Client-Accessible Cellular Test Slices for QoS Validation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Clients may not accurately determine the exact quality of service (QoS/QoE) parameters required for their user equipment (UE) in 5G New Radio (NR) cellular networks, leading to potential mismatches between requested and delivered services.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allows clients to create a reduced-scale slice on a cellular network for testing, providing access to key performance indicators (KPIs) and allowing adjustments before converting to a full production slice, ensuring QoS/QoE parameters meet client needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a full production slice is deployed immediately, then service coverage is maximized, but the risk of QoS/QoE parameter mismatches increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a test slice phase before full production deployment. Clients can configure and test QoS/QoE parameters on a reduced-scale test slice with a subset of UEs, validate performance, and refine parameters before converting to full production slice, thereby preventing parameter mismatches while maintaining a clear deployment pathway
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the slice deployment process into distinct phases: test slice configuration phase and production slice conversion phase. The test slice uses a subset of UEs and resources, allowing isolated validation of QoS/QoE parameters before full-scale deployment, thus reducing risk without delaying service delivery
2Reliability
If a reduced-scale test slice is created first, then QoS/QoE parameter accuracy improves, but service deployment time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic conversion between test slice and production slice configurations. The same slice infrastructure can be dynamically scaled and reconfigured from test mode to production mode based on validation results, allowing flexible adaptation without complete redeployment and maintaining deployment efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The test slice serves as a scaled-down copy of the production slice, using the same configuration templates and parameter structures. This copying approach allows validation of QoS/QoE parameters in a realistic environment while requiring fewer resources, and the validated configuration can be directly replicated to production
3Measurement precision
If clients are given full access to all UEs immediately, then service coverage is maximized, but the ability to validate performance metrics is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a test slice that covers a specific subset of UEs and network resources rather than the entire network. This localized test environment provides controlled conditions for precise performance measurement and validation, while the rest of the network continues normal operations
Data Source
AI summary
Various arrangements for creating a slice on a cellular network are detailed herein. A cellular service request that indicates various metrics for a slice may be received. A test function may be created on the cellular network based on the cellular service request. Access to a reduced-scale slice that provides access to the test function for a small set of user equipment (UE) can be provided along with access to key performance indicators (KPIs) for the reduced-scale slice. The reduced-scale slice may then be converted to a production slice that provides access to the network function for a larger set of UE.