Virtual Network Mapping for Service Continuity During Handover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication systems face challenges in ensuring seamless service continuity when the desired quality level of virtual networks is not available, particularly during handovers where target access points may not support the same set of network slices as the source.
Innovation Solution
A network apparatus is equipped with a mapping that includes a first virtual network and at least one other network configured to provide a lower quality service. This mapping is used to select an alternative virtual network that can provide the best available service quality when the preferred network is unavailable, and this information is propagated to other network apparatuses and charging/policy functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a network apparatus strictly enforces the use of a specific virtual network for a service, then service quality is maintained, but service continuity is broken when the target virtual network is unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes a mapping relationship between the preferred virtual network and alternative virtual networks before service disruption occurs. When unavailability is detected, the system can immediately switch to the pre-mapped alternative network, minimizing service interruption time and maintaining continuity without requiring real-time network selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mapping mechanism as an intermediary layer between the service request and the actual virtual network deployment. This mapping acts as a mediator that translates the preferred network identifier into an available network identifier, enabling flexible adaptation when the target network is unavailable while maintaining service continuity.
2Reliability
If the system maintains detailed mapping information for multiple virtual networks, then service continuity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by maintaining mapping information selectively - only for virtual network pairs where the preferred network may be unavailable. The mapping structure is designed to store only essential correspondence relationships between preferred and alternative networks, avoiding unnecessary complexity while ensuring continuity for critical service scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a network apparatus comprising: means for storing a mapping, the mapping comprising an indication of a first virtual network and at least one other virtual network configured to provide a service at a lower quality than the first virtual network; means for receiving, from another network apparatus, a request to provide a service using the first virtual network; and means for using the mapping and the indication of the first virtual network to select a virtual network to provide the requested service.