Network Slice Traffic Management via Dynamic Resource Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing network traffic across diverse devices with varying connection requirements in a single network architecture is challenging, as it needs to support different usage scenarios, from low-reliability sporadic connections to high-bandwidth and ultra-reliable ones, without compromising performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing network slicing techniques to create isolated virtual networks within a communications network, allowing for dynamic traffic management by measuring traffic levels and adjusting parameters such as prioritization, blocking, or resource allocation based on thresholds, and instructing user equipment to reduce traffic or shift usage to optimize resource utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single network architecture is used to support all device types, then network coverage and basic connectivity are maintained, but network performance and resource utilization deteriorate due to conflicting traffic requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into multiple virtual networks (network slices) that can be independently configured and managed. Each slice is dedicated to specific traffic types or service requirements, allowing the network to simultaneously support diverse device types with conflicting requirements without performance degradation. The segmentation enables isolated resource allocation where critical services receive guaranteed resources while non-critical services use remaining capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network architecture dynamically adjusts resource allocation and traffic management parameters based on real-time conditions. Network slices can be activated, deactivated, or reconfigured according to demand, allowing the system to adapt to varying traffic patterns and service requirements. This dynamic capability enables the network to optimize performance for different scenarios without requiring static over-provisioning.
2Reliability
If the entire network supports the most strenuous use cases, then ultra-reliable connections are achieved, but resource utilization and operational efficiency worsen due to over-provisioning
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the network (network slices) are assigned different quality levels and resource allocations based on local requirements. Critical services such as emergency communications or industrial control receive high-reliability slices with guaranteed resources, while non-critical services like sporadic device communications use lower-reliability slices with shared resources. This local quality differentiation eliminates the need for uniform over-provisioning across the entire network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key network parameters such as bandwidth allocation, priority levels, and reliability guarantees dynamically based on service requirements and network conditions. Network slices are configured with specific parameter sets that match their intended use cases, allowing the network to achieve high reliability for critical services while maintaining efficient resource utilization overall through parameter optimization rather than uniform high-provisioning.
3Productivity
If network slicing is implemented to differentially serve device demands, then service quality and resource optimization improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A network slice manager or control plane acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of slice creation, configuration, and management. This intermediary component abstracts the complex tasks of resource allocation, traffic routing, and slice lifecycle management from individual network elements, centralizing control and simplifying the overall system architecture. The intermediary manages the complexity burden while enabling sophisticated network slicing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The network slicing framework provides universal functionality that can serve multiple different service types and device categories through a common architecture. Rather than building separate specialized networks for each service type, the universal slicing framework allows a single network infrastructure to dynamically create and manage multiple virtual networks with different characteristics, reducing overall system complexity through consolidation while maintaining service differentiation.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing network slice enabled traffic on a communications network is disclosed. The network slice is instantiated on the communications network for providing connectivity resources to a network operator using the communications network. The method comprises measuring a traffic level indicative of the traffic enabled by the network slice; and adjusting the traffic enabled by the network slice in accordance with the traffic level and a network operator enabled function associated with the network slice.