Method for operating cross-communication domain system, wireless communication system, and cross-communication domain system

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for operating a cross-communication domain system (1), comprising the steps of: receiving, by an industrial service intention processing device (10), an industrial service intention (9), the industrial service intention (9) comprising service requirements (7) for an industrial service (5) of an industrial application (4) across the communication domain system (1); determining, by the industrial service intent processing device (10), network requirements (8) relating to the wireless system (6) based on the industrial service intent (9) and wireless system parameters (11) of the wireless system (6); providing, by the industrial service intent processing device (10), the network requirements (8) to a service network function plant (13) of the wireless communication system (2); based on the network requirements (8), a service virtual network function (18) is initialized to provide the network requirements (8) to the industrial service (5) to use the wireless communication system (5).

Description

[0001] Individuals with male, female, or other gender identities are included within the term, independent of the use of grammatical terms.

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for operating a cross-communication domain system, a wireless communication system, and a cross-communication domain system.

[0003] The use of wireless communication technology in industrial settings is a must for future Industry 4.0 and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) use cases, as it can handle the required mobility, flexibility, and dynamics. However, to implement wireless technology, industrial-grade resource management is required. Resource management can be related to the restricted access to radio frequencies and / or the quality of service (QoS) of industrial services on radio links. A key challenge for current wireless systems (such as 5G systems or WiFi 6 systems) and future wireless systems (such as 6G systems) is to support industrial QoS from an end-to-end perspective. In this context, end-to-end can refer to the connection from the application endpoint of an industrial application to another application endpoint of another industrial application. Therefore, a mechanism is needed that allows capturing the QoS requirements of the corresponding industrial applications, translating these QoS requirements into the system capabilities of a wireless communication system, creating appropriate configuration settings for the wireless system, and deploying configuration changes and seamlessly integrating services in an overall cross-communication domain system that includes wireless and wired information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT).

[0004] Currently, in a cross-communication domain system, there is no efficient end-to-end resource allocation across multiple communication domains.

[0005] Current implementations address static configuration deployment, where the service resource requirements describing data streams with a defined quality of service (QoS) are manually arranged by a network administrator through pre-configuration of micro-slices.

[0006] An example of such a method is described in US11,284,288B2. The document discloses methods and apparatuses for defining and managing micro-slices by a network administrator in an enterprise network. The micro-slices provide an end-to-end logical network through multiple networks, which allows the network administrator to efficiently arrange data streams in the enterprise network with a defined quality of service (QoS).

[0007] The object of the present invention is to achieve efficient end-to-end resource allocation across multiple communication domains.

[0008] This object is achieved by the corresponding subject matter of the independent claims. Further embodiments and preferred embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] A first aspect of the present invention relates to a method for operating a cross-communication domain system.

[0010] The method includes the step of receiving an industrial service intent by an industrial service intent processing device of a wireless communication system across a communication domain system.

[0011] The wireless communication system may include a hypervisor operating on a computing device. At least one virtual machine and / or at least one virtual container is / are operated by the hypervisor, wherein virtual network functions may operate in at least one virtual machine and / or at least one virtual container to provide corresponding network functions and / or network services of the wireless communication system. The network functions may include directory services, routing services, interface services, filtering services, firewall services, and / or balancing services. The wireless communication system may include wireless systems such as 4G systems, 5G systems, 6G systems, wifi systems, Bluetooth systems, or any other wireless communication system.

[0012] The industrial service intent includes service requirements regarding industrial services across a communication domain system. The industrial service intent may be provided by an industrial application of an industrial network across a communication domain system to provide industrial services in the communication domain system. The industrial service intent may include service requirements such as periodic communication with a bounded waiting time.

[0013] In the next step, the industrial service intent processing device determines network requirements related to the wireless system of the wireless communication system based on the industrial service intent and the wireless system parameters of the wireless system. The wireless system parameters may include the functionality supported by the wireless system, the resource usage of the wireless system, and other key performance indicators of the wireless system. The network requirements may include the required key performance indicators of the wireless system and the required functionality of the wireless system needed to serve these service requirements.

[0014] The network requirements are provided by the industrial service intent processing device to the service network function factory of the wireless communication system.

[0015] Based on the network requirements, the service network function factory initializes service virtual network functions to provide the network requirements for industrial services to use the wireless communication system. The service virtual network functions may be provided according to the required functionality of the network requirements.

[0016] The concept behind the service virtual network functions is to provide network functions and / or network services to meet the network requirements necessary for industrial services. The service virtual network functions may provide an interface to the industrial application to provide corresponding industrial services. For example, the service virtual network functions may be configured as user plane functions (UPF).

[0017] Based on network requirements, a QoS configuration file (QoS-profile) is provided by a service network function factory to a wireless network to provide network requirements in a wireless system. The QoS configuration file can be provided according to the required key performance indicators (KPIs) of the network requirements. Network resources of the wireless system are allocated by the wireless system according to the QoS configuration file. The allocation can include creating QoS flows according to the QoS configuration file.

[0018] A service virtual network function can be configured as a user plane function (UPF) for an industrial application. The application can send service data and / or receive service data of an industrial service of the industrial application via the user plane function. The user plane function can be configured to map the service data to QoS flows generated according to the QoS configuration file.

[0019] The present invention allows for efficient end-to-end resource allocation across multiple communication domains. Using a service network function factory enables seamless integration of wireless and wired communication systems, allowing for dynamic provisioning of end-to-end industrial QoS.

[0020] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the step of initializing a service virtual network function includes comparing the network requirements of the available service virtual network functions provided by a virtual network function repository with the network requirements. The step further includes selecting an available service virtual network function that provides the network requirements as the service virtual network function.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the step of initializing a service virtual network function includes retrieving a virtual network function template provided by a virtual network function repository for generating a service virtual network function by a service network function factory. The step further includes generating a service virtual network function based on the virtual network function template according to the network requirements to provide the network requirements.

[0022] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the step of selecting a QoS configuration file according to network requirements includes comparing the network requirements of the available QoS configuration files provided by the wireless system with the network requirements of the service network function factory. The step further includes determining an available QoS configuration file that provides the network requirements as the QoS configuration file.

[0023] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the step of selecting a QoS configuration file according to network requirements includes triggering the wireless system by the service network function factory to create a QoS configuration file according to the network requirements.

[0024] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the step of monitoring the use of radio resources of a wireless system by a monitoring system of the wireless communication system. The method further includes evaluating wireless system parameters that describe the capabilities of the wireless system of the wireless communication system based on the use of the radio resources. The method further includes sending the wireless system parameters to an industrial service intention processing device of the wireless communication system, and receiving the wireless system parameters by the industrial service intention processing device of the wireless communication system.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the step of sending an industrial service intention from an industrial application of an industrial network to an industrial service intention processing device of the wireless communication system, the industrial service intention including network requirements for an industrial service using the wireless system.

[0026] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the wireless system complies with the 5G standard. In other words, the wireless system is designed as a 5G wireless system.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the method includes the step of determining by the industrial service intention processing device that the wireless system parameters do not meet the service requirements. In other words, what the industrial service intention processing device evaluates is that the wireless system parameters do not allow the service requirements to be met. It is possible that the requested bandwidth requested by the service requirements cannot be provided.

[0028] Industrial service intention processing evaluates the proposed network requirements related to the wireless system of the wireless communication system by the industrial service intention processing device based on the industrial service intention and the wireless system parameters of the wireless system. It is possible that a lower bandwidth can be provided by the wireless system, where the lower bandwidth may not meet the service requirements. The proposed network requirements may include a lower bandwidth. The industrial service intention processing device sends the proposed network requirements to the industrial application. Industrial service intention processing sends the proposed network requirements to the industrial application to query whether the proposed requirements are sufficient for the industrial application. In the case where the proposed network requirements are sufficient to provide the industrial service, the industrial application sends a response to the industrial service intention processing device. The industrial service intention processing device receives the response to the proposed network requirements by the industrial service intention processing device. The industrial service intention processing device declares the proposed network requirements as network requirements. In other words, the proposed network requirements can be used as network requirements even if they do not comply with the service requirements of the industrial service intention.

[0029] The second aspect of the present invention relates to a wireless communication system. The wireless communication system includes an industrial service intention processing device. The industrial service intention processing device is configured to: receive an industrial service intention, which includes service requirements for an industrial service of an industrial application across a communication domain system; determine network requirements related to the wireless system of the wireless communication system based on the industrial service intention and the wireless system parameters of the wireless system; and provide the network requirements to the service network function factory of the wireless communication system.

[0030] The service network function factory is configured to: initialize a service virtual network function based on the network requirements to provide the network requirements for the industrial service to use the wireless communication system; provide a QoS profile based on the network requirements to the wireless system according to the network requirements; and allocate the available resources of the wireless system for the industrial service using the wireless communication system in the wireless system according to the QoS profile.

[0031] The third aspect of the present invention relates to a cross-communication domain system, which includes at least one wireless communication system and at least one industrial network.

[0032] Industrial applications, system status monitoring systems, industrial service intention processing devices, service network function factories, and network function repositories can be designed as modules of the cross-communication domain system.

[0033] Here and hereinafter, a module can be understood as a hardware module or a software module. In particular, a module can also include hardware and a software part implemented on the hardware.

[0034] A software module can be understood as a part of software code that is functionally connected and combined to a computing unit. A software module can include or implement several processing steps and / or data structures. The method steps of providing a software module can be understood as including providing the corresponding software code in a computer-readable manner on a computer-readable storage medium.

[0035] A computing unit can be particularly understood as a data processing device including a processing circuit. The computing unit can thus particularly process data to perform computing operations. This can also include operations for performing indexed access to data structures (such as lookup tables (LUTs)).

[0036] In particular, the computing unit may include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, such as one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or one or more systems on a chip (SoCs). The computing unit may also include one or more processors, such as one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more graphics processing units (GPUs), and / or one or more signal processors, in particular one or more digital signal processors (DSPs). The computing unit may also include a physical or virtual cluster of computers or other units in the unit.

[0037] In various embodiments, the computing unit includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0038] The memory unit may be implemented as a volatile data memory, such as dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or static random access memory (SRAM), or as a non-volatile data memory, such as read-only memory (ROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), erasable read-only memory (EPROM), electrically erasable read-only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or flash EEPROM, ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM), magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM), or phase change random access memory (PCRAM).

[0039] A fourth aspect of the present invention relates to a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computing hardware device, cause the computing hardware device to implement the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0040] The computer program relates to steps performed by a wireless communication system and / or the computer program relates to steps performed by an industrial network.

[0041] A fifth aspect of the present invention relates to a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computing hardware device, cause the computing hardware device to implement the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0042] Additional embodiments of the computing hardware device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the computer program according to the third aspect of the present invention, and the computer-readable medium according to the fourth aspect of the present invention directly derive from the various embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, and vice versa. In particular, the respective features and corresponding explanations related to the various embodiments of the method according to the first aspect of the present invention can be similarly transferred to the corresponding embodiments of the computing hardware device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the computer program according to the third aspect of the present invention, and the computer-readable medium according to the fourth aspect of the present invention. In particular, the computing hardware device according to the second aspect of the present invention is designed or programmed to implement the method according to the first aspect of the present invention, or to implement the method according to the first aspect of the present invention.

[0043] If it is mentioned in the present disclosure that the computing hardware device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the computer program according to the third aspect of the present invention, and the computer-readable medium according to the fourth aspect of the present invention are adapted, configured or designed, etc. to perform or implement a specific function, achieve a specific effect or serve a specific purpose, this can be understood as that, in addition to being potentially or theoretically available or suitable for this function, effect or purpose, through corresponding adaptation, programming, physical design, etc., the components can specifically and actually perform or implement the function, achieve the effect or serve the purpose.

[0044] The computer program and the computer-readable storage medium can be labeled as corresponding computer program products including instructions.

[0045] The computing hardware device can be particularly understood as a data processing device including processing circuitry. The computing unit can thus particularly process data to perform computing operations. This can also include operations for performing indexed access to data structures (such as look-up tables (LUTs)).

[0046] In particular, the computing hardware device can include one or more computers, one or more microcontrollers, and / or one or more integrated circuits, such as one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), one or more field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and / or one or more systems-on-chip (SoCs). The computing unit can also include one or more processors, such as one or more microprocessors, one or more central processing units (CPUs), one or more graphics processing units (GPUs), and / or one or more signal processors, particularly one or more digital signal processors (DSPs). The computing unit can also include a physical or virtual cluster of computers or other units in the said unit.

[0047] In various embodiments, the computing hardware device includes one or more hardware and / or software interfaces and / or one or more memory units.

[0048] Memory cells can be implemented as volatile data memories, such as dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) or static random access memories (SRAMs), or as non-volatile data memories, such as read-only memories (ROMs), programmable read-only memories (PROMs), erasable programmable read-only memories (EPROMs), electrically erasable programmable read-only memories (EEPROMs), flash memories or flash EEPROMs, ferroelectric random access memories (FRAMs), magnetoresistive random access memories (MRAMs) or phase change random access memories (PCRAMs).

[0049] Additional features of the present invention will be apparent from the claims, the drawings, and the description of the drawings. The present invention can include not only in the corresponding combinations stated, but also in other combinations the features and combinations of features mentioned in the above description, and the features and combinations of features mentioned in the description of the following drawings and / or shown in the drawings. In particular, the present invention also includes embodiments and combinations of features that do not have all the features of the originally formulated claims. In addition, the present invention includes embodiments and combinations of features that go beyond or deviate from the combinations of features set forth in the recitation of the claims.

[0050] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to specific exemplary embodiments and corresponding schematic drawings. In the drawings, the same or functionally identical elements may be denoted by the same reference numerals. The description of the same or functionally identical elements is not necessarily repeated with respect to different drawings.

[0051] In the drawings,

[0052] Figure 1 a schematic illustration of a system including a wireless communication system and an industrial network is shown; and

[0053] Figure 2 a schematic illustration of a method for operating the system is shown.

[0054] Figure 1 A schematic illustration of a cross-communication domain system 1 including a wireless communication system 2 and an industrial network 3 is shown. The wireless communication system 2 and the industrial network 3 can be different communication domains.

[0055] Figure 1 Two communication domains - a wireless communication system 2 and an industrial network 3 are shown, where their main components and interactions will be explained below.

[0056] The industrial network 3 can be configured as a wired network. The industrial network 3 can include industrial applications 4, and the industrial applications 4 can be configured to provide industrial services 5. The industrial applications 4 can be modules, robots, industrial equipment, or computer equipment of the industrial network 3. In order for the industrial applications 4 to provide the industrial services 5 via two different communication domains, it may be necessary for the wireless communication system 2 to provide the service virtual network function 18. However, it is also possible that the industrial services 5 are provided by the industrial applications 4 via more than two different communication domains 2. The service virtual network function 18 can be configured according to the required network functions requested in the industrial service intent 9. It may be necessary to provide the key performance indicators required for the industrial services 5 in the wireless system 6 of the wireless communication system 2.

[0057] In order to request the required key performance indicators and the required network functions from the wireless communication system 2, the industrial applications 4 can be configured to send the industrial service intent 9 to the industrial service intent processing device 10 of the wireless communication system 2. The industrial service intent 9 can include service requirements 7 for providing the industrial services 5 in the wireless system 6. The service requirements 7 can include the required network functions and the required key performance indicators. The service requirements 7 can be independent of the technology of the wireless communication system 2. In other words, the KPIs and network functions included in the service requirements 9 may not relate to the specific technology of the wireless communication system 2 or the wireless system 6, but may relate to different technologies of the wireless communication system 2.

[0058] The industrial service intent processing device 10 can be configured to evaluate the network requirements 8 (such as network functions and key performance indicators) that must be provided by the wireless communication system 2 in order to provide the industrial services 5. This evaluation can be based on the service requirements 7 of the industrial service intent 9 and the wireless system parameters 11 of the wireless system 6. The wireless system parameters 11 can be provided by the system status monitoring system 12 configured to monitor the system status of the wireless system 6. In other words, the industrial service intent processing device 10 can be configured as a converter to convert the service requirements 9 into network requirements 8 that match the characteristics and capabilities of the wireless communication system 2.

[0059] The industrial service intent processing device 10 can be configured to send the evaluated network requirements 8, which can include the evaluated key performance indicators and / or the necessary network functions, to the service virtual network function factory 13 of the wireless communication system 2.

[0060] The service virtual network function factory 13 can be configured to start at least one service virtual network function 18 according to network requirements 8 to provide the required network functions. The service virtual network function factory 13 can be configured to compare the network requirements 14 provided by the available service virtual network functions 15 stored in the network function repository 16 with the evaluated network requirements 8. In the case where the network requirements 8 are provided by the available service virtual network functions 18, the corresponding available service virtual network functions 15 are configured and started by the network function factory 13 in the wireless communication system 2.

[0061] The service virtual network function factory 13 can be configured to, in the case where the evaluated network requirements 8 are not provided by the available virtual network functions 15 of the network function repository 16, retrieve the virtual network function template 17 from the network function repository 16 for creating the service virtual network function 18. The service virtual network function factory 13 can be configured to create the service virtual network function 18 according to the network requirements 8 and start the created service virtual network function 18 in the wireless communication system 2.

[0062] The service virtual network function factory 13 can be configured to compare the network requirements 8 of the QoS profile 19 provided by the wireless system 6. In the case where one of the QoS profiles 19 provides the network requirements 8, the service virtual network function factory 13 can configure the corresponding QoS profile 19 of the wireless system 6. The network function factory 13 can be configured to trigger the wireless system 6 to allocate the radio resources 20 of the wireless system 6 according to the QoS profile 19. The service virtual network function factory 13 can be configured to trigger the creation of the QoS profile 19 according to the wireless system parameters 11 in the case where there is no available QoS profile 19 providing the wireless system parameters 11.

[0063] The wireless communication system 2 can be configured to deploy and start the life cycle of the service virtual network function 18 to provide the industrial service 5 of the industrial application 4 in the wireless system 6.

[0064] Figure 2 A schematic illustration of a method for operating the system is shown.

[0065] The method can refer to Figure 1 the system illustrated in

[0066] Figure 2 An example of a sequence diagram and the interaction of the main components is shown.

[0067] In step S1, the industrial application 4 can generate an industrial service intent 9 for the industrial service 5 of the industrial application 4. The industrial service intent 9 can include service requirements 7.

[0068] In step S2, the industrial application 4 may transmit the industrial service intent 9 to the industrial service intent processing 10.

[0069] In step S3, the wireless system 6 may transmit wireless system parameters 11 (supported functionality and key performance indicators) to the industrial service intent processing device 10.

[0070] In step S4, the industrial service intent processing device 10 may extract relevant key performance indicators and functionality with respect to the underlying wireless system 6 as network requirements 8. This extraction may be performed.

[0071] In step S5, the industrial service intent processing 10 may send the network requirements 8, such as key performance indicators and functionality, to the service virtual network function factory 13.

[0072] In step S6, the network requirements 14 of the available virtual network functions 15 may be sent from the network function repository 16 to the service virtual network function factory 13.

[0073] In step S7, the service virtual network function factory 13 may receive the network requirements 8 provided by the available QoS profiles 19 of the wireless system 6. The QoS profiles 19 may be linked to the corresponding available service virtual network functions 15. Therefore, it may be necessary to evaluate the available service virtual network functions 15 by using the corresponding QoS profiles 19 that meet the network requirements 8.

[0074] In the case where available service virtual network functions 15 are found according to the network requirements 8 provided by the network function repository 16, the service virtual network function factory 13 may retrieve the corresponding available virtual network functions 15 from the network function repository 16 (S8), start the service virtual network function 18 (S9), and configure the service virtual network function 18 according to the network requirements 8 (S10).

[0075] In step S11, the service virtual network function factory 13 may configure the QoS profiles 19 of the wireless system 6 according to the wireless system parameters 11.

[0076] In step S12, the wireless system 6 may configure the radio resources 20 and the corresponding interfaces according to the QoS profiles 19.

[0077] In step S13, the wireless communication system 2 may deploy and start the life cycle of the service virtual network function 18 in the wireless communication system 2.

[0078] In the case where the available service virtual network function 15 provided by the network function repository 16 indeed provides a network requirement 14 of the available service virtual network function 15 that does not meet the network requirement 8, in step S14, the service virtual network function factory 13 may retrieve the virtual network function template 17.

[0079] In step S15, the network function repository 16 may create a service virtual network function 18 based on the virtual network function template 17 according to the network requirement 8.

[0080] In the case where the available QoS profile 19 provided by the wireless network does not provide the network requirement 8, the service virtual network function factory 13 may trigger the creation of the QoS profile 19 according to the network requirement 8 in the wireless network (S16).

[0081] The industrial application 4 may operate in the context of the industrial network 3. To provide the industrial service 5, the application 4 or the proxy issues at least one industrial service intent 9 to the industrial service intent processing device 10 component.

[0082] The industrial service intent 9 may include a set of service requirements 7, such as periodic communication with a bounded waiting time.

[0083] The industrial service intent processing 10 is able to access the monitoring system 12 to obtain information about the wireless system 6, such as wireless system parameters 11, supported functionality, resource usage, and other key performance indicators. Based on the industrial service intent 9, relevant network parameters, key performance indicators, and functionality can be extracted, and the required network parameters, such as the required key performance indicators and functionality, can be sent to the service virtual network function factory 13.

[0084] The service virtual network function factory 13 may use the information provided by the industrial service intent processing 10 and the existing virtual network function capabilities available in the network function repository 16. Using this information, the required service key performance indicators regarding the supported QoS profile can be checked against the wireless system 6.

[0085] If a match is found, the service virtual network function 18 can be initialized and configured. The same applies to the corresponding QoS profile 19 in the wireless system 6.

[0086] If no match is found, the required virtual network function template 17 is received from the network function repository, and the service virtual network function factory 13 uses these virtual network function templates 17 to create and configure a new service virtual network function 18.

[0087] Additionally, the wireless system 6 can be triggered to create a required QoS profile 19 specific to the requested service. This can be done by using mappings as foreseen in 3GPP TS23.501: Section 5.27.3 Support for Time Sensitive Communication QoS Flows and 3GPP TS23.501: Section 5.28.4 QoS mapping tables, or by redefining service and radio system specific slice parameters.

[0088] The service virtual network function 18 can be configured as an on-demand gateway, such as a UPF. The service virtual network function 18 can be used to provide the required communication capabilities to the industrial service 5 using the wireless system 6.

[0089] The network function repository can contain the already created service virtual network functions 18, which include descriptions of network function functionality, associated configurations, function chains, function specific parameters, e.g., in the case of functions capable of handling TSN traffic, including supported TSN configuration parameters / feedback. The repository can also contain meta information such as quality metrics of the network functions, their parameter settings, optionally also performance key performance indicators and historical usage data.

[0090] The wireless system 6 can be configured as a 5G system. The wireless system 6 can be triggered by the service virtual network function factory 13 to create a QoS profile specific to the requested service by configuring radio resources 20 (e.g., slices and corresponding interfaces). If the requirements from additional requests can be matched by the service virtual network function factory 13, the already created QoS profile can be reused.

[0091] After the corresponding components are initialized and configured, the service virtual network function 18 can be deployed in the wireless system 6 and its life cycle can be started.

[0092] Information about the wireless system 6, such as the usage of radio resources 20, can be provided to the monitoring system 12 and can be accessed by the industrial service intent handling 10. System status information or monitoring data can be made available through the operation and management interface.

[0093] Radio resources 20 (such as slices) can be configured by the service virtual network function factory 13 to provide a service specific QoS profile 19 for the industrial service 5, and these radio resources 20 are later used by the service virtual network function 18.

[0094] Monitoring system 12 can collect information such as the usage of radio resources 20 from wireless system 6, and can provide this information to other components such as industrial service intent processing 10. The data from monitoring system 12 gives an overall status view and enhances the data retrieved from the operation and management interfaces of wireless system 6.

[0095] The proposed mechanism shows how to use the service virtual network function factory 13 to seamlessly integrate wireless and wired communication systems 2, enabling the dynamic provision of end-to-end industrial QoS, such as supporting applications 4 with mobile endpoints.

[0096] The mechanism described in the present invention disclosure allows for efficient end-to-end resource allocation across multiple communication domains. It is possible to seamlessly integrate wireless and wired communication systems 2 using the service virtual network function factory 13, enabling the dynamic provision of end-to-end industrial QoS.

[0097] To the best of our knowledge, there is no available mechanism that can dynamically handle resource requests from applications 4 to set industrial-level QoS in an industrial communication system 2 with wireless and wired communication technologies, while supporting the mobility of endpoints and the multi-service / multi-tenant capabilities of the system.

[0098] The proposed mechanism allows for capturing the QoS requirements of industrial applications 4 and translating them into system capabilities of different underlying communication technologies (e.g., between wired OT systems / industrial networks 3 and wireless communication systems 2 such as 5G campus networks). Appropriate configuration settings are created for wireless communication system 2 (5G campus network), and network functionality in the form of service virtual network functions 18 can be created during runtime, such as UPF, xApp, rApp in an OpenRAN-based 5G campus network. This allows for seamless service integration in the overall wireless and wired OT / IT systems.

[0099] The proposed mechanism, for example, "translates" the service requirements 7 of industrial service intent 9 into slice network requirements 8 communication requirements, and interconnects industrial applications 4 through service virtual network functions, thus supporting dynamic service embedding scenarios for cross-technology operation.

Claims

1. A method for operating a cross-communication domain system (1), comprising the following steps: - Receiving, by an industrial service intent processing device (10) of a wireless communication system (2) of the cross-communication domain system (1), an industrial service intent (9), the industrial service intent (9) including service requirements (7) of an industrial service (5) for an industrial application (4) of the cross-communication domain system (1); - Receiving, by the industrial service intent processing device (10) of the wireless communication system (2), wireless system parameters (11) describing the capabilities of a wireless system (6) of the wireless communication system (2); - Determining, by the industrial service intent processing device (10), based on the industrial service intent (9) and the wireless system parameters (11) of the wireless system (6), network requirements (8) related to the wireless system (6) of the wireless communication system (2); - Providing, by the industrial service intent processing device (10), the network requirements (8) to a service network function factory (13) of the wireless communication system (2); - Initializing, based on the network requirements (8), a service virtual network function (18) to provide the network requirements (8) for the industrial service (5) to use the wireless communication system (2); - Based on the network requirements (8), providing a QoS profile (19) and / or connectivity to the wireless system (6) according to the network requirements (8); and - Using the wireless communication system (2) to allocate available radio resources (20) of the wireless system (6) according to the QoS profile (19) for the industrial service (5).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of initializing the service virtual network function (18) comprises: - Comparing the network requirements (8) of the available service virtual network functions (18) provided by a virtual network function repository (16) with the network requirements (8); And - Selecting an available service virtual network function (18) that provides the network requirements (8) as the service virtual network function (18).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of initializing the service virtual network function (18) comprises: - Retrieving a virtual network function template (17) provided by the virtual network function repository (16) for creating the service virtual network function (18); And - Based on the network requirements (8), generating, by the service network function factory (13), the service virtual network function (18) based on the virtual network function template (17) to provide the network requirements (8).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of selecting the QoS profile (19) according to the network requirements (8) comprises: - Comparing the network requirements (8) of the available QoS profiles (19) provided by the wireless system (6) with the network requirements (8) of the service network function factory (13); and - Identify and parameterize the available QoS profile (19) that provides the network requirements (8) as the QoS profile (19).

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the step of selecting at least one of the QoS profiles (19) according to the network requirements (8) comprises: - Triggering the wireless system (6) by the service network function factory (13) to create the QoS profile (19) according to the network requirements (8).

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: - Monitoring, by a monitoring system (12) of the wireless communication system (2), the use of radio resources (20) of the wireless system (6); - Evaluating, based on the use of the radio resources (20), the wireless system parameters (11) that describe the capabilities of the wireless system (6) of the wireless communication system (2); and - Sending the wireless system parameters (11) to the industrial service intent processing device (10) of the wireless communication system (2).

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: - Using the wireless system (6) by the industrial application (4) of the industrial network (3) to send an industrial service intent (9) to the industrial service intent processing device (10) of the wireless communication system (2), the industrial service intent (9) including the required communication capabilities for the industrial service (5).

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless system (6) complies with the 5G standard.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the following steps: - Determining, by the industrial service intent processing device (10), that the wireless system parameters (11) do not meet the service requirements (7); - Evaluating, by the industrial service intent processing device (10), the proposed network requirements related to the wireless system (6) of the wireless communication system (2) based on the industrial service intent (9) and the wireless system parameters (11) of the wireless system (6); - Sending, by the industrial service intent processing device (10), the proposed network requirements to the industrial application; - Receiving, by the industrial service intent processing device (10), a response to the proposed network requirements; and - Declaring, by the industrial service intent processing device (10), the proposed network requirements (8) as the network requirements.

10. A wireless communication system (2), comprising an industrial service intent processing device (10), wherein the industrial service intent processing device (10) is configured to: - Receive an industrial service intent (9), the industrial service intent (9) including service requirements (7) for an industrial service (5) of an industrial application (4) across a communication domain system (1); - Determine, based on the industrial service intent (9) and the wireless system parameters (11) of the wireless system (6), network requirements (8) related to the wireless system (6) of the wireless communication system (2); - Provide the network requirements (8) to the service network function factory (13) of the wireless communication system (2); wherein the service network function factory (13) is configured to: - Based on the network requirements (8), initialize a service virtual network function (18) to provide the network requirements (8) to the industrial service (5) for using the wireless communication system (2); - Provide a QoS profile (19) and / or connectivity based on the network requirements (8) to the wireless system (6) according to the network requirements (8); and - Use the wireless communication system (2) in the wireless system (6) to allocate the available radio resources (20) of the wireless system (6) according to the QoS profile (19) for the industrial service (5).

11. Cross-communication domain system (1), comprising at least one wireless communication system (2) according to claim 10 and at least one industrial network (3).

12. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computing hardware device, cause the computing hardware device to implement the method according to one of claims 1 to 9.

13. A computer-readable medium comprising the computer program according to claim 12.

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