Transport Queue Mapping for 5G Network Slice SLA Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack the ability to achieve fine-grained control over transport resources to enforce network slice-based Service Level Agreements (SLAs) due to the absence of GTP-U tunnel contexts being exposed at the transport domain level, making it difficult to manage traffic per network slice, per QoS, per flow, and per UE.
Innovation Solution
A transport system comprising a transport controller that receives GTP tunnel contexts from a radio access network and generates a map for each transport device, allowing for fine-grained control over traffic shaping and packet scheduling to meet SLAs for each service flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If GTP-U tunnel contexts are not exposed at the transport domain level, then the existing system structure is maintained, but fine-grained control over transport resources to enforce network slice-based SLAs cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transport controller as an intermediary component that receives GTP-U tunnel contexts from the radio access network and generates traffic flow maps for transport devices. This mediator enables fine-grained control over transport resources without fundamentally altering the existing network architecture, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the control function by creating separate traffic flow maps for different network slices, QoS classes, and flows. Each map is generated independently and sent to specific transport devices, enabling fine-grained control while maintaining modular system architecture that reduces overall complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traffic management is performed without GTP-U tunnel contexts at transport domain level, then system simplicity is maintained, but ability to manage traffic per network slice, per QoS, per flow, and per UE is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The transport controller performs preliminary action by receiving and processing GTP-U tunnel contexts before traffic routing decisions are made. It generates traffic flow maps in advance that contain all necessary context information, ensuring that transport devices have complete information for flexible traffic management without losing any context data.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of GTP-U tunnel context information and embeds them into traffic flow maps that are sent to transport devices. This copying mechanism preserves all necessary context information (network slice, QoS, flow, and UE identifiers) while adapting it for transport domain use, enabling versatile traffic management.
3Reliability
If existing transport systems are used without modification, then device complexity is minimized, but inability to enforce network slice-based SLAs results in poor service quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic traffic flow maps that can be generated and updated based on current network conditions and SLA requirements. The transport controller dynamically creates these maps using available GTP-U tunnel contexts, enabling SLA compliance without requiring static complex configurations in transport devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of existing transport systems by introducing new control mechanisms at the transport controller level. Instead of modifying transport devices, the system changes the control parameters and information flow, generating detailed traffic flow maps that guide existing devices to meet SLA requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A system comprises one or more devices. The devices are configured to: receive a context associated with a flow of packets between a User Equipment device (UE) and a network slice in a wireless network; obtain one or more policy rules; apply the policy rules to the context and a model of a transport device to generate or update a map that assigns one or more contexts to queues within the transport device; and send the map to the transport device. The transport device is configured to: adjust parameters of the queues based on the map; shape traffic from each of the queues; schedule packets from the queues; and forward the scheduled packets.