Network Slice Stitching Across Domains With a Common BGP-Slice ID

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Solution Overview

Problem

In complex 5G environments, there is a lack of a unique identifier that can be used consistently across multiple domains to differentiate network slices, making it challenging to stitch slices appropriately and achieve end-to-end network slicing.

Innovation Solution

Generate a common Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) attribute, such as BGP-Slice ID, for a specific network slice, map domain-specific attributes to this ID, and distribute the mapping across domains to stitch the slice across multiple domains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If domain-specific attributes are used to identify network slices in each domain, then slice differentiation within each domain is achieved, but end-to-end slice stitching across multiple domains becomes complex and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveslice differentiation capabilityVSAvoidslice stitching complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a universal BGP attribute (BGP-Slice ID) that serves as a common identifier across multiple domains, enabling the same attribute to function for both domain-specific slice identification and cross-domain slice stitching, thereby eliminating the need for complex mapping mechanisms between different domain-specific attributes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The BGP-Slice ID acts as an intermediary identifier that bridges different domains, allowing network slices to be stitched across domain boundaries without direct interaction between domain-specific attributes, simplifying the overall stitching complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If no unique identifier is provided across domains, then domain autonomy is maintained, but end-to-end network slicing cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveend-to-end network slicing capabilityVSAvoidslice identification consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The BGP attribute is designed to serve as a universal identifier that maintains slice identification consistency across all domains while preserving domain autonomy, as each domain can independently use the same BGP attribute format with domain-specific values

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4364373B1Mapping and stitching network slices across various domains based on a border gateway protocol attribute

Publication Date: 2025.10.08 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

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AI summary

The present technology is directed to generating a common Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) attribute, for example, BGP-Slice Identifier (ID) for a specific network slice and stitching the network slice across one or more domains to realize end-to-end slicing. The present technology can generate BGP ID for a specific network slice spanning a plurality of domains and map domain-specific attributes associated with sub-slices of the specific network slice in different domains of the plurality of domains to the BGP ID. The present technology can further facilitate distribution of the mapping of the domain-specific attributes to the BGP ID across the plurality of domains for stitching the sub-slices together from the domain-specific attributes based on the BGP ID to stitch the specific network slice across the plurality of domains. Furthermore, the present technology can identify a configuration error in the mapping of the domain-specific attributes and the BGP ID and transmit a feedback informing the existence of the error for performing remedial measures.