Network Management Function Interface Segmentation for 5G Non-5G Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication networks face challenges in managing network slices and providing telecommunication services across 5G and non-5G management entities, lacking effective interfaces and functionalities to support advanced service offerings like CaaS, NSaaS, NSSaaS, and IaaS, which require new network management functions and interfaces for efficient resource allocation and service orchestration.
Innovation Solution
The development of techniques for creating and managing interfaces between network management functions (MFs) to enable the provisioning of telecommunication services, including the creation of SMF to SMF, SMF to network MF, and network MF to other MF interfaces, allowing for template requests, service requirement management, and resource management, thereby facilitating the interaction between 5G and non-5G management entities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If new network management functions and interfaces are introduced to support 5G service offerings (CaaS, NSaaS, NSSaaS, IaaS), then service functionality and adaptability are improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network management into multiple specialized functions: Service Management Function (SMF) for service-level operations, Network Management Function (NMF) for network-resource operations, and Slice Management Function (Slice MF) for slice-specific operations. This segmentation allows each function to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system adaptability for multiple service offerings (CaaS, NSaaS, NSSaaS, IaaS).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary Slice MF that acts as a bridge between the SMF and NMF, and between 5G and non-5G management entities. This intermediary handles interface conversion and protocol translation, enabling complex multi-service functionality while shielding underlying system complexity from end users and simplifying integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If interface conversion and protocol translation capabilities are added to enable interaction between 5G and non-5G entities, then interoperability and adaptability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The Slice MF is designed with universal capabilities to handle multiple service types (CaaS, NSaaS, NSSaaS, IaaS) and multiple protocol conversions simultaneously. This multi-functional design consolidates what would otherwise require separate specialized entities for each service type and protocol combination, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining broad interoperability.
Solution Approach 2:
The Slice MF serves as an intermediary layer between 5G and non-5G management entities, performing protocol translation and interface conversion. This mediator approach isolates complexity within a single entity rather than requiring complex integration logic in multiple entities, thereby improving interoperability while containing complexity growth.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple management planes (CP, UP, MP) and network slices are implemented to provide dynamic service capabilities, then service versatility improves, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides network management across three distinct planes: Control Plane (CP) for signaling and control functions, User Plane (UP) for data forwarding, and Management Plane (MP) for resource and service management. This segmentation allows each plane to operate independently with specialized functions, improving service versatility while making operations more manageable through clear separation of concerns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the management plane as an additional operational dimension separate from control and user planes. This dimensional separation provides a new layer for service orchestration and resource management, enabling complex multi-service operations to be managed through dedicated management procedures rather than complicating the control and user plane operations.
4Productivity
If new service offering interfaces (template request, service requirement, resource management) are created, then service provisioning capability improves, but interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments service provisioning interfaces into distinct types: template request interfaces for service model definition, service requirement interfaces for customer-specific configurations, and resource management interfaces for network resource allocation. This segmentation allows each interface type to be optimized for its specific purpose, improving provisioning capability for different service scenarios while managing complexity through clear interface categorization.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of providing telecommunication communication services to a customer, comprising, at a network management function (MF) of a telecommunication service provider: receiving an order in accordance with an agreement as to terms of a telecommunications service offering; accessing network resources that satisfy the terms of the service offering; initializing an instance of the service offering using the resources accessible thereby, creating at least one interface by which the telecommunications service offering is made available to the customer; and exposing each of the at least one created interfaces to enable a network MF of the customer to use the telecommunication service offering.