Linked Network Descriptor Template for 5G Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
The deployment of virtualized network functions (VNFs) and containerized network functions (CNFs) in 5G core networks often results in network performance degradation or outages due to the lack of awareness about dependencies between network artifacts.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a Linked Network Descriptor Template (LNDT) that models all artifacts for a deployment, enabling the linking of different descriptors and parts of different artifacts, which can be processed by orchestration tools to automate network configuration deployments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automated deployment of VNFs and CNFs is implemented without dependency awareness, then deployment speed and productivity are improved, but network reliability deteriorates due to performance degradation or outages
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of artifact dependencies before deployment execution. The Linked Network Descriptor Template models all artifacts and their dependencies in advance, allowing the orchestration tool to identify and resolve potential conflicts before they cause network outages or performance degradation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary dependency awareness layer between the automated deployment system and the network artifacts. This intermediary analyzes and manages dependencies between artifacts, enabling automated deployment to proceed safely without causing network disruptions.
2Reliability
If comprehensive dependency analysis is performed on all network artifacts, then network reliability is improved, but deployment complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual model (Linked Network Descriptor Template) that copies and represents the dependency relationships of network artifacts. This model allows dependency analysis to be performed on the template rather than directly on the complex network artifacts, reducing the complexity of the analysis process while maintaining accuracy.
3Reliability
If manual configuration deployment is used to ensure artifact dependency awareness, then network reliability is improved, but deployment productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service deployment by having the orchestration tool automatically analyze dependencies through the Linked Network Descriptor Template and resolve conflicts without manual intervention. This maintains the accuracy of dependency awareness while eliminating the need for manual configuration deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods described herein enable a runtime orchestration platform to deploy network configurations without degrading network performance or causing a network outage. According to one implementation, a network device receives a linked descriptor for deploying a network configuration in a network. The linked descriptor includes a first artifact associated with the network configuration, a unique artifact identifier for the first artifact, a network level identifier for the first artifact, and a link identifier of one or more second artifacts that are associated with the network configuration. The link identifier corresponds to a different network level than the network level identifier for the first artifact. The network device determines, based on information in the linked descriptor, if deployment of the first artifact will cause performance degradation in the network and prevents deployment of the network configuration when deployment of the first artifact will cause performance degradation in the network.