Software-Defined Network Restoration for Cross-Operator Service Onboarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face challenges in efficiently providing access to services and updates for user devices, particularly in degraded states or outside the home network coverage, leading to potential delays and human errors due to manual operations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a software-defined mechanism that automatically activates secondary resources, such as satellite networks and roaming interconnects, to mitigate degraded states and provide updates to user equipment, leveraging cloud-based virtualized network functions for efficient resource allocation and management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual procedures are used to activate cell sites and provision services, then operators can control each step, but the process is time-consuming and prone to human error
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automated self-service through the service onboarding platform that automatically provisions services, activates cell sites, and configures network parameters without manual operator intervention. The platform autonomously executes activation procedures, manages resource allocation, and coordinates with multiple network operators, thereby eliminating human error and reducing activation time while maintaining high reliability through automated validation and error handling mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring service templates, pre-allocating network resources, and pre-establishing roaming agreements before actual service activation is needed. When a cell site requires activation, the platform can rapidly deploy pre-prepared configurations and resources, significantly reducing the time from activation request to service availability while ensuring reliability through pre-validation of configurations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If devices are activated outside home network coverage, then user access to services is enabled, but network resource management becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The service onboarding platform provides universal service activation capabilities that work across multiple network operators and different deployment scenarios (home network, roaming, satellite). The platform implements a unified resource management system that handles diverse network types through standardized interfaces and protocols, enabling flexible device activation anywhere in the network while managing complexity through abstraction layers that present a consistent management interface regardless of the underlying network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform acts as an intermediary between devices and multiple network operators, managing the complexity of cross-operator resource allocation. It implements roaming coordination mechanisms, resource booking systems, and billing reconciliation that simplify the interaction between devices seeking service outside their home network and the various operators providing infrastructure, thereby enabling flexible activation while containing management complexity within the platform layer.
3Reliability
If secondary resources like satellite networks are activated to mitigate degraded states, then service availability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic resource allocation that automatically adapts to network conditions. When primary terrestrial networks are degraded, the platform dynamically activates alternative resources such as satellite networks or roaming partners based on real-time network status monitoring. The system continuously adjusts resource allocation, switching between primary and secondary resources as conditions change, thereby maintaining service availability while managing complexity through automated decision-making algorithms that select appropriate resources based on current network state.
4Productivity
If automated software-defined mechanisms are implemented, then operational efficiency is improved, but initial system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform replaces manual mechanical procedures with automated software-defined mechanisms. Service provisioning, cell site activation, and resource allocation that previously required manual operator actions are now executed automatically through software controllers that manage network elements, configure parameters, and coordinate resources. This substitution dramatically increases provisioning speed and operational efficiency while managing the inherent software complexity through modular architecture, standardized interfaces, and automated validation mechanisms.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, determining, by a processing system including a processor of a first network operator, that a user equipment located within a communication range of the processing system is an authenticated subscriber of a second network operator, resulting in a first determination, and providing, by the processing system and based on the first determination, an update to software or firmware of the user equipment that is initiated by the second network operator. Aspects of this disclosure may include determining that a first resource associated with a first cellular network is functioning in a degraded state, determining an impact of the degraded state, based on the impact exceeding a first threshold, identifying a second resource to mitigate the impact, and activating the second resource. Other embodiments are disclosed.