Cloud-Based Cellular Network Slice Testing for Real-World Conditions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cellular network testing methods are inadequate for simulating real-world conditions, leading to inaccurate feature development and deployment due to isolated lab environments and outdated assumptions, resulting in configuration faults and delayed deployments.
Innovation Solution
A cloud-based multi-environment testing system that replicates real cellular networks, allowing service providers to develop and test network features and services using actual network equipment and traffic, with features like CI/CD pipelines and real-time replication of production environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional isolated lab environments are used for cellular network testing, then testing can be performed with controlled conditions, but the testing accuracy and reliability deteriorate due to inability to simulate real-world conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a cloud-based test environment that replicates production network topology, configuration, and traffic patterns. Virtual copies of production network slices are instantiated in the cloud testing environment, allowing tests to be performed on realistic network configurations without affecting live production systems. This copying approach enables accurate simulation of real-world conditions while maintaining controlled testing parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The testing system segments the network into virtual slices that can be independently created, configured, and tested in the cloud environment. Each network slice represents a isolated test scenario that can be populated with specific production-like configurations and traffic patterns, allowing multiple parallel tests with different real-world condition simulations without interfering with each other or production systems.
2Reliability
If extensive testing is performed to ensure network functionality, then feature reliability improves, but deployment time increases due to testing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs comprehensive testing in advance in the cloud-based test environment before deployment to production. Network slices are fully configured and tested with production-like traffic patterns and configurations in the cloud, identifying and resolving issues before they reach production systems. This preliminary testing validates feature reliability while enabling faster subsequent deployment since major issues are caught early.
Solution Approach 2:
The cloud-based test environment serves as an intermediary between development and production systems. It provides a realistic testing ground that closely mirrors production conditions while remaining isolated, allowing extensive validation without the risks or time constraints of production testing. This intermediary environment accelerates the overall deployment timeline by enabling thorough testing without production delays.
3Productivity
If cloud-based multi-environment testing is implemented, then deployment speed increases through accelerated testing, but system complexity increases due to multiple environments and configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The cloud-based testing platform provides a universal environment that can host multiple network slice configurations and test scenarios simultaneously. A single cloud infrastructure supports diverse testing needs across different network slices, traffic patterns, and configurations through virtualization and orchestration, avoiding the need for separate physical test labs for each scenario and reducing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and non-transitory, machine-readable media may facilitate multi-environment cellular network slice testing. A cloud-based test environment may be created and may include multiple cellular network components executed on a cloud-based computing platform. One or more slice testing requests may be received from a service provider system. Responsive to the one or more slice testing requests, one or more network slices may be created, where the one or more network slices may correspond to one or more portions of a cellular network. Slice testing may be performed with the one or more network slices within the cloud-based test environment. Results of the slice testing using the one or more network slices may be obtained.