Network Slice Controller for Differentiated QoS Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication networks lack the ability to provide differentiated quality of service (QoS) support for various services with different requirements, such as high throughput, mass links, and low latency, due to redundant feature support being costly and not mandatory for all services.

Innovation Solution

A communication control method and controller that allocate specific network slices with corresponding function instances to meet the unique processing and transmission resource needs of each service, allowing for differentiated data packet processing based on slice identifiers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the network provides complete support for all services with all features (high throughput, mass links, short delays), then service quality is improved, but operational costs increase extremely greatly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice qualityVSAvoidoperational costs
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The network is segmented into multiple network slices, each dedicated to specific service types with tailored resource allocations. This allows the network to provide specialized support for different services (e.g., high throughput for video, low latency for self-driving) without equipping all network components with every possible feature, thereby reducing overall operational costs while maintaining high service quality for each slice.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the network are configured with different qualities and capabilities according to local service requirements. Each network slice has customized processing mechanisms and resource allocations matched to its specific service needs, rather than applying uniform high-quality support across the entire network. This local differentiation reduces wasted resources on features not needed for particular services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Loss of energy

If the network provides differentiated processing mechanisms for different services, then operational costs are reduced, but service quality may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational costsVSAvoidservice quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network is divided into isolated network slices, each with its own dedicated resources and processing mechanisms. This segmentation ensures that differentiated processing does not compromise service quality, as each service receives specialized handling tailored to its requirements. For example, delay-sensitive services get prioritized processing in their dedicated slice, maintaining high service quality while avoiding the cost of providing such specialized processing across the entire network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Loss of time

If functions are relocated from core network to base station to reduce delays, then data packet transmission delay is reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata packet transmission delayVSAvoidbase station complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Network functions are segmented and selectively relocated to base stations only for specific network slices that require low-latency processing. This functional segmentation allows the base station to handle time-critical operations for delay-sensitive services while the core network retains other functions, thereby reducing transmission delays for critical services without unnecessarily increasing base station complexity for all services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base station is configured with different levels of functional complexity depending on the local service requirements. For network slices requiring low latency, necessary functions are relocated to the base station with appropriate processing capabilities. For other slices, the base station maintains simpler configurations, avoiding unnecessary complexity while still meeting the specific quality requirements of each service type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3343978B1Communication control method and controller, user equipment, and function instance
Publication Date: 2022.04.06 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3343978B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3343978B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3343978B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention discloses a communication control method, a controller, user equipment, and a function instance that can meet quality of service requirements of services with different requirements. The communication control method includes: obtaining, by a controller, a first slice identifier corresponding to a first service; determining, by the controller according to the first slice identifier, a first function instance corresponding to the first slice identifier; and separately sending, by the controller, to first user equipment UE and the first function instance, instruction information for setting up a bearer, where the bearer is used to transmit a data packet of the first service corresponding to the first UE, the bearer corresponds to the first slice identifier, and the instruction information carries an identity of the first UE and an identity of the first function instance.