Telecom Network Function Segmentation for Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Telecommunication network operators are hesitant to adopt cloud services due to reliability concerns, particularly with functions like Diameter routing, policy control, and session border control, which are critical for maintaining network integrity.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an on-premises computing system for network-impacting functions and offloading non-impacting functions to an off-premises cloud computing system, using APIs for data communication and event recording to ensure service continuity during outages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all telecommunications functions are executed on-premises to ensure reliability, then network service reliability is improved, but infrastructure cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork service reliabilityVSAvoidon-premises infrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments telecommunications functions into two categories: network-impacting functions (executed on-premises) and non-network-impacting functions (offloaded to cloud). This segmentation allows critical functions to remain on-premises for reliability while non-critical functions move to cloud infrastructure, reducing on-premises complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts non-network-impacting functions from the on-premises system and relocates them to off-premises cloud computing systems. This extraction reduces on-premises infrastructure complexity while maintaining network service reliability through selective function placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If cloud services are adopted to reduce infrastructure cost, then capital expenditure is reduced, but network service reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinfrastructure costVSAvoidnetwork service reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by assigning different execution locations to different functions based on their reliability requirements. Network-impacting functions are executed on-premises with high reliability, while non-network-impacting functions are executed in the cloud with cost efficiency, achieving both goals simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If critical functions are offloaded to cloud to reduce cost, then capital expenditure is reduced, but network integrity is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecapital expenditureVSAvoidnetwork integrity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments functions based on their impact on network integrity. Critical functions that affect network integrity are retained on-premises, while non-critical functions are offloaded to cloud, achieving cost reduction without compromising network integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Stability of the object's composition

If on-premises system handles all functions to maintain network integrity, then network integrity is maintained, but scalability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork integrityVSAvoidnetwork scalability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts non-critical functions from the on-premises system and places them in the cloud, enabling scalability through cloud resources while maintaining network integrity through on-premises execution of critical functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3656089B1Methods, systems, and computer readable media for operating a telecommunications network using an on-premises computing system and an off-premises cloud computing system
Publication Date: 2022.06.01 ORACLE INT CORP
  • EP3656089B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3656089B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3656089B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for operating a telecommunications network using an on-premises computing system and an off-premises cloud computing system. In some examples, a method includes executing, at an on-premises computing system including at least one processor, one or more network-impacting telecommunications functions for the telecommunications network. The method includes offloading, at the on-premises computing system using an on-premises network, one or more other telecommunications functions for the telecommunications network to an off-premises cloud computing system remote from the on-premises network.