Blockchain-Verified 5G Session Slice Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 5G network slicing technologies lack effective mechanisms to securely allocate network functions for session slices, leading to potential unauthorized access and service disruptions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system that utilizes blockchain technology to immutably record and verify the authorization of network functions, ensuring that only authorized network functions with recorded blockchain IDs can provide service to specific 5G session slices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional network function allocation methods are used in 5G network slicing, then device complexity and implementation ease are maintained at acceptable levels, but security and reliability of network function allocation deteriorate due to lack of effective authorization mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blockchain-based intermediary system that mediates between network function allocation requests and the actual allocation. The blockchain ledger acts as a trusted third party that records and verifies authorization relationships between network slices and network functions, providing secure and tamper-proof allocation without requiring complex point-to-point security mechanisms between each network element
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an authorization mechanism, a security layer, an allocation manager, and a verification system. This universal approach consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate security and management systems, improving reliability while actually reducing overall system complexity through functional consolidation
2Reliability
If blockchain technology is implemented to securely allocate network functions, then security and integrity of network function allocation are improved, but device complexity and system overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-recording authorization relationships in the blockchain ledger before actual network function allocation occurs. Network slice identifiers and network function identifiers are bound together in advance with authorization relationships, so that during runtime, allocation decisions can be made quickly by simple verification against the pre-established blockchain records rather than complex real-time security evaluations
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain ledger creates immutable copies of authorization records that can be verified by multiple system components simultaneously. Instead of having a single source of truth that must be protected from all attacks, the authorization data is replicated across the blockchain network, providing redundancy and verification capabilities that reduce the complexity of access control mechanisms while enhancing integrity
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a device including a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations of receiving a query for 5G Session Management Functions (SMFs) to handle a connection request, wherein the query includes a slice ID and data network name; determining a list of SMFs that each have a blockchain ID immutably recorded on a blockchain, wherein the blockchain ID is authorized to provide service to the slice ID; and sending, responsive to the query, the list of SMFs. Other embodiments are disclosed.