Service API Translation to Network Slice APIs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless communication systems face challenges in efficiently translating service application programming interfaces (APIs) to slice APIs, which are essential for network slicing and providing customized communication services across shared infrastructure, leading to complex and time-consuming interactions between network operators and application providers.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for translating service APIs to slice APIs, enabling dynamic invocation of these translated APIs, which simplifies interactions by mapping service requests to slice-specific parameters and exposing slice capabilities to applications, thereby facilitating flexible and on-demand service provisioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If service APIs are directly exposed to applications without translation, then application providers can access network services, but the interaction complexity between network operators and application providers increases and service provisioning becomes time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an API translation mechanism that acts as an intermediary layer between service APIs and slice APIs. This translation mechanism converts service API requests into slice-specific API requests, enabling applications to access network slices without direct complex interactions with network operators. The intermediary handles the complexity of mapping service-level requests to slice-level parameters, thereby simplifying the overall service provisioning process while managing the necessary translation complexity internally.
2Adaptability or versatility
If service APIs are translated to slice APIs dynamically, then service provisioning becomes flexible and on-demand, but the translation process requires complex mapping between service requests and slice parameters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic API translation where the translation mechanism adapts service API requests to slice-specific parameters in real-time based on application requirements and network slice characteristics. The system dynamically determines which slice parameters to map based on the service request type, enabling flexible on-demand service provisioning. This dynamic approach allows the system to handle diverse service requests with varying mapping requirements without requiring static pre-configuration for every possible service type.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple slice parameters are exposed to applications, then slice capabilities become accessible, but the interface complexity between applications and network slices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the slice API parameters into different categories based on their functionality and relevance to applications. The translation mechanism selectively exposes only the necessary slice parameters to applications through the translated service APIs, rather than exposing all possible slice parameters. This segmentation approach allows applications to access required slice capabilities while maintaining a simplified interface structure, as applications only interact with the segmented, relevant parameters through the translation layer.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, and systems are disclosed for application programming interface translation. One method (900) includes (902) receiving a request for invoking a service application programming interface. The method (900) includes translating (904) the service application programming interface to a slice application programming interface. The method (900) includes invoking (906) the translated slice application programming interface. Invoking the translated slice application programming interface may include making a translated slice application programming interface request to a service producer, receiving a translated slice application programming interface response from the service producer, or a combination thereof.