Network Slice Selector for Stateful Traffic Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication networks lack adaptability in treating diverse types of traffic from various devices, such as mobile phones and IoT devices, as they require different network services based on application types and device types, which existing 4G and 5G standards do not fully address.
Innovation Solution
Establishing a virtual service network across datacenters with multiple network slices, each providing different services, and using network slice selectors to assign data messages to the appropriate slices for correct service chaining, implemented through virtual machines, containers, or hardware forwarding elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network slice selectors are configured at each cellular tower and edge cloud to enable distributed network slice selection, then network adaptability and service differentiation are improved, but network complexity and device density increase
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into multiple independent network slices, each serving specific traffic types or service requirements. Network slice selectors are distributed across multiple locations (cellular towers, edge clouds, core clouds) rather than centralized, allowing independent management and configuration of each slice while maintaining overall network adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of network organization by implementing network slicing across multiple spatial dimensions (access network, edge cloud, core cloud). This multi-dimensional deployment allows traffic to be routed through different network paths and service chains based on requirements, improving adaptability without proportionally increasing complexity at any single location
2Adaptability or versatility
If network slice selectors perform deep packet inspection to identify application types and select appropriate network slices, then service differentiation is improved, but processing time and latency increase
Solution Approach 1:
Network slice selectors perform deep packet inspection and application identification on initial traffic flows to establish service chains and routing rules in advance. Once the application type is identified and the appropriate network slice is selected, subsequent packets of the same flow are routed based on the pre-established rules without requiring repeated deep packet inspection, thereby reducing processing time for ongoing traffic
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing deep packet inspection on every single packet, the system performs inspection on a partial basis (initial packets of each flow) and then uses the results to guide routing of subsequent packets. This partial action approach achieves service differentiation while significantly reducing the overall processing time and computational overhead
3Reliability
If service chaining operations are implemented to ensure data messages traverse correct network services in order, then quality of service is improved, but network processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Network slice selectors act as intermediary components that manage service chaining operations. They maintain context information about data messages and coordinate with network services across different locations (edge clouds, core clouds) to ensure proper ordering and processing. This intermediary approach centralizes the complexity of service chain management in the slice selector while keeping individual network services relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments provide a method for a network slice selector. From an electronic device, the method receives a connection initiation message for a connection between the electronic device and a network domain. The method exchanges a set of connection initiation messages with the electronic device to set up the connection. The method receives a data message belonging to the connection from the electronic device. The method selects one of multiple network slices to which the electronic device has access as the network slice for the connection based on analysis of the received data message. The method forwards the data message and subsequent data messages belonging to the connection onto the selected network slice to be delivered to the network domain.