# US 12,119,876 B2 · Network control device, communication resource allocation method, and communication system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,119,876 B2 - Document ID: US12119876B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/568,970 - Filed: 2022-01-05 - Published: 2022-04-28 - Granted: 2024-10-15 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-18 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation - Inventors: Kenichi Nakura; Takeshi Suehiro; Akiko Iwasaki; Jun Mizuguchi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12119876B2 ## CPC - H04B 10/27: Arrangements for networking - H04L 12/44: Star or tree networks - H04L 41/0896: Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities (flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76) - H04B 10/272: Star-type networks {or tree-type networks} - H04L 41/0895: Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements - H04L 41/5019: Ensuring fulfilment of SLA - H04L 43/0876: Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level - H04Q 11/0062: {Network aspects} - H04Q 11/0067: {Provisions for optical access or distribution networks, e.g. Gigabit Ethernet Passive Optical Network (GE-PON), ATM-based Passive Optical Network (A-PON), PON-Ring} - H04Q 2011/0064: {Arbitration, scheduling or medium access control aspects} - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract A network control device for generating a slice by dividing a network and allocating communication resources to the slice, the slice being a virtual network, the network control device including: a processor; and a memory to store a program which, when executed by the processor, performs processes of: obtaining and holding resource information from a network device included in the network, the resource information including information on a maximum usage rate of communication resources allocated to a previously generated slice in at least one predetermined period; and determining, upon receiving a request for generating a new slice, whether or not the requested slice can be generated on the basis of the resource information held, wherein the resource information includes information on a maximum usage rate of communication resources, which are allocated to the previously generated slice, depending on a request delay concerning the slice in the predetermined period. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A network control device for generating a slice by dividing a network and allocating communication resources to the slice, the slice being a virtual network, the network control device comprising: a processor; and a memory to store a program which, when executed by the processor, performs processes of: obtaining and holding resource information from a network device included in the network, the resource information including information on a maximum usage rate of communication resources allocated to a previously generated slice in at least one predetermined period; and determining, upon receiving a request for generating a new slice, whether or not the requested slice can be generated on the basis of the resource information held, wherein the resource information includes information on a maximum usage rate of communication resources, which are allocated to the previously generated slice, depending on a request delay concerning the slice in the predetermined period. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The network control device according to claim 1, wherein the network device is a master station device of a passive optical network system, and the resource information obtained is generated on the basis of a timing for granting transmission permission to a slave station device of the passive optical network system by the master station device and a length of time for which transmission is to be permitted. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The network control device according to claim 2, wherein when the processor determines that the requested slice can be generated, the processor generates the slice, and allocates communication resources to the generated slice. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The network control device according to claim 1, wherein the network device is a master station device of a passive optical network system, and the resource information obtained is generated on the basis of a data amount of transmission standby data held by a slave station device of the passive optical network system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The network control device according to claim 4, wherein when the processor determines that the requested slice can be generated, the processor generates the slice, and allocates communication resources to the generated slice. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The network control device according to claim 1, wherein the network device is a master station device of a passive optical network system, and the resource information obtained is generated on the basis of control information included in a frame with which the master station device receives user data from a slave station device of the passive optical network system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The network control device according to claim 6, wherein when the processor determines that the requested slice can be generated, the processor generates the slice, and allocates communication resources to the generated slice. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The network control device according to claim 1, wherein the network device is a relay included in the network, and the resource information obtained is generated on the basis of control information included in a frame with which the relay has received user data. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The network control device according to claim 8, wherein when the processor determines that the requested slice can be generated, the processor generates the slice, and allocates communication resources to the generated slice. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The network control device according to claim 1, wherein when the processor determines that the requested slice can be generated, the processor generates the slice, and allocates communication resources to the generated slice. ### Claim 11 A communication resource allocation method performed by a network control device that generates a slice by dividing a network and allocates communication resources to the slice, the slice being a virtual network, the communication resource allocation method comprising: obtaining resource information from a network device included in the network, the resource information including information on a maximum usage rate of communication resources allocated to a previously generated slice in at least one predetermined period; determining, upon receiving a request for generating a new slice, whether or not the requested slice can be generated on the basis of the resource information; and generating a slice requested by the request for generating a new slice when the requested slice can be generated, and allocating communication resources to the generated slice, wherein the resource information includes information on a maximum usage rate of communication resources, which are allocated to the previously generated slice, depending on a request delay concerning the slice in the predetermined period. ### Claim 12 A communication system comprising: a network control device to generate a slice by dividing a network and allocate communication resources to the slice, the slice being a virtual network; and a network device included in the network, wherein the network device includes: a first processor; and a first memory to store a first program which, when executed by the first processor, performs processes of: generating resource information including information on a maximum usage rate of communication resources allocated to a previously generated slice in at least one predetermined period, the network control device includes: a second processor; and a second memory to store a second program which, when executed by the second processor, performs processes of: obtaining and holding the resource information generated; and determining, upon receiving a request for generating a new slice, whether or not the requested slice can be generated on the basis of the resource information held, wherein the first processor generates the resource information including a maximum usage rate of communication resources allocated to the previously generated slice depending on a request delay concerning the slice in the predetermined period. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The communication system according to claim 12, wherein the network device is a master station device of a passive optical network system included in the network, and the first processor generates the resource information on the basis of a timing for granting transmission permission to a slave station device of the passive optical network system and a length of time for which transmission is to be permitted. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The communication system according to claim 13, wherein the first processor generates the resource information further including information indicating a probability distribution, in a predetermined period, of maximum usage rates of communication resources in the predetermined period. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The communication system according to claim 12, wherein the network device is a master station device of a passive optical network system included in the network, and the first processor generates the resource information on the basis of a data amount of transmission standby data held by a slave station device of the passive optical network system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The communication system according to claim 15, wherein the first processor generates the resource information further including information indicating a probability distribution, in a predetermined period, of maximum usage rates of communication resources in the predetermined period. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The communication system according to claim 12, wherein the network device is a master station device of a passive optical network system included in the network or a relay included in the network, and the first processor generates the resource information on the basis of control information included in a frame with which user data are received. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The communication system according to claim 17, wherein the first processor generates the resource information further including information indicating a probability distribution, in a predetermined period, of maximum usage rates of communication resources in the predetermined period. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The communication system according to claim 12, wherein the first processor generates the resource information further including information indicating a probability distribution, in a predetermined period, of maximum usage rates of communication resources in the predetermined period.