US 2022/0191777 A1 · TELECOMMUNICATIONS NETWORK

Abstract

This invention provides a method, and a network node for implementing the method, for establishing a multi-domain network slice in a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network being an internetwork of a first network domain and second network domain, in which the first network domain and second network domain are of different network types being one of an access network, backhaul network and a core network, wherein a network node includes a network slice database storing data on a plurality of network slices established in the first and second network domains, the method comprising the steps of: the network node receiving data indicating a change to the plurality of network slices established in the first and second network domains and, in response, updating the network slice database; the network node receiving a request from the first network to establish a multi-domain network slice across the first and second network, the multi-domain network slice using a first network slice on a first set of network nodes of the first network and a second network slice operating on a second set of network nodes of the second network, wherein the request includes requirement data for the multi-domain network slice; the network node identifying the second network slice by: retrieving, from the network slice database, network slice capability data for the second network slice, the network slice capability data indicating the second network slice's capability for one or more metrics, comparing the retrieved network slice capability data for the second network slice with requirement data for the multi-domain network slice, and selecting the second network slice based on the comparison; and the network node responding to the request with an identifier for the second network slice.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A method for establishing a multi-domain network slice in a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network being an internetwork of a first network domain and a second network domain, in which the first network domain and the second network domain are of different network types being one of an access network, a backhaul network, or a core network, wherein a network node includes a network slice database storing data on a plurality of network slices established in the first network domain and the second network domain, the method comprising:

the network node receiving data indicating a change to the plurality of network slices established in the first network domain and the second network domain and, in response, updating the network slice database;
the network node receiving a request from one of a first set of network nodes in the first network domain to establish a multi-domain network slice across the first network domain and the second network domain, the multi-domain network slice using a first network slice operating on one or more of the first set of network nodes of the first network domain and a second network slice operating on one or more of a second set of network nodes of the second network domain, wherein the request includes requirement data for the multi-domain network slice for one or more attributes;
the network node identifying the second network slice by:
retrieving, from the network slice database, network slice capability data for the second network slice, the network slice capability data indicating a capability of the second network slice for the one or more attributes,
comparing the retrieved network slice capability data for the second network slice with the requirement data for the multi-domain network slice, and
selecting the second network slice based on the comparison;
and
the network node responding to the request with an identifier for the second network slice.

5 more elements

A network node for establishing a multi-domain network slice in a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network being an internetwork of a first network domain and a second network domain, in which the first network domain and the second network domain are of different network types being one of an access network, a backhaul network, or a core network, the network node comprising:

memory including a network slice database storing data on a plurality of network slices established in the first network domain and the second network domain;
a transceiver configured to receive:
data indicating a change to the plurality of network slices established in the first network domain and the second network domain, and
a request from one of a first set of network nodes in the first network domain to establish a multi-domain network slice across the first network domain and the second network domain, the multi-domain network slice using a first network slice operating on one or more of the first set of network nodes of the first network domain and a second network slice operating on one or more of a second set of network nodes of the second network domain, wherein the request includes requirement data for the multi-domain network slice for one or more attributes;
and
a processor configured to:
update the network slice database in response to the data indicating a change to the plurality of network slices, and
identify the second network slice by:
retrieving, from the network slice database, network slice capability data for the second network slice, the network slice capability data indicating a capability of the second network slice for the one or more attributes,
comparing the retrieved network slice capability data for the second network slice with the requirement data for the multi-domain network slice, and
selecting the second network slice based on the comparison;
wherein the transceiver is further configured to respond to the request with an identifier for the second network slice.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Telecommunications network

Life of this patent

Telecommunications network

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims11