Automated Network Slice Infrastructure Design Using Modular Building Blocks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual design and deployment of thousands to billions of network slices in 5G networks to support diverse services and applications is inefficient and resource-intensive, as it requires processing large quantities of information and consumes significant computing, memory, and network resources.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a machine-executable, automated system that uses service profiles, selection rules, thresholding rules, and stacking rules to design stackable slice infrastructure, where building blocks are selectively chosen based on service characterizations, and updated using machine learning models to improve efficiency and network performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual design and deployment methods are used for network slices, then design flexibility and control are maintained, but resource consumption (computing, memory, network) increases significantly and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork slice deployment efficiencyVSAvoidcomputing and network resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical design processes with an automated machine-executable system that uses algorithms and software to generate network slice configurations, thereby reducing human labor and improving deployment efficiency while lowering resource consumption

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service automation where the network infrastructure automatically designs and deploys network slices without manual intervention, using predefined parameters and machine learning models to autonomously optimize resource allocation and reduce computing overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If automated machine-executable systems are implemented for network slice design, then deployment efficiency and resource conservation improve, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork slice deployment efficiencyVSAvoidautomation system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal automated system that handles multiple network slice design tasks through a single machine-executable platform, reducing overall system complexity by consolidating functions rather than creating separate systems for each task

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system manages complexity by dynamically adjusting parameters such as service profiles, selection rules, and stacking rules based on network conditions and requirements, allowing flexible configuration without increasing structural complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of energy

If building blocks are selectively chosen based on service characterizations, then resource consumption is reduced, but the complexity of selection and stacking processes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomputing resource consumptionVSAvoidbuilding block selection and stacking complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network slice design into modular building blocks that can be independently selected and stacked, reducing the complexity of the overall process by breaking it down into manageable, pre-defined components that require less computational effort to evaluate

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-defining building blocks and their characteristics before the actual network slice design, allowing for faster selection and stacking processes that consume fewer computing resources during deployment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS12003373B2Systems and methods for designing a slice infrastructure

Publication Date: 2024.06.04 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A device associated with a network may receive a service profile for a network slice of the network, where the service profile includes one or more service characterizations of the network slice. The device may determine, based on thresholding rules and for each service characterization, whether the service characterization requires selection from a plurality of building blocks, to obtain a group of service characterizations requiring selection. The device may select, based on selection rules and for each service characterization of the group of service characterizations requiring selection, a building block from the plurality of building blocks, to obtain selected building blocks, where the selection rules map attributes of service characterizations to building blocks. The device may stack, based on stacking rules, the selected building blocks, to obtain a slice infrastructure for the network slice. The device may deploy the slice infrastructure for the network slice in the network.