Integrated CI/CD Orchestration for 5G Network Slices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CI/CD methods are insufficient to address the complexity of 5G service deployments in wireless networks, lacking integration with orchestration to leverage DevOps agility effectively.
Innovation Solution
Integration of orchestration and CI/CD systems without duplicating tasks, enabling dynamic test and deployment options for containerized network functions across different slices, using existing interfaces like TMF641 and ETSI SOL005 to bridge the gap between traditional CI/CD and orchestration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If CI/CD methods are used for 5G service deployment, then development agility is improved, but the complexity of 5G service deployment cannot be addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges CI/CD pipeline with network orchestration system to create a unified deployment framework. The CI/CD system integrates with the network orchestrator to automatically provision, deploy, and manage network functions, combining development agility with orchestration capabilities to handle 5G service deployment complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated system provides multi-functional capabilities through a single framework that handles both software development lifecycle management and network service orchestration. The system can manage multiple network slices, deploy various network functions, and coordinate resources across different domains using unified policies and interfaces.
2Extent of automation
If orchestration and CI/CD are integrated, then deployment automation is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the integration architecture into distinct functional components: CI/CD pipeline for software management, network orchestrator for resource coordination, and standardized interfaces for communication. This segmentation allows each component to maintain clear responsibilities while working together to achieve deployment automation without overwhelming complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces standardized interfaces (such as TMF 641 and ETSI SOL 005) as intermediaries between CI/CD systems and network orchestration components. These interfaces act as mediators that enable automated communication and coordination, reducing the complexity of direct integration by providing well-defined interaction protocols.
3Productivity
If duplicate tasks are avoided in integration, then operational efficiency is improved, but integration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated framework uses universal interfaces and standardized protocols that enable multiple systems to perform the same tasks through common mechanisms. This universality eliminates duplicate tasks by allowing CI/CD systems and network orchestrators to share common deployment, monitoring, and management functions through unified interfaces.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed that seamlessly integrates orchestration and CI/CD without requiring duplication of any of the tasks. This method allows creation of test slices as well as operator specific policy control and implementation to implement dynamic test and deployment options that allows different containerized network functions (CNFs) versions to be used for different slices.