Network Slice Migration for QoS Coordination in 5G Media
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Solution Overview
Problem
The coordination and synchronization of quality of service (QoS) and policy management across different network slices in 5G media communication services are understudied, leading to quality degradation due to changing network conditions and varying QoS requirements for multiple media service components.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of methods and apparatus for policy management in media applications using network slicing, which involves identifying unsuitable network slices and migrating application flows to alternate slices that can provide the required QoS, utilizing a processor to select and migrate application flows based on the capability of alternate network slices to meet QoS and application service instance requirements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If application flows are provided over multiple network slices, then service diversity and QoS customization are improved, but system complexity and difficulty of QoS coordination increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a QoS coordination function as an intermediary entity that manages and coordinates QoS parameters across multiple network slices. This mediator collects QoS information from different slices, performs coordination, and ensures consistent QoS delivery, thereby reducing the complexity burden on individual network elements while maintaining customized QoS capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The QoS coordination function serves multiple purposes: it monitors QoS parameters, coordinates between slices, manages policy enforcement, and adapts to changing network conditions. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional entity, the system achieves versatility in QoS customization without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If network slicing is implemented for media communication services, then QoS requirements for different media components are improved, but policy management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments policy management into distinct functional components: QoS parameter collection, QoS information coordination, policy decision-making, and policy enforcement. Each component handles a specific aspect of policy management, making the overall complex policy management task more manageable and maintainable while ensuring reliable QoS for different media components.
Solution Approach 2:
The QoS coordination function acts as an intermediary between network slice management and policy enforcement points. It aggregates QoS information from multiple slices, performs coordination logic, and provides unified policy decisions, thereby simplifying the policy management complexity while maintaining reliable QoS requirements for audio, video, and other media components.
3Reliability
If real-time QoS management is implemented, then service quality is improved, but processing overhead and system resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The QoS coordination function implements partial monitoring and coordination, focusing on critical QoS parameters and key decision points rather than continuously processing all possible parameters. This selective approach maintains high service quality for media communication while reducing unnecessary processing overhead and resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where QoS performance is monitored, and coordination decisions are made based on actual performance data. This feedback-driven approach allows the system to maintain high service quality only when necessary, reducing processing overhead during normal operating conditions while quickly responding to QoS degradation events.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a communication interface and a processor operably coupled to the communication interface. The processor is configured to provide a plurality of application flows over a plurality of network slices, wherein a first application flow is provided over a first network slice the processor is also configured to identify that the first network slice is not providing required QoS for the first application flow. The processor is further configured to in response to identifying that the first network slice is not providing required QoS for the first application flow, select an alternate network slice based on a capability of the alternate network slice to provide (i) the required QoS for the first application flow and (ii) application service instance of the first application flow. In addition, the processor is configured to migrate the first application flow to the alternate network slice.