Application QoS Negotiation Across 5G Network Slices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G network standards lack a standardized mechanism for applications outside the core network to define or modify network connectivity requirements, leading to sub-optimal QoS and resource allocation for UEs connecting to diverse network slices, complicating application development and user experience.
Innovation Solution
Introduce an Application Definition Function (ADF) that interacts with network elements to generate and transmit configuration information based on application requests, allowing applications to specify and negotiate QoS and resource allocations across different network slices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If applications outside the core network are allowed to define network connectivity requirements, then QoS and resource allocation for UEs connecting to diverse network slices can be optimized, but the complexity of network configuration and management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the Application Definition Function (ADF) as an intermediary entity that mediates between applications and network elements. The ADF receives application requirements, translates them into standardized configuration parameters, and manages the configuration process, thereby optimizing QoS while shielding applications from network configuration complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the ADF continuously monitors network configuration status and QoS performance, adjusting configurations dynamically based on actual network conditions and application requirements, ensuring optimal performance while managing complexity through automated closed-loop control.
2Ease of operation
If applications can specify QoS and resource allocations, then user experience is improved, but the difficulty of application development increases due to lack of standardized interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The ADF provides a universal standardized interface that can serve multiple application types and network scenarios. This single interface handles diverse QoS requirements, resource allocation requests, and connectivity configurations, making application development easier while maintaining optimized user experience across different use cases.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standardized mechanisms are introduced for applications to define connectivity requirements, then interoperability between diverse network slices is improved, but the device complexity of network elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ADF acts as a standardized intermediary that applications interact with uniformly across different network slices and vendors. This mediator translates diverse application requirements into standardized network configurations, improving interoperability while containing network element complexity within the ADF boundary.
Data Source
AI summary
In a network with varying levels of Quality of Service, where a UE connects to an application through a network or network slice whose service characteristics are not well defined to the user or the application provider, poor levels of service may be experienced. This may be attributed to the application being poorly designed, where in fact it is related to the UE and application connecting through a network that is not properly configured for the intended usage. To mitigate these issues, applications and UEs can be provided access, directly or indirectly, to a network configuration environment to allow for a standardized QoS request to be issued to the network entities between the UE and application execution environment.