Dynamic Service Chain Adaptation for Network Context

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Solution Overview

Problem

In current communication networks, client entities face challenges in accessing services due to incompatibilities between their quality of service constraints and those required for service implementation, leading to errors in service selection and increased administrative complexity, as they need to negotiate multiple service contracts based on various quality of service profiles.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine a chain of elementary functions associated with a service, which adapts to the context of the client entity, allowing for autonomous adaptation within the network, reducing the need for client entity selection and simplifying administration by performing actions such as adding, deleting, or modifying functions based on user identifiers, access network types, and terminal types, with access control ensuring authorized service access.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed chain of elementary functions is defined during contract negotiation, then service implementation constraints are met, but client entities with varying quality constraints cannot access the service

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice access compatibilityVSAvoidchain configuration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by transforming the static, fixed chain of elementary functions into a dynamic structure that can be automatically adapted at runtime. The determination device modifies the chain based on real-time context information from client entities, such as terminal capabilities and network conditions, allowing the service to accommodate varying quality constraints without requiring multiple pre-configured chains.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service through automatic chain determination. Instead of requiring manual configuration or client selection of appropriate service chains, the determination device autonomously analyzes client context and selects or generates the appropriate chain of elementary functions. This eliminates the need for clients to manually select service identifiers and reduces configuration complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple service contracts are negotiated for different quality profiles, then all client quality constraints are covered, but administrative complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality constraint coverageVSAvoidadministration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by creating a single determination device that serves multiple functions: it handles context analysis, chain selection, and chain generation for all client entities regardless of their specific quality constraints. This universal approach replaces the need for multiple separate service contracts and chains, simplifying administration while maintaining comprehensive coverage of different quality profiles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If client entities manually select service identifiers, then service selection flexibility is maintained, but selection errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice selection flexibilityVSAvoidservice selection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The determination device acts as an intermediary between the client entity and the service implementation. It receives context information from the client, automatically determines the appropriate chain of elementary functions, and returns the determined chain to the service provider. This intermediary role eliminates the need for clients to manually select service identifiers, preventing selection errors while maintaining flexibility through context-based automatic determination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2446360B1Technique for determining a chain of basic functions associated with a service
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 ORANGE SA
  • EP2446360B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2446360B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2446360B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining a chain of basic functions associated with a service. Said basic functions are to be interconnected with a view to provide said service to a client entity (N) in a communication network. The method includes the following steps, implemented by a determination device (IF-OPAC): a step (F1) of receiving, from an access node for the service, a temporary chain of basic functions associated with the service requested by the client entity and of a context associated with the client entity; a step (F2) of determining an action to be carried out on the temporary chain of basic functions associated with the service on the basis of the context associated with the client entity; a step (F3) of implementing the predetermined action on the temporary chain in order to obtain a final chain of basic functions; and a step (F3) of sending the final chain to said access node for the service. Said method for determining a chain of basic functions is to be implemented in order to provide the service to the client entity.