Microservice Management for 5G Device Service Provisioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fifth Generation (5G) communication networks face challenges in providing efficient and tailored services to diverse devices, such as IoT devices, due to traditional mobility management approaches that treat all endpoints uniformly, leading to inefficiencies in service delivery and network resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a service-oriented architecture (SOA) with microservices that dynamically create business domains based on device types and service specifications, utilizing a service management component to instantiate and manage services, such as connectionless and connection-oriented services, to optimize data communications and network efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional mobility management approaches are used to treat all endpoints uniformly, then network simplicity is maintained, but service delivery efficiency and network resource utilization deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice delivery efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork architecture complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network into different service domains (connectionless service domain and connection-oriented service domain) based on device types and service requirements. This segmentation allows uniform treatment of endpoints while enabling efficient service delivery through specialized domains, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies local quality by providing different service characteristics to different device types. Connectionless services are provided to IoT devices with specific quality attributes (low latency, high reliability) while connection-oriented services are provided to other devices with different attributes. This enables efficient resource utilization tailored to local needs without complicating the overall architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If connection-oriented services are used for all devices, then data communication reliability is improved, but network resource utilization and flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata communication reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent provides connectionless services with specific quality attributes (reliability, low latency) to IoT devices that require them, while using connection-oriented services for other device types. This local differentiation ensures reliability where needed without wasting resources on unnecessary connection establishment for all devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of applying connection-oriented services universally (excessive action), the patent applies them partially only to devices that benefit from them. This partial application optimizes network resource utilization by avoiding the overhead of connection establishment and maintenance for devices that can function efficiently with connectionless services.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If uniform service provisioning is used for all device types, then network operation simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to specific device characteristics deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice tailoring capabilityVSAvoidnetwork management simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments service provisioning into standardized templates for different device types (connectionless for IoT, connection-oriented for others). This segmentation enables adaptability to specific device characteristics through predefined service profiles while maintaining operational simplicity through automated template application rather than manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes service parameters (quality attributes, resource allocation) based on device type through parameter templates. This allows the network to adapt to specific device characteristics by adjusting parameters according to predefined profiles, maintaining simplicity through parameterization rather than complex custom configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11019157B2Connectionless service and other services for devices using microservices in 5G or other next generation communication systems

Publication Date: 2021.05.25 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Techniques for instantiating and managing microservices for use in connection with devices associated with a core network are presented. A service management component (SMC) can determine a subgroup of services to be used for a group of one or more devices based on results of analysis of characteristics and service conditions associated with the group of devices, wherein a characteristic can relate to whether a device is stationary or mobile. At a desired time(s), which can be periodically, dynamically, or upon request, SMC can instantiate or facilitate instantiating the subgroup of services to facilitate communicating data associated with the device(s) using the subgroup of services. The services can comprise a connectionless service, connection-oriented service, charging service, authentication service, UPF services, or other services. SMC can employ the connectionless service when a device is stationary, but the connectionless service can be extended to devices when they are nomadic or mobile.