Network slice configuration

A method, comprising:

• receiving a service request comprising service requirements;
• determining, based on the service request, service level specification of the request, the service level specification comprising performance parameters and network functions to support the requested service;
• normalizing the determined service level specification by scaling the performance parameters according into a given normalization model of the network to obtain normalized service level specification;
• determining, based on the network functions and the given normalization model, normalized performance capability of the network functions and a configuration of a network slice supporting the requested service;
• comparing the normalized service level specification to the normalized performance capability;
• and
• determining, based on the comparison, whether the requested service can be realized with the network slice, and upon determining that the requested service can be realized with the network slice, create the slice, and upon determining that the requested service cannot be realized with the network slice, determining from the service level agreement data when requirements in the service request comprise acceptable reductions, with which the requested service could be realized.

A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer-readable medium, said computer program comprising instructions which, when executed on an apparatus, cause the apparatus to perform at least:

• receiving a service request comprising service requirements of a service;
• determining, based on the service request, a service level specification of the requested service, the service level specification comprising performance parameters and network functions to support the requested service;
• normalizing the determined service level specification by scaling the performance parameters according into a given normalization model of the network to obtain normalized service level specification;
• determining, based on the network functions and the given normalization model, normalized performance capability of the network functions and a configuration of a network slice supporting the requested service;
• comparing the normalized service level specification to the normalized performance capability;
• and determining, based on the comparison, whether the requested service can be realized with the network slice, and upon determining that the requested service can be realized with the network slice, create the slice, and upon determining that the requested service cannot be realized with the network slice, determine from the service level agreement data when requirements in the service request comprise acceptable reductions, with which the requested service could be realized.