Network Slice Management via Virtualizer Data Projection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current virtual network slicing technologies face challenges in efficiently managing and orchestrating multiple logical networks on a shared physical infrastructure, leading to data redundancy and increased overhead due to the need for separate datastores for each virtual network slice.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a network management virtualizer that uses XSLT transformations to project a slice view of the physical network datastore to slice owners, allowing for unique tagging and classification of network entities, thereby reducing redundancy and overhead by using a single physical network datastore for all virtual network slices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate datastores are used for each virtual network slice, then data integrity and accessibility for each slice is maintained, but data redundancy and overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoiddata redundancy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple separate datastores into a single shared physical network datastore that serves all virtual network slices. This consolidation eliminates data redundancy while maintaining slice-specific data integrity through virtualization layers that provide logical separation and access control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single physical network datastore is designed to serve multiple virtual network slices simultaneously, providing universal access and storage capabilities. The datastore implements multi-functionality by supporting diverse data types and access patterns required by different slices while maintaining a unified storage infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If separate datastores are used for each virtual network slice, then data accessibility for each slice is ensured, but system overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accessibilityVSAvoidsystem overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces virtualization layers and management systems as intermediaries between the single physical network datastore and multiple virtual network slices. These intermediaries provide logical data separation, access control, and slice-specific data retrieval mechanisms that maintain ease of operation while reducing the overhead of managing multiple physical datastores.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple datastores are maintained for virtual network slices, then slice-specific data management is achieved, but memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveslice-specific managementVSAvoidmemory requirements
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the single physical network datastore into multiple logical partitions or namespaces, each corresponding to a specific virtual network slice. This segmentation provides slice-specific data management capabilities while physically storing all data in a unified structure, thereby reducing total memory requirements compared to maintaining separate physical datastores for each slice.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3672158B1Network slice management
Publication Date: 2025.01.08 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP3672158B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3672158B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3672158B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In a method for managing a physical network, whether a slice owner of a virtual network slice in the physical network is allowed to view a network information message is determined based on at least one of classification metadata or allocation metadata associated with the virtual network slice. The network information message, which is received from the physical network, includes at least one of (i) an autonomous notification from a network node in the physical network or (ii) operational data for the network node in the physical network. The network information message is provided to the slice owner in response to determining that the slice owner is allowed to view the network information message.