Permissioned Blockchain for 5G Network Slice Auditing
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is little collaboration or information sharing in network slicing scenarios across different actors and network slices in 5G networks, leading to inefficiencies in auditing and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a blockchain network with permissioned ledgers and smart contracts to provide auditing, instantiation, and maintenance of network slices across multiple operator networks, ensuring secure and seamless information sharing and enforcement of privacy and anonymization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network slicing is implemented to support multiple independent PLMNs with customized features, then service versatility and customization are improved, but information sharing and collaboration between different network slices are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a blockchain-based intermediary system that enables secure information sharing between network slices. The blockchain acts as a neutral mediator where different PLMNs can store and access auditing information, utilization data, and slicing metadata without direct communication, thus maintaining independence while enabling collaboration.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain network serves multiple functions simultaneously: it stores auditing information, tracks UE utilization across slices, enables smart contract execution for slice management, and provides a decentralized registry for network slice instances. This universal platform supports diverse PLMNs with different requirements while maintaining a common information exchange mechanism.
2Reliability
If auditing information is collected independently by each network slice, then data privacy and security are improved, but auditing efficiency and information collation are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The auditing system is segmented into decentralized nodes across different PLMNs, each maintaining local auditing information independently. The blockchain divides the auditing function into discrete blocks that can be independently validated and linked, allowing parallel auditing operations while maintaining overall system-wide auditability through cryptographic connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where auditing information from multiple slices is continuously updated on the blockchain. Smart contracts automatically verify and propagate auditing data across the network, providing real-time feedback on slice performance, resource utilization, and compliance status without centralizing data collection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple independent PLMNs are deployed with customized features, then network adaptability is improved, but system complexity and coordination overhead are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The blockchain system manages the complexity of multiple PLMNs by standardizing key parameters and interfaces. Network slice instances are registered with standardized metadata parameters on the blockchain, enabling automated discovery and management. Smart contracts enforce consistent parameter validation and coordination rules across diverse slices, reducing the operational complexity of managing customized PLMNs.
4Loss of information
If blockchain technology is implemented for network slice management, then information sharing and auditing are improved, but network overhead and processing time are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-registering network slice instances and their metadata on the blockchain before actual service deployment. Auditing information structures and smart contract templates are prepared in advance, enabling rapid slice instantiation and information sharing without time-consuming setup operations during runtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The blockchain creates cryptographic copies of auditing information and slice metadata that can be distributed across multiple nodes simultaneously. Instead of centralized data retrieval, each node maintains a copy of the relevant blockchain state, enabling parallel access and eliminating single-point bottlenecks in information sharing operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a distributed ledger method for a fifth-generation (5G) network. A network slice is created in the 5G network and a root block is generated in response, containing parameters of the network slice and contracts between participants in the network slice. A blockID of the root block is transmitted to identified participants in the network slice, who sequentially commit a plurality of new blocks to a blockchain beginning from the root block. The plurality of new blocks comprises auditing information of the network slice, wherein the information is collected by the participants in the network slice. The blockchain is stored in a blockchain network of a plurality of disparate blockchains. Desired auditing information for the network slice is retrieved by using the blockID of the root block to traverse the blockchain beginning at the root block until all blocks with the desired auditing information have been read.