Network Slice Capacity Planning via Throughput and Latency Variation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network slicing technologies struggle to effectively manage throughput variation and latency variation in 5G mobile networks, which impact the Quality of Experience (QoE) for users, particularly for applications like cloud gaming.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses a flow/slice performance evaluator to determine throughput variation and latency variation across network slices, and utilizing this data for dynamic resource allocation and capacity planning to ensure performance requirements are met.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If network slicing is implemented to meet diverse performance requirements for different data sessions, then service customization and adaptability are improved, but throughput variation and latency variation increase, impacting Quality of Experience

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice customizationVSAvoidthroughput variation and latency variation

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary capacity planning by analyzing historical throughput and latency data to forecast future performance requirements. Network resources are pre-allocated and adjusted based on predicted traffic patterns, allowing the network to proactively meet performance requirements before they are violated, thus reducing throughput variation and latency variation while maintaining service customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic resource allocation is implemented to meet changing network needs, then network adaptability is improved, but measurement and monitoring complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork adaptabilityVSAvoidmeasurement and monitoring complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements continuous feedback loops where throughput and latency measurements are collected from network elements, analyzed to determine performance variations, and used to trigger dynamic resource allocation adjustments. This closed-loop feedback mechanism automatically adapts resource distribution based on real-time conditions, reducing the manual complexity of monitoring while maintaining high network adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If capacity planning is performed to ensure performance requirements are met, then service reliability is improved, but planning complexity and computational overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveperformance requirement complianceVSAvoidplanning complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system transforms complex capacity planning into a parameter optimization problem by analyzing throughput variation and latency variation as key metrics. Historical data is processed to establish statistical parameters and confidence intervals for performance requirements. The planning process then becomes a calculation of resource needs based on these parameters, significantly reducing computational complexity while maintaining reliable performance compliance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS20250168703A1Network slicing capacity planning based on throughput variation and latency variation

Publication Date: 2025.05.22 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A network device determines at least one of throughput variation and latency variation associated with at least one flow transiting a network slice of a mobile network. The network device compares the at least one of the throughput variation and the latency variation with performance requirements of the network slice, and determines, based on the comparing, network slice resources needed for capacity planning of the network slice. The network device adds or removes network slice resources from the network slice based on the determined network slice resources.