Optimizing sixth-generation infrastructure utilization via resource exposure

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure describe a method for optimizing sixth-generation infrastructure utilization via resource exposure. The method includes receiving a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator. The method includes verifying the received request based on one or more defined policies. The method further includes authorizing, in response to verifying the received request, the received request based on one or more conditions. The method further includes determining, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a pre-defined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request. The method further includes transmitting a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration. The secure connection allows for the allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.

Description

OPTIMIZING SIXTH-GENERATION INFRASTRUCTURE UTILIZATION VIARESOURCE EXPOSURECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to India Provisional Application No. 202411085480, filed on November 7, 2024, and India Non-Provisional Application No. 202411085480, filed on February 28, 2025, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to optimizing sixth-generation infrastructure utilization via resource exposure.BACKGROUND

[0003] The information disclosed in this background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the disclosure and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

[0004] Sixth-Generation (6G) cellular telecommunication networks are supposed to surpass the performance of Fifth-Generation (5G) cellular telecommunication networks by digitizing real- world networks for enhanced wireless communication and computational capabilities. For instance, 6G cellular telecommunication networks are expected to operate at higher frequency bands than their 5G counterparts, enabling significantly increased capacity and reduced latency. The architecture of 6G cellular telecommunication networks may include a Radio Access Network (RAN), a Core Network (CN), a user data plane, and transport networks. The transport networkcomponents may include switches, routers, communication links, data centers, and cloud infrastructure, among others.SUMMARY

[0005] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts, in a simplified format, that are further described in the detailed description of the disclosure. This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential inventive concepts of the disclosure nor is it intended for determining the scope of the disclosure.

[0006] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed. The method includes receiving, at a network device of a primary network operator, a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator. The method includes verifying the received request based on one or more defined policies. The method further includes authorizing, in response to verifying the received request, the received request based on one or more conditions. The method further includes determining, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a pre-defined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request. The method further includes transmitting a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration. The secure connection allows for the allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus is configured to receive a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator. The apparatus is further configured to verify thereceived request based on one or more defined policies. The apparatus is further configured to authorize, in response to verify the received request, the received request based on one or more conditions. The apparatus is further configured to determine, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a pre-defined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request. The apparatus is further configured to transmit a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration. The secure connection allows for the allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer- readable medium storing instructions. One or more instructions are executed by an apparatus. The apparatus comprises one or more processors. The one or more processors are configured to receive a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator. The one or more processors are further configured to verify the received request based on one or more defined policies. The one or more processors are further configured to authorize, in response to verifying the received request, the received request based on one or more conditions. The one or more processors are further configured to determine, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a predefined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request. The one or more processors are further configured to transmit a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection in response to determining that the sufficient network resources areavailable for the pre-defined duration. The secure connection allows for the allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.

[0009] To further clarify the advantages and features of the present disclosure, a more particular description of the disclosure will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is appreciated that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope. The disclosure will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail in the accompanying drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Features, aspects, and advantages of embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like elements, and wherein:FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example of an implementation environment in which systems and / or method, described herein, may be implemented, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;FIG. 2 illustrates an architectural diagram of a Sixth-Generation (6G) cellular telecommunications network, focusing on the utilization of one or more network resources and their exposure to third-party entities, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein; FIG. 3 illustrates a sequence flow diagram that outlines one or more operations associated with one or more network entities in facilitating access to various network resources for multiple electronic devices, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method for utilization of the one or more network resources and their exposure to third-party entities, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method related to billing activities associated with the utilization of the one or more network resources within the 6G cellular telecommunications network, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein;FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method related to billing activities associated with the utilization of the one or more network resources within the 6G cellular telecommunications network, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein; andFIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of example components of an apparatus, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] The following detailed description of example embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations. Further, one or more features or components of one embodiment may be incorporated into or combined with another embodiment (or one or more features of another embodiment). Additionally, the flowchart and description of operations provided below relate to one of the various embodiments. It should be noted that it is possible to make other embodiments that do not exactly match the flowchart and its description. It is understood that in otherembodiments one or more operations may be omitted, one or more operations may be added, one or more operations may be performed simultaneously (at least in part).

[0012] It will be apparent that systems and / or methods, described herein, may be implemented in different forms of hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and / or methods is not limiting of the implementations. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and / or methods are described herein without reference to specific software code. It is understood that software and hardware may be designed to implement the systems and / or methods based on the description herein.

[0013] Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of implementations. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.

[0014] No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” “include,” “including,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. Furthermore, expressions such as “at least one of [A] and [B],”“[A] and / or [B],” or “at least one of [A] or [B]” are to be understood as including only A, only B, or both A and B.

[0015] The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the implementations to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the implementations.

[0016] In the present disclosure, specific tasks may be performed using Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning (AI / ML) models. An AI / ML model is a model generated using one or more Al technologies, one or more ML algorithms, or both, and generates output data based on input data. This output data is used to perform tasks. Tasks performed using AI / ML models include those generally referred to as intellectual tasks, such as classification, prediction, natural language processing, etc.

[0017] Although Al and ML are explained separately, ML is a technology included in Al. In ML, instead of being explicitly programmed for a specific task, systems can improve their performance over time by identifying patterns and making inferences from training data. Typically, the generation of ML models includes data collection, model training, and model inference. Data collection involves gathering and preprocessing data to be used for training and inference. Model training involves developing and validating models using the collected data. Model inference involves applying the trained models to new data to generate new output data and perform tasks.

[0018] Machine learning includes various types of learning methods such as supervised learning, unsupervised learning, reinforcement learning, semi-supervised learning, self-supervised learning, transudative learning, transfer learning, meta learning, and the like. These types of learningmethods can be appropriately selected according to the embodiments. Unless otherwise specified, the application of types not mentioned in this description is not precluded. Additionally, the structure of ML models may vary depending on the embodiments and learning methods, and is not limited to the methods disclosed. Furthermore, ML includes deep learning, which uses models that include neural networks. Deep learning models may include, for example, deep neural networks (DNNs), convolutional neural networks (CNNs), etc.

[0019] It should be noted that the AI / ML models presented hereinafter are examples and are not limited to the illustrated AI / ML models. They can be modified or altered by using different Al or ML algorithms. The configuration of the neural network is not limited to the configuration disclosed in the present disclosure and can be modified.

[0020] Existing cellular telecommunications networks face several challenges, as outlined below. For instance, Network Operator “A” possesses substantial computational, storage, and Artificial Intelligence (Al) processing capabilities. A portion of these resources is allocated to Network Functions (NFs), Operations, Administration, and Management (0AM), edge networks, and Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC). However, resource utilization fluctuates with network demand; during off-peak hours often at specific times of day or night, for example, up to 40% of these resources may remain idle. This underutilization signifies an unexploited potential within the current operational framework, highlighting a significant inefficiency.

[0021] The evolution toward a 6G cellular telecommunication network (6G network) necessitates the effective exposure and management of network resources. By integrating standardized interfaces, robust security protocols, and advanced resource management frameworks, the new architecture can address these inefficiencies.

[0022] In one or more embodiments, this disclosure relates to an optimization of 6G infrastructure for resource utilization through resource exposure techniques. With advancements in technologies such as Generative Artificial Intelligence (Gen Al), Large Language Models (LLMs), and A accelerated xPUs (e.g., CPUs and GPUs), more applications based on Al can utilize wireless networks of operators which are now equipped with extensive computational and storage infrastructures that frequently remain underutilized in deployed edge data centers. Strategically, network operators can enhance their operational efficiency by making idle resources accessible to authorized third-party entities. This strategy enables both network operators and third parties to leverage available computational power, storage, and Al capabilities effectively, as discussed throughout the disclosure (FIGS. 1 to 7).

[0023] Additionally, the network operators can generate supplementary revenue by charging for computing resources (e.g., compute cycles) from the edge data centers at the 6G infrastructure. For instance, applications for enabling Al services may demand extensive computing resources for processing training data as well as for inferencing (for instance for task offloading, while performing LLM training or inference) and storage utilization by the third parties. This approach not only creates additional revenue streams for network operators but also ensures optimal utilization of resource infrastructure within the 6G network. Consequently, it underscores the necessity for new requirements in 6G networks to facilitate effective resource exposure and management. By incorporating standardized interfaces, robust security protocols, and advanced resource management frameworks, 6G networks can enable efficient and secure access to available resources. This transformation may position 6G networks as comprehensive platforms for hosting in operator’s edge data centers distributed computing and Al services for the third-parties, aligningwith the evolving demands of the technology landscape and providing resources as a service. This unique network-aware resource exposure capability is enabled by the 6G system’s centralized policy framework.

[0024] For instance, network operator “A” has significant computational, storage, and Al processing resources in deployed edge data centers, some of which are allocated to NFs and 0 AM, hosted services, etc. Resource utilization varies with network load and actual utilization by the hosted applications, leading to periods where, for example, up to 40% of resources remain idle. This idle capacity represents untapped potential, remaining unexploited. Conversely, Operator A’ s client, a gaming company referred to as company “X”, experiences peak demand for computational resources during nighttime hours when user engagement is high across both computer and mobile platforms. As games evolve to become more complex and distributed, companies like “X” are increasingly incorporating LLMs into their offerings to enhance user experience. Offloading some processing tasks to external infrastructure would be advantageous, particularly if company X could access these idle resources at competitive rates. As an existing customer of operator “A”, company “X” stands to benefit from potentially favorable pricing for these resources.

[0025] In one or more embodiments, the 6G networks may be built on a cloud, optimized for ubiquitous computing, and natively provide computing services (e g., in the forms of infrastructure services, platform services, and software services).

[0026] Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 to 7, where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown preferred embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example of implementation environment 100 in which systems and / or method, described herein, may be implemented, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.

[0028] The implementation environment 100 includes a User Equipment (UE) 110, a service environment 120, and a network 130. The service environment 120 includes one or more subenvironments 121. To illustrate this, FIG. 1 shows, for convenience, examples of a 1st subenvironment 121-1, a 2nd sub-environment 121-2, and an Nthsub-environment 121-N (where N is any natural number).

[0029] The UE 110 is connected to the network 130, and the network 130 is connected to the service environment 120. The connections may be wired, wireless, or a combination of both wired and wireless. The UE 110 and the service environment 120 are connected via the network 130.

[0030] The UE 110 is a device that communicates with the service environment 120. The UE 110 receives information from the service environment 120 and / or sends information to the service environment 120. Also, the UE 110 may generate and / or store information to be transmitted, as necessary. Also, the UE 110 may store and / or process information that is received, as necessary.

[0031] The example FIG. 1 refers to the “UE”. However, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that general terms such as “user device,” “terminal,” “terminal device,” “communication device,” and “communication terminal” can be used interchangeably with the term “UE.”

[0032] For example, the UE 110 may include a computing device (e.g., a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a tablet computer, a handheld computer, a smart speaker, a server, etc.), a mobile phone (e.g., a smartphone, a radiotelephone, etc.), a wearable device (e.g., a pair of smart glasses or a smart watch), or a similar device.

[0033] The service environment 120 is an environment that communicates with the UE 110 to provide one or more services. The service environment 120 receives information from the UE 110 and / or sends information to the UE 110. Also, the service environment 120 may generate and / or store information to be transmitted, as necessary. Also, the service environment 120 may store and / or process information that is received, as necessary. For example, the service environment 120 may provide computing resources as one of the services. It should be noted that the service is not limited to being provided to the UE; it may also be provided to devices other than the UE. For example, based on communication from the UE, the service may perform processes such as anomaly detection or traffic analysis and notify the results to a predetermined destination.

[0034] The example FIG. 1 refers to the “service environment”. The term "service environment" is used to refer to the broader context within which services operate. For example, cloud environments, platforms, computing systems, network systems, and cloud systems generally represent the environments in which services are conducted, and these are included within the "service environment." However, the "service environment" is not limited to these examples. Additionally, the specific types of environments within the "service environment" are not restricted. For instance, cloud environments and cloud systems can be categorized as private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud, or multi -cloud, all of which are included within the "service environment."

[0035] The one or more services provided by the service environment 120 is not specifically limited and can be adjusted according to the embodiments. For example, the services may include a service that provides information to the UE 110, a service that stores information from the UE 110, or a service that performs processing based on information from the UE 110 and returns the results of the processing.

[0036] In an embodiment, the service environment 120 may also provide computing resources as the service. The computing resources can be hardware resources and / or software resources. For example, applications, processors, memory, and storage can be included in the provided computing resources. Each computing resource can communicate with other computing resources via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination of wired and wireless connections.

[0037] The provided computing resources can be actual resources (also referred to as physical resources) and / or virtual resources. Furthermore, means of virtualization for virtual resources can be selected as appropriate. That is, in this disclosure, the use of adjectives such as "Virtual" or "Virtualized" to describe names does not imply that they are virtualized by a specific means of virtualization. For example, “virtual machine” refers to software that operates like an actual computer, realized through means of virtualization, and it is not intended to exclude those realized by specific means of virtualization such as Hypervisors or Containers. Conversely, when means of virtualization such as Hypervisors or containers are mentioned in this disclosure, it is merely cited as a general method of implementation. It should also be interpreted that embodiments implemented with other virtualization means are also disclosed. Also, the services may also be provided using resources virtualized by different means.

[0038] The service environment 120 includes one or more devices, such as servers and network devices, which provide services or perform processes. The placement of these devices within the service environment 120 can be determined as appropriate. Additionally, if the service environment 120 includes one or more sub-environments 121, the placement of devices can be determined based on predetermined policies for each sub-environment 121. For example, devices related to the first service may be placed in the 1st sub-environment 121-1, and devices related tothe second service may be placed in the 2nd sub-environment 121-2. In another example, devices expected to have a higher load than a predetermined threshold may be placed in the 1st subenvironment 121-1, while devices expected to have a lower load than the predetermined threshold may be placed in the 2nd sub-environment 121-2. In this way, specific devices can be placed in specific sub -environments 121. Conversely, each sub-environment 121 can be specialized for a particular purpose.

[0039] In an embodiment, all processes executed in a single service may run within a single service environment, or in multiple service environments. Multiple processes executed in a single service could be provided by different service environments.

[0040] The network 130 is a network that exchanges information between the UE 110 and the service environment 120. The network 130 includes one or more wired and / or wireless networks.

[0041] For example, the network 130 may include a cellular network (e.g., a fifth generation (5G) network, a long-term evolution (LTE) network, a third generation (3G) network, a code division multiple access (CDMA) network, etc.), a public land mobile network (PLMN), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a telephone network (e.g., the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)), a private network, an ad hoc network, an intranet, the Internet, a fiber optic-based network, or the like, a non -terrestrial network (NTN), and / or a combination of these or other types of networks.

[0042] The network 130 can be a part of a network. For example, in a 5G network that includes a RAN, a transport network, and a core network, the network 130 can be at least one of the RAN, the transport network, or the core network. For example, the service environment 120 could be inthe core network, in which case the network 130 could correspond to a network that is a combination of a RAN and a transport network and is part of the 5G network.

[0043] The number and arrangement of devices and networks shown in FIG. 1 are provided as an example. It should be understood that any changes that may be implemented by those skilled in the art, such as the addition or rearrangement of well-known devices or networks at the time of implementation, are included in this disclosure.

[0044] FIG. 2 illustrates an architectural diagram of a Sixth-Generation (6G) cellular telecommunications network, focusing on the utilization of one or more network resources and their exposure to third-party entities, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.

[0045] The architectural framework of a 6G cellular telecommunications network may include a plurality of network entities. This includes, but is not limited to, a 6G core network 200 (comprising elements such as a Resource Exposure Function (REF) 201, aPolicy Control Function (PCF) 203, and Network Functions (NFs) 204), electronic devices (including Application Function (AF) and third-party entity 202, User Equipments (UEs) 206, as well as edge data centers 208 associated with base stations), a charging function 205, and various network resources 207 (e.g., xPUs (CPU, GPU), accelerators, and other computational assets).

[0046] To facilitate effective resource exposure and management, the 6G cellular telecommunications network undertakes several operational procedures as outlined below.

[0047] In one or more embodiments, the AF / third-party entity 202 requests access to specific network resources (e.g., xPU or Al resources, etc.) via an Application Programming Interface (API) provided by Operator A (not shown in FIG. 2) associated with the 6G core network 200. The REF 201 of the 6G core network 200 validates this request against defined policies (e.g., one or moredefined policies) and grants access contingent upon compliance with specified conditions (e.g., one or more conditions). The REF 201 of the 6G core network 200 consults a policy framework associated with the PCF 203, which may further coordinate with an orchestration system to ascertain sufficient resource availability for a pre-defined duration (e.g., hour, day, etc ), current utilization for network functions, and potential load increases based on historical network usage data. Upon successful authorization, the REF 201 of the 6G core network 200 allocates the requested network resources and establishes a secure connection for the AF / third-party entity 202. This advanced network-aware resource exposure capability is facilitated by the centralized policy framework (PCF 203) of the 6G core network 200. Additionally, the operator may implement its own rules and policies to govern resource allocation through the policy framework. Continuous monitoring of resource utilization is conducted, with data logged for charging and reporting purposes, while the AF / third-party entity 202 is permitted to analyze usage metrics in real time.

[0048] In one or more embodiments, subsequently, the AF / third-party entity 202 executes its tasks utilizing the allocated network resources. The 6G core network 200 subsequently releases these network resources and updates an availability status in real time. Usage data is recorded / logged by the charging function 205, and relevant charging records are generated and transmitted for billing purposes, with the policy function (PCF 203) overseeing the entire operation.

[0049] In one or more embodiments, in accordance with operator policies, the 6G core network 200 may provide appropriate APIs that enable authorized AF / third-party entity 202 to retrieve availability information regarding computational resources / network resources (e g., storage, Al processing units, xPU details) within an operator-managed data network (analogous to a ServiceHosting Environment or Edge Compute domain). Furthermore, AF / third-party entity 202 mayhave a capability to leverage these computational resources / network resources to execute workloads on demand. The 6G core network 200 is designed to support charging mechanisms for the utilization of computational resources / network resources by the AF / third-party entity 202 and to facilitate comprehensive monitoring and reporting of computational resource usage within the operator-managed data network.

[0050] For instance, consider a scenario associated with smart city traffic management. In the smart city, the 6G core network 200 facilitates efficient traffic management by enabling third-party applications, associated with the AF / third-party entity 202, to access computational resources / network resources for real-time data processing and decision-making. In this scenario, the AF / third- party entity 202 (third-party company) develops an Al-based traffic management application designed to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion in urban areas. This application requires access to advanced computational resources, including xPUs and Al processing units. The third-party application sends a request to the 6G core network 200 via the API provided by the city’s telecom operator (e.g., Operator A) to access specific xPU resources for processing real-time traffic data from various sensors and cameras installed throughout the city. The 6G core network 200 receives the request and verifies it against predefined policies. It checks whether the requested computational resources / network resources are available and if the application meets the necessary criteria for access. The 6G core network 200 consults its policy framework and orchestration system to confirm resource availability and current usage. Once authorized, the 6G core network 200 allocates the required xPU and Al resources to the third-party application via the secure connection, to ensure safe data transmission. The application processes incoming data in real time, analyzing traffic patterns,predicting congestion, and suggesting optimal routes to drivers through a mobile app. This helps reduce traffic jams and improves overall urban mobility.

[0051] After processing the data and completing its tasks, the third-party application releases the allocated computational resources / network resources back to the 6G core network 200. The 6G core network 200 updates the availability status of these resources in real time. The 6G core network 200 logs the usage data for the allocated computational resources / network resources, generating relevant charging records based on the time and resources utilized. This information is sent to the third- party company for billing purposes. In addition, the third-party application can analyze historical usage data to refine its algorithms, improving traffic predictions and management strategies over time.

[0052] As a result, the 6G cellular telecommunications network enables efficient resource management and real-time data processing for third-party applications, enhancing urban infrastructure and improving the quality of life in smart cities. In addition, the 6G cellular telecommunications network enhances operational efficiency by ensuring that network resources are allocated dynamically based on real-time needs, thereby reducing latency and improving response times. Moreover, the 6G cellular telecommunications network promotes scalability, allowing the traffic management to handle varying data loads without compromising performance. Furthermore, the 6G cellular telecommunications network performs resource monitoring that facilitates proactive management, enabling the 6G core network 200 to adapt to changing traffic patterns and optimize resource usage. Lastly, the 6G cellular telecommunications network ensures effective resource management, billing accuracy, and compliance with service-level agreements.

[0053] FIG. 3 illustrates a sequence flow diagram that outlines one or more operations associated with one or more network entities in facilitating access to various network resources for multipleelectronic devices, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. The sequence flow diagram includes several operations outlined as follows.

[0054] At operation 301, the AF / third-party entity 202 initiates a request for the network resources directed towards the REF 201. At operation 302, upon receipt of this request, the REF 201 performs a validation and authorization process to ensure that the request complies with established policies and criteria. At operation 303, once the validation and authorization are successfully completed, the REF 201 generates a request to the PCF 203. The PCF 203 is configured to execute a series of predefined operational tasks, which may include resource allocation policies, quality of service parameters, and compliance checks. At operation 304, subsequently, the PCF 203 transmits a request to an operations, Administration, and Maintenance (0AM) or Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) system 300a to reserve the necessary network resources.

[0055] At operations 305-306, the OAM / SMO 300a then processes this request, executing the actual reservation of resources within the cloud infrastructure, and returns a response detailing the outcome of the reservation process to the network resource entity (e.g., 207, 208, etc.). At operation 307, in addition to reserving resources, the OAM / SMO 300a evaluates the request based on current resource availability and operational metrics, subsequently communicating the evaluation results back to the PCF 203. At operation 308, the PCF 203 forwards the response (e.g., positive response or negative response) to the REF 201.

[0056] At operation 309, the REF 201 then forwards this response to the AF / third-party entity 202. At operation 310, for instance, upon receiving a positive response, the AF / third-party entity 202 is granted access to the network resources through the utilization of the network resource entity (e.g., 207, 208, etc.). At operation 311, the network resource entity (e.g., 207, 208, etc.), or O-cloud, continuously monitors resource utilization metrics and transmits this data to the OAM / SMO 300a. Atoperations 312-313, the OAM / SMO 300a consolidates the usage information and provides it to thePCF 203, which is responsible for informing the charging function regarding the resource consumption details.

[0057] FIG. 4 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 400 for utilization of the one or more network resources and their exposure to third-party entities, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. The method 400 may execute multiple operations for utilization of the one or more network resources and their exposure to third-party entities, which are given below.

[0058] At operation 401, the method 400 includes receiving, at a network device of a primary network operator (e g., REF 201), the request from the electronic device to access the network resources associated with the primary network operator. Examples of the electronic device may include, but are not limited to, the third-party device (AF / third-party entity 202), the UE 206, and the edge data center 208. Examples of the network resources may include, but are not limited to, computation resources and storage resources, and the computation resources comprise one or more Al processing modules one or more accelerators, and one or more Processing Units (xPUs).

[0059] In one embodiment, the request may include, but is not limited to, resource type, quantity information associated with the network resources, duration specifications to use the network resources, priority levels of the request, and location data associated with the network resources. An example of the request (e.g., API request) is provided in Table 1 below.Table 1

[0060] At operation 402, the method 400 includes verifying the received request based on one or more defined policies (e.g., standard policies defined in the existing standard or said generic PCF policies).

[0061] At operation 403, the method 400 includes authorizing, in response to verifying the received request, the received request based on one or more conditions (e.g., location, duration, quantity, etc.), which may relate to Table 1. At operation 404, the method 400 includes determining, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration (e.g., hour, day, etc.) at the primary network operator based on the received request.

[0062] At operation 405, the method 400 includes transmitting the positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration. The secure connection allows for the allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device. The positive response may include, for example, but is not limited to, request approval, request identifier, status details of thenetwork resources, resource identifier, resource type, and quantity information associated with the network resources. An example of the response (e.g., API response) is provided in Table 2 below.Table 2

[0063] At operation 406, the method 400 includes transmitting the negative response to the electronic device in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are not available for the pre-defined duration.

[0064] In one embodiment, availability of the sufficient network resources for the predefined duration at the primary network operator is determined based on available historical data on network usage.

[0065] FIG. 5 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 500 related to billing activities associated with the utilization of the one or more network resources within the 6G cellular telecommunications network, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.

[0066] At operation 501, the method 500 includes continuous monitoring, after the allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices (e.g., OAM / SMO 300a, PCF 203, etc ). The operation 501 may relate to the operation 405 of FIG. 4. At operation 502, the method 500 further includes generating a usage report for the allocated network resources based on the continuous monitoring. At operation 503, the method 500 further includes transmitting the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals (e.g., daily or weekly) through the one or more network devices.

[0067] FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating a method 600 related to billing activities associated with the utilization of the one or more network resources within the 6G cellular telecommunications network, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein.

[0068] At operation 601, the method 600 includes receiving, after allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, a request from the electronic device for release of the one or more allocated network resources. The operation 601 may relate to the operation 405 of FIG. 4. The one or more allocated network resources are utilized by the electronic device to complete one or more tasks (e.g., online gaming, traffic management, etc.).

[0069] At operation 602, the method 600 includes determining, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices. At operation 603, the method 600 includes generating the usage report for the allocated network resources based on the determined utilization of the network resources. At operation 604, the method 600 includes transmitting the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals through the one or more network devices.

[0070] In one or more embodiments, the method includes releasing, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, the allocated network resources. The method further includes updating, after releasing the allocated network resources, an availability status of the network resources in real time.

[0071] In one or more embodiments, the method includes receiving, at the network device (e.g., PCF 203), an authorized request from the REF 201, which may relate to operation 303. The authorized request is associated with an electronic device for accessing network resources available with the primary network operator. The method further includes whether the network resources associated with the primary network operator are sufficient for the one or more network devices associated with the primary network operator and whether the network resources are available to be shared with the electronic device. The method further includes transmitting an instruction in response to determining that the network resources are sufficient and available. The instruction is transmitted to the OAM / SMO 300a to reserve the network resources for the one or more network devices. The method further includes transmitting the negative response to the REF 201 in response to determining that the network resources are not sufficient and not available to be shared with the electronic device.

[0072] FIG. 7 illustrates a diagram of example components of an apparatus 700, according to an embodiment as disclosed herein. As shown in FIG. 7, the apparatus 700 comprises a processor 710, a memory 720, a storage component 730, an input component 740, an output component 750, a communication interface 760, and a bus 770. In one embodiment, the apparatus 700 is associated with at least one entity of the 6G cellular telecommunications network.

[0073] The processor 710, as used herein, means any type of computational circuit that may comprise hardware elements and software elements. The processor 710 may be embodied as a multi-core processor, a single core processor, or a combination of one or more multi-core processors and / or one or more single core processors, a distributed processing system, or the like. The processor 710 may be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU), an accelerated processing unit (APU), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or another type of processing component.

[0074] The memory 720 includes a non-transitory computer readable medium. Memory 720 includes a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), and / or another type of dynamic or static storage device (e.g., a flash memory, a magnetic memory, and / or an optical memory) that stores information and / or instructions for use by processor 710. The memory 720 comprises machine-readable instructions which are executable by the processor 710. These machine-readable instructions when executed by the processor 710 cause the processor 710 to perform one or more method steps of an embodiment described above.

[0075] The storage component 730 stores information and / or software related to the operation and use of the apparatus 700. For example, the storage component 730 may include a hard disk (e.g., a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optic disk, and / or a solid-state disk), a compact disc(CD), a digital versatile disc (DVD), a floppy disk, a cartridge, a magnetic tape, and / or another type of non-transitory computer-readable medium, along with a corresponding drive.

[0076] The input component 740 is configured to receive information, such as user input. For example, the input component 740 may include, but not be limited to, a touch screen display, a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a button, a switch, and / or a microphone. Additionally, or alternatively, the input component 740 may include a sensor for sensing information (e.g., a global positioning system (GPS), an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and / or an actuator).

[0077] The output component 750 is configured to provide output information from the apparatus 700. For example, the output component 750 may be, but is not limited to, a display, a speaker, instructions to an external device, and / or one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs).

[0078] The communication interface 760 is an interfacethat provides a communication connection to other devices, such as external devices and internal devices. The connection by the communication interface 760 can be a wired connection, a wireless connection, or a combination of wired and wireless connections, and can be a direct connection or an indirect connection via a communication network that exists between the apparatus 700 and other devices. In other words, the standard of the communication interface 760 is not limited.

[0079] The bus 770 acts as an interconnect between the processor 710, the memory 720, the storage component 730, the input component 740, the output component 750, and the communication interface 760 of the apparatus 700. The bus 770 may include a wired interconnection or a wireless interconnection.

[0080] The number and arrangement of components shown in FIG. 7 are provided as an example. In practice, the apparatus 700 may include additional components, fewer components, differentcomponents, or differently arranged components than those shown in FIG. 7. Additionally, or alternatively, a set of components (e.g., one or more components) of the apparatus 700 may perform one or more functions described as being performed by another set of components of the apparatus 700. Further, one or more method steps described in any of the embodiments may be performed utilizing the apparatus 700 in communication with one another.

[0081] Examples of the techniques and apparatus described herein include, but are not limited to, the following enumerated embodiments:[1] A method comprising: receiving, at a network device of a primary network operator, a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator; verifying the received request based on one or more defined policies; in response to verifying the received request, authorizing the received request based on one or more conditions; determining, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a pre-defined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request; and in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection with the electronic device for allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.[2] The method as described in [1], further comprising: in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are not available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a negative response to the electronic device.[3] The method as described in any of [l]-[2], further comprising:continuously monitoring, after allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices; generating a usage report for the allocated network resources based on the continuous monitoring; and transmitting the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals through the one or more network devices.[4] The method as described in any of [l]-[3], further comprising: receiving, after allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, a request from the electronic device for release of the one or more allocated network resources, wherein the one or more allocated network resources are utilized by the electronic device to complete one or more tasks; determining, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices; generating a usage report for the allocated network resources based on the determined utilization of the network resources; and transmitting the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals through the one or more network devices.[5] The method as described in any of [l]-[4], further comprising: releasing, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, the allocated network resources; and updating, after releasing the allocated network resources, an availability status of the network resources in a real-time.[6] The method as described in any of [l]-[5], wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a third-party device, a User Equipment (UE), and an edge data center.[7] The method as described in any of [l]-[6], wherein the network resources comprise at least one of computation resources and storage resources, and the computation resources comprise one or more Artificial Intelligence (Al) processing modules one or more accelerators, and one or more Processing Units (xPUs).[8] The method as described in any of [l]-[7], wherein the request comprises at least one of resource type, quantity information associated with the network resources, duration specifications to use the network resources, priority levels of the request, and location data associated with the network resources.[9] The method as described in any of [l]-[8], wherein the positive response comprises at least one of request identifier, status details of the network resources, resource identifier, resource type, and quantity information associated with the network resources; and wherein availability of the sufficient network resources for the predefined duration at the primary network operator is determined based on available historical data on network usage.

[0010] The method as described in any of [l]-[9], comprising: receiving, at the network device, an authorized request from a Resource Exposure Function (REF), wherein the authorized request is associated with an electronic device for accessing network resources available with the primary network operator; determining whether the network resources associated with the primary network operator are sufficient for the one or more network devices associated with the primarynetwork operator and the network resources are available to be shared with the electronic device; performing one of: in response to determining that the network resources associated with the primary network operator are sufficient for the one or more network devices associated with the primary network operator and the network resources are available to be shared with the electronic device, transmitting an instruction to at least one of an Operations, administration, and management (0AM) and a Service Management and Orchestration (SMO) to reserve the network resources for the one or more network devices and transmitting a positive response to the REF; or in response to determining that the network resources associated with the primary network operator are not sufficient for the one or more network devices associated with the primary network operator and the network resources are not available to be shared with the electronic device, transmitting a negative response to the REF.

[0011] An apparatus configured to: receive, at a network device of a primary network operator, a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator; verify the received request based on one or more defined policies; in response to verify the received request, authorize the received request based on one or more conditions; determine, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a pre-defined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request; and in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection with the electronic device for allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.

[0012] The apparatus as described in

[0011] , the apparatus is further configured to: in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are not available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a negative response to the electronic device.

[0013] The apparatus as described in any of

[0011] -

[0012] , the apparatus is further configured to: continuously monitor, after allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices; generate a usage report for the allocated network resources based on the continuous monitoring; and transmit the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals through the one or more network devices.

[0014] The apparatus as described in any of

[0011] -

[0013] , the apparatus is further configured to: receive, after allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, a request from the electronic device for release of the one or more allocated network resources, wherein the one or more allocated network resources are utilized by the electronic device to complete one or more tasks; determine, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices; generate a usage report for the allocated network resources based on the determined utilization of the network resources; and transmit the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals through the one or more network devices.

[0015] The apparatus as described in any of

[0011] -

[0014] , the apparatus is further configured to:release, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, the allocated network resources; and update an availability status of the network resources in a real-time.

[0016] The apparatus as described in any of

[0011] -

[0015] , wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a third-party device, a User Equipment (UE), and an edge data center.

[0017] The apparatus as described in any of

[0011] -

[0016] , wherein the network resources comprise at least one of computation resources and storage resources, and the computation resources comprise one or more Artificial Intelligence (Al) processing modules, one or more accelerators, and one or more Processing Units (xPUs).

[0018] The apparatus as described in any of

[0011] -

[0017] , wherein the request comprises at least one of resource type, quantity information associated with the network resources, duration specifications to use the network resources, priority levels of the request, and location data associated with the network resources.

[0019] The apparatus as described in any of

[0011] -

[0019] , wherein the positive response comprises at least one of request identifier, status details of the network resources, resource identifier, resource type, and quantity information associated with the network resources; and wherein availability of the sufficient network resources for the predefined duration at the primary network operator is determined based on available historical data on network usage.

[0020] A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising: one or more instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, the apparatus comprising one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:receive, at a network device of a primary network operator, a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator; verify the received request based on one or more defined policies; in response to verify the received request, authorize the received request based on one or more conditions; determine, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a pre-defined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request; and in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection with the electronic device for allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.

[0082] The various actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like in the flow diagrams may be performed in the order presented, in a different order, or simultaneously. Further, in some embodiments, some of the actions, acts, blocks, steps, or the like may be omitted, added, modified, skipped, or the like without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0083] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one ordinary skilled in the art to which this invention belongs.The system, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

[0084] While specific language has been used to describe the present subject matter, any limitations arising on account thereto, are not intended. As would be apparent to a person in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method to implement the inventive concept as taught herein. The drawings and the forgoing description give examples of embodiments. Thoseskilled in the art will appreciate that one or more of the described elements may well be combined into a single functional element. Alternatively, certain elements may be split into multiple functional elements. Elements from one embodiment may be added to another embodiment.

[0085] The embodiments disclosed herein can be implemented using at least one hardware device and performing network management functions to control the elements.

[0086] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and / or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the scope of the embodiments as described herein.

Claims

CLAIMSWe claim:

1. A method comprising: receiving, at a network device of a primary network operator, a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator; verifying the received request based on one or more defined policies; in response to verifying the received request, authorizing the received request based on one or more conditions; determining, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a pre-defined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request; and in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection with the electronic device for allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are not available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a negative response to the electronic device.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: continuously monitoring, after allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices; generating a usage report for the allocated network resources based on the continuous monitoring; and transmitting the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals through the one or more network devices.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: receiving, after allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, a request from the electronic device for release of the one or more allocated network resources, wherein the one or more allocated network resources are utilized by the electronic device to complete one or more tasks; determining, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices; generating a usage report for the allocated network resources based on the determined utilization of the network resources; and transmitting the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals through the one or more network devices.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: releasing, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, the allocated network resources; and updating, after releasing the allocated network resources, an availability status of the network resources in a real-time.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a third-party device, a User Equipment (UE), and an edge data center.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the network resources comprise at least one of computation resources and storage resources, and the computation resources comprise one or more Artificial Intelligence (Al) processing modules one or more accelerators, and one or more Processing Units (xPUs).

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the request comprises at least one of resource type, quantity information associated with the network resources, duration specifications to use the network resources, priority levels of the request, and location data associated with the network resources.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the positive response comprises at least one of request identifier, status details of the network resources, resource identifier, resource type, and quantity information associated with the network resources; and wherein availability of the sufficient network resources for the predefined duration at the primary network operator is determined based on available historical data on network usage.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising: receiving, at the network device, an authorized request from a Resource Exposure Function (REF), wherein the authorized request is associated with an electronic device for accessing network resources available with the primary network operator; determining whether the network resources associated with the primary network operator are sufficient for the one or more network devices associated with the primary network operator and the network resources are available to be shared with the electronic device; performing one of: in response to determining that the network resources associated with the primary network operator are sufficient for the one or more network devices associated with the primary network operator and the network resources are available to be shared with the electronic device, transmitting an instruction to at least one of an Operations, administration, and management (0AM) and a ServiceManagement and Orchestration (SMO) to reserve the network resources for the one or more network devices and transmitting a positive response to the REF; or in response to determining that the network resources associated with the primary network operator are not sufficient for the one or more network devices associated with the primary network operator and the network resources are not available to be shared with the electronic device, transmitting a negative response to the REF.

11. An apparatus configured to: receive, at a network device of a primary network operator, a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator; verify the received request based on one or more defined policies; in response to verify the received request, authorize the received request based on one or more conditions; determine, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a pre-defined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request; and in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection with the electronic device for allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, the apparatus is further configured to: in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are not available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a negative response to the electronic device.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, the apparatus is further configured to:continuously monitor, after allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices; generate a usage report for the allocated network resources based on the continuous monitoring; and transmit the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals through the one or more network devices.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, the apparatus is further configured to: receive, after allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device, a request from the electronic device for release of the one or more allocated network resources, wherein the one or more allocated network resources are utilized by the electronic device to complete one or more tasks; determine, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, utilization of the network resources allocated to the electronic device through one or more network devices; generate a usage report for the allocated network resources based on the determined utilization of the network resources; and transmit the generated usage report to the electronic device at predefined time intervals through the one or more network devices.

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, the apparatus is further configured to: release, upon receiving the release request from the electronic device, the allocated network resources; and update an availability status of the network resources in a real-time.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the electronic device comprises at least one of a third-party device, a User Equipment (UE), and an edge data center.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the network resources comprise at least one of computation resources and storage resources, and the computation resources comprise one or more Artificial Intelligence (Al) processing modules, one or more accelerators, and one or more Processing Units (xPUs).

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the request comprises at least one of resource type, quantity information associated with the network resources, duration specifications to use the network resources, priority levels of the request, and location data associated with the network resources.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the positive response comprises at least one of request identifier, status details of the network resources, resource identifier, resource type, and quantity information associated with the network resources; and wherein availability of the sufficient network resources for the predefined duration at the primary network operator is determined based on available historical data on network usage.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions, the instructions comprising: one or more instructions that, when executed by an apparatus, the apparatus comprising one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: receive, at a network device of a primary network operator, a request from an electronic device to access network resources associated with the primary network operator; verify the received request based on one or more defined policies; in response to verify the received request, authorize the received request based on one or more conditions;determine, upon successful authorization of the received request, whether sufficient network resources are available for a pre-defined duration at the primary network operator based on the received request; and in response to determining that the sufficient network resources are available for the pre-defined duration, transmitting a positive response to the electronic device to establish a secure connection with the electronic device for allocation of the requested network resources to the electronic device.

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