Network Slice Orchestrator Architecture for 5G Service Customization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management systems lack a standardized architecture for effectively managing network slices in mobile networks, particularly in 5G environments with diverse and competing service demands, leading to complexity in resource allocation and isolation.
Innovation Solution
A network slice management and orchestration architecture that includes a network slice manager, common and slice-specific control planes, and a network slice orchestrator, which enables the instantiation, modification, and termination of network slices, ensuring resource isolation and customization for different service requirements through software-defined networking and network function virtualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network slicing is implemented to support diverse service demands, then service customization and flexibility are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network management system into distinct functional components: a network slice manager for high-level slice management, network slice orchestrators for resource orchestration, and network function managers for individual VNF management. This segmentation allows each component to handle specific tasks independently, improving service customization while managing system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The network slice manager acts as an intermediary between service providers and the underlying network infrastructure. It receives service requirements, translates them into network slice configurations, and coordinates with orchestrators and managers to implement slices. This intermediary layer abstracts the complexity from service providers while enabling detailed customization of network slices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple network slices are created to support different services, then service diversity is improved, but resource allocation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network slice orchestrator provides universal resource orchestration capabilities that can be applied across multiple network slices and different service types. It manages virtualized network functions and resources in a unified manner, enabling diverse services to be supported through a common resource allocation framework, thereby reducing the complexity of managing resources for each individual slice.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of resource allocation parameters for different network slices based on service requirements. The orchestrator can modify parameters such as computational resources, network bandwidth, and storage capacity for each slice without manual reconfiguration, allowing service diversity to be achieved through automated parameter changes rather than complex manual resource management.
3Ease of operation
If network slice management is standardized, then ease of operation is improved, but implementation flexibility may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The network slice management system implements dynamic configuration and management capabilities that allow slices to be created, modified, and terminated based on changing service requirements. The orchestrators and managers can automatically adjust slice parameters, allocate resources dynamically, and adapt to new service types, providing both standardized management procedures and the flexibility to implement diverse network slices as needed.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of generating a network slice is provided. The method comprises a network slice orchestrator (NWSO) receiving from a network slice manager (NWSM) a request for a new network slice, the NWSO adding a new service to the new network slice, the NWSO determining a network slice descriptor (NWSD) for the new network slice, the NWSO transmitting to a resource orchestrator (RO) a request for an instantiation of the network slice using enhanced network function virtualization management and orchestration (E-MANO). A method of modifying a network slice is also provided. The method comprises a NWSO receiving from a NWSM a request to add a new service to a network slice, the NWSO adding a new service to the network slice, the NWSO determining a NWSD for the network slice with the added service, and the NWSO transmitting to a RO a request for an instantiation of the added service on the network slice using E-MANO. A method of terminating a network slice is also provided. The method comprises a NWSO receiving from a NWSM a request to terminate a network slice, the NWSO determining the subnetworks to terminate, and the NWSO transmitting to a RO a request for a termination of the slice specific network functions (NFs).