Context-Aware Coordination Entity for Mobile Core Network Slicing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of next-generation mobile networks, driven by features like network slicing and modularization, increases the complexity of network planning, engineering, and management, leading to a need for enhanced operational models that integrate control and management planes to enable automation and optimize system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A controlling entity communicates with network management and function entities to generate context-aware information, using specific interfaces to send context-related data and block transmissions as necessary, thereby closing the decision-making loop between control and management planes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network slicing and modularization are implemented to support diverse services and devices, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
A context awareness function is introduced as an intermediary component that receives information from both the management plane and control plane, generates context information, and distributes it to relevant entities. This mediator coordinates the interactions between network slicing management and control functions, reducing the complexity burden on individual network elements while maintaining the adaptability benefits of network slicing.
2Measurement precision
If information is collected in the management plane for historical analysis, then measurement and analysis capabilities are improved, but automation capability deteriorates due to lack of real-time control
Solution Approach 1:
The context awareness function establishes a feedback loop where context information generated from management plane data is transmitted back to control plane entities. This enables control functions to automatically adjust network behavior based on analyzed performance data, transforming static historical analysis into dynamic real-time automation while preserving measurement precision.
3Ease of operation
If control and management planes operate independently, then operational simplicity is maintained, but coordination efficiency deteriorates leading to suboptimal network performance
Solution Approach 1:
The context awareness function serves as a coordination intermediary that enables information exchange between independently operating control and management planes. It receives management information, processes it into actionable context data, and delivers it to control entities, thereby improving coordination efficiency without requiring deep integration that would compromise operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to a mobile core network (MCN) supporting end-to-end (E2E) network slicing, which comprises a controlling entity (CA_NF), one or more network function (NF) entities extended with functionalities (CA-NFExt), a network management entity (OSS) extended with functionalities (CA_OSSExt), and a coordination entity (CA_CF). The CA_NF communicates with the CA_OSSExt through the CA_CF using interfaces (If-CA_MP and If-CAC_OSS), and with the CA-NFExts using a respective interface (If-CA_NF) and/or other NFs interfaces. Based on information received from the OSS and the NF entities, the CA_NF generates a context with a certain type, sends, based on the generated context, context-related information towards entities impacted by the generated context amongst the NF entities and the OSS, and blocks, for a period of time, a transmission of any generated context towards the NF entities upon receiving, from the OSS, a notification message once the OSS decides to enforce a change.