitoring application and hardware health, quality, and / or performance. -- Exchanging non-customer control plane information. -- Exchanging customer-related control information, involving customer authentication information, connection information, and / or product parameters. Wherein the user plane traffic bypasses the virtualization layer, and the user plane traffic that bypasses the virtualization layer is session establishment and termination information and / or customer payload.

6. A program product comprising computer-readable program code that, when executed in the system of claim 5, causes the system to perform all the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 to 4.

7. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed in the system of claim 5, causes the system to perform all the steps of the method of any one of claims 1 to 4.

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