Network slicing with smart contracts
AssigneeTelefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
InventorsCatalin Meirosu, Craig Schoneberg
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device to implement a method of managing user equipment resource tracking in a visited network using blockchain based smart contracts. The method is implemented by the device in a home network of the user equipment. The method includes receiving notification from the visited network of the user equipment connection request, installing a smart contract for the user equipment into a blockchain, and reporting an identifier for the smart contract to the visited network to enable recording of resource usage of the user equipment to the blockchain and association with the smart contract.
Claims14
A method of managing user equipment resource tracking in a visited network using blockchain based smart contracts, the method implemented by a device in a home network of the user equipment, the method comprising:
- receiving notification from the visited network of the user equipment connection request;
- installing a smart contract for the user equipment into a blockchain;
- reporting an identifier for the smart contract to the visited network to enable recording of resource usage of the user equipment to the blockchain and association with the smart contract;
- migrating virtual network functions (VNFs) with a current state of VNFs for the user equipment to the visited network;
- retrieving a user profile information for the user equipment;
- determining a smart contract template for the user equipment and the visited network;
- generating virtual network functions to service the user equipment based on the user profile;
- and
- negotiating traffic steering policies to apply to the user equipment with the visited network.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein a set of instructions, which when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to execute a set of operations for a method of managing user equipment resource tracking in a visited network using blockchain based smart contracts, the method implemented by a device in a home network of the user equipment, the set of operations comprising:
- receiving notification from the visited network of the user equipment connection request;
- installing a smart contract for the user equipment into a blockchain;
- reporting an identifier for the smart contract to the visited network to enable recording of resource usage of the user equipment to the blockchain and association with the smart contract;
- migrating virtual network functions (VNFs) with a current state of VNFs for the user equipment to the visited network;
- retrieving a user profile information for the user equipment;
- determining a smart contract template for the user equipment and the visited network;
- generating virtual network functions to service the user equipment based on the user profile;
- and
- negotiating traffic steering policies to apply to the user equipment with the visited network.
A method of managing user equipment resource tracking in a visited network using blockchain based smart contracts, the method implemented by a device in a visited network, the method comprising:
- receiving a connection request from the user equipment;
- notifying a home network for the user equipment of the connection request;
- instantiating a charging proxy in the visited network for the user equipment to track resource usage of the user equipment in the visited network using a smart contract and blockchain to report resource usage for the user equipment;
- migrating virtual network functions (VNFs) with a current state of VNFs for the user equipment to the visited network;
- receiving a smart contract identifier of the smart contract of the user equipment in the blockchain from the home network;
- and
- negotiating traffic steering policies to apply to the user equipment with the home network.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored therein a set of instructions, which when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to execute a set of operations for a method of managing user equipment resource tracking in a visited network using blockchain based smart contracts, the method implemented by a device in a home network of the user equipment, the set of operations comprising:
- receiving a connection request from the user equipment;
- notifying a home network for the user equipment of the connection request;
- instantiating a charging proxy in the visited network for the user equipment to track resource usage of the user equipment in the visited network using a smart contract and blockchain to report resource usage for the user equipment;
- migrating virtual network functions (VNFs) with a current state of VNFs for the user equipment to the visited network;
- receiving a smart contract identifier of the smart contract of the user equipment in the blockchain from the home network;
- and
- negotiating traffic steering policies to apply to the user equipment with the home network.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.