Network Slice Subnet Templates for 5G Provisioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for provisioning communication services in 5G networks are complex and time-consuming, requiring multiple interfaces and parameters, leading to significant wait times and potential errors for tenants seeking to provision end-to-end network slices across geographically distributed data centers and domains.
Innovation Solution
A user interface and workflow-based system that allows tenants to select service templates, specify attributes, and provision network slices on-demand, enabling localized geographic area selection and reducing the need for manual intervention by mobile network operators through a provisioning portal that facilitates end-to-end network slice deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a tenant uses existing systems to provision communication services, then the service can be provisioned across geographically distributed data centers and domains, but the process becomes complex and time-consuming with significant wait times and potential errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures network slice templates with all necessary network functions, configurations, and parameters before provisioning requests arrive. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for tenants to manually configure complex parameters during the provisioning process, significantly reducing wait times and errors while maintaining the ability to deploy across distributed data centers and domains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network slice template as an intermediary layer between the tenant's provisioning request and the underlying complex network infrastructure. This template acts as a pre-packaged configuration that simplifies the interaction model, allowing tenants to provision services by selecting templates rather than manually configuring multiple interfaces and parameters across distributed systems.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple configuration interfaces and parameters are used for service provisioning, then comprehensive service configuration is achieved, but significant errors occur during the provisioning process
Solution Approach 1:
Network slice templates are pre-configured with validated combinations of network functions, parameters, and configurations before being made available to tenants. This preliminary validation ensures that only error-free configurations are presented to users, eliminating provisioning errors while maintaining the flexibility to support diverse service requirements through different template options.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses template copying where proven, working network slice configurations are replicated and reused across multiple provisioning instances. Instead of allowing tenants to manually configure each parameter (which leads to errors), the system copies pre-validated template configurations, ensuring consistency and accuracy while maintaining adaptability through template selection and customization options.
3Ease of operation
If manual provisioning processes are used by mobile network operators, then service provisioning can be completed, but overhead and wait times increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables tenant self-service provisioning through network slice templates, allowing tenants to independently select and deploy network slices without requiring manual intervention from mobile network operator personnel. This self-service capability dramatically reduces both the complexity of the provisioning process and the wait time, as tenants can immediately provision services by selecting pre-configured templates without waiting for operator availability.
Solution Approach 2:
By pre-configuring network slice templates with all necessary network functions and parameters before tenant requests arrive, the system eliminates the need for time-consuming manual configuration processes. This preliminary preparation allows instant provisioning upon tenant selection, significantly reducing wait times while maintaining operational simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for defining a network slice template (NST) for provisioning a network slice based on one or more network slice subnet templates (NSSTs). For example, a network provisioning system obtains one or more NSSTs. The one or more NSSTs may include a domain-level NSST for a domain-specific network service or a root-level NSST for an end-to-end network service. The network provisioning system defines an NST based on the one or more NSSTs. The network provisioning system deploys a network slice in accordance with the NST. In some examples, the network slice is a 5G communications network slice.