Dynamic Overlay Network Slice Creation via BGP Flow Specifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current 5G network architectures face challenges in generating overlay network slices in a timely manner due to scaling issues with centralized orchestration and controller systems, leading to resource consumption, poor customer experience, and inferior network slices.

Innovation Solution

A network device receives a BGP flow specification route to create a new routing instance, associate interfaces with VPN members, determine VPN parameters, and advertise these parameters within the network to dynamically generate overlay network slices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If centralized orchestration and controller systems are used to manage overlay network slices, then network slice creation can be coordinated, but the system experiences scaling issues and consumes excessive computing and networking resources

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork slice creation capabilityVSAvoidcentralized orchestration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the centralized orchestration function into distributed BGP flow specification routes. Each network device independently processes BGP routes to create overlay network slices locally, eliminating the need for a single centralized controller. This segmentation allows the system to scale horizontally while reducing the computational burden on any single controller.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Network devices autonomously process BGP flow specification routes and create overlay network slices independently without requiring continuous centralized orchestration. Each device uses received BGP routes to automatically generate routing instances, associate interfaces with VPN members, and advertise parameters, enabling self-service operation that reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If centralized orchestration systems scale to manage more network slices, then more slices can be provisioned, but resource consumption increases leading to poor customer experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork slice provisioning speedVSAvoidcomputing and networking resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the overlay network slice creation function from the centralized orchestration system and implements it at the distributed BGP level. Network devices independently process BGP flow specification routes to create slices locally, eliminating the resource-intensive centralized processing that caused scaling issues and poor customer experience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically creates overlay network slices on-demand based on received BGP flow specification routes, rather than relying on pre-provisioned static configurations. This dynamic approach allows rapid slice creation while distributing the computational workload across multiple network devices, improving productivity without proportionally increasing total resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional BGP routing is used for overlay network slice creation, then routing information can be exchanged, but the process is insufficient for dynamic and timely slice generation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoverlay network slice generation capabilityVSAvoidtime for network slice generation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having network devices pre-process BGP flow specification routes upon receipt. When a BGP route is received, the device immediately creates the corresponding routing instance, associates interfaces with VPN members, determines VPN parameters, and advertises them within the network - all without waiting for additional processing steps or centralized orchestration cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical centralized orchestration process with an automated BGP-driven mechanism. Network devices automatically interpret BGP flow specification routes and execute slice creation operations locally, substituting the slow centralized processing loop with rapid distributed automation that significantly reduces time loss in overlay network slice generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12237974B2Dynamic creation of overlay network slices using border gateway protocol flow specifications

Publication Date: 2025.02.25 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC

AI summary

A network device may receive a border gateway protocol (BGP) flow specification route associated with creation of an overlay network slice in a network, and may create a new routing instance based on the BGP flow specification route. The network device may associate interfaces defined by the BGP flow specification route with virtual private network (VPN) members, and may determine VPN parameters based on the BGP flow specification route. The network device may advertise the VPN parameters within the network to cause the network to generate the overlay network slice.