# US 11,115,271 B1 · Network slice configuration > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,115,271 B1 - Document ID: US11115271B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/179,163 - Filed: 2021-02-18 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2021-09-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-31 - Assignees: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy - Applicants: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy - Inventors: Lars Christoph Schmelz; Wieslawa Wajda; Christian Mannweiler - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11115271B1 ## CPC - H04L 41/0813: characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04L 41/5009: Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF] - H04W 28/24: Negotiating SLA [Service Level Agreement]; Negotiating QoS [Quality of Service] - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Apparatuses and methods in a communication system are provided. A method comprises 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 if so, create the slice. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus in a radio access network, comprising: at least one processor; and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to: receive a service request comprising service requirements of a service; determine, based on the service request, a service level specification of the service, the service level specification comprising performance parameters and network functions to support the requested service; normalize 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; determine, 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; compare the normalized service level specification to the normalized performance capability; and determine, 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the determined service level specification comprises attributes of the performance parameters. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to: map the performance parameters of the service level specification to parameters available in the given normalization model when determining the normalized service level specification. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to: determine one or more alternative configurations and normalized performance capabilities of a network slice supporting the requested service; and compare the normalized service level specifications of the one or more alternative configurations to the normalized performance capability. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to: utilize information on network topology and network resources, when determining performance capability of the network functions. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus further to: take service level agreement data related to the service request into account when determining whether the requested service can be realized. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the service request relates to multiple services. ### Claim 8 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. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the determined service level specification comprises attributes of the performance parameters. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: mapping the performance parameters of the service level specification to parameters available in the given normalization model when determining the normalized service level specification. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: determining one or more alternative configurations and normalized performance capabilities of a network slice supporting the requested service; and comparing the normalized service level specifications of the one or more alternative configurations to the normalized performance capability. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: utilizing information on network topology and network resources, when determining performance capability of the network functions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising: take service level agreement data related to the service request into account when determining whether the requested service can be realized. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the service request relates to multiple services. ### Claim 15 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.