Nssmf nsmf interaction connecting virtual 5g networks and subnets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018317134-A1
Application number	US-201815959451-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 23, 2018
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Nov 1, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for managing a network comprising at least one network slice instance including at least one network slice subnet instance. The system comprises a network slice management function associated with each network slice instance, the network slice management function configured to manage its associated network slice instance; and a network slice subnet management function associated with each network slice subnet instance, the network slice management function configured to manage its associated network slice subnet instance.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A system for managing a network, the system comprising:
a network slice subnet management function (NSSMF) associated with a network slice subnet instance (NSSI) including a first allocation of network function resources and network function management resources of the network, the network slice subnet management function configured to manage operation of the NSSI; and a network slice management function (NSMF) associated with a network slice instance (NSI) that includes the NSSI and a second allocation of network function resources and network function management resources of the network, the network slice management function configured to: manage operation of the second allocation of network function resources and network function management resources, and interact with the NSSMF to manage operation of the NSSI.

2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the NSSMF is further configured to share resources of its associated NSSI with either one or both of the NSI and a second NSSI.

3 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first allocation of network function resources and network function management resources comprise either one or both of Radio Access Network (RAN) functions and Core Network (CN) functions.

4 . The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the Radio Access Network (RAN) functions and Core Network (CN) functions comprise either one or both of User plane connectivity and control-plane connectivity.

5 . The system as claimed in claim 2 where the NSSMF is responsive to a first request from a parent management function to selectively manage the first allocation of network function resources, the parent management function being either one or both of the NSMF associated with the NSI and a second NSSMF associated with the second NSSI.

6 . The system as claimed in claim 5 where the first message comprises a request to expose any one or more of:
an identification of available network function types, an identification of available network function pools;
a maximum authorized range to request extension of available network function pools; and
an available capacity of each available network function type.

7 . The system as claimed in claim 6 where the identification of available network function types comprises identification of any one or more of:
network functions associated with physical network resources;
virtualized network functions; and
a respective location of each network function.

8 . The system as claimed in claim 6 where the available capacity of each available network function type comprises any one or more of:
a maximum number of simultaneous sessions;
an identification of available sessions types;
an identification of maximum available throughput;
an identification of an available latency budget;
an identification of radio access network (RAN) capabilities; and
an identification of core network (CN) capabilities

9 . The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the identification of radio access network (RAN) capabilities comprises, for a particular RAN node, an identification of any one or more of:
a coverage area;
a maximum simultaneous UE connectivity;
a maximum total throughout;
a slicing capability;
an interference map;
a beamforming capability; and
classes of UE supported.

10 . The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein the identification of core network (CN) capabilities comprises, for a particular core network function, an identification of any one or more of:
a Number of active sessions;
a NF loading; and
a link loading

11 . The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the NSSMF is responsive to a second request from the parent management function to expose, to the parent management function, at least a portion of the first allocation of network function management resources, such that the parent management function can manage operation of the first allocation of network function resources in accordance with the exposed portion of the first allocation of network function management resources.

12 . The system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the second request comprises a request to expose any one or more of:
capabilities of logical links that can be established between network functions;
expected cost of activating or using a particular network function;
required latency between network function types;
consumed capacity between network functions;
alarm tracking facilities;
security facilities;
performance monitoring facilities; and
data caching facilities.

13 . The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the NSSMF is instantiated in a first provider domain, and the parent management function is instantiated in a second provider domain different than the first provider domain.

14 . The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the NSSMF is configured to respond to a share request from a second management function to share resources by:
verifying that the share request complies with one or more predetermined policies;
when the request complies with one or more predetermined policies, reserving resources in accordance with the share request, and providing information to the second management function for using and accessing the reserved resources.

15 . The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the NSSMF is configured to forward monitoring information pertaining to the reserved resources to the second management function.

16 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the NSMF is further configured to share resources of its associated NSI with either one or both of a communication service instance and a second NSI.

17 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second allocation of network function resources and network function management resources comprise either one or both of Radio Access Network (RAN) functions and Core Network (CN) functions.

18 . The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the Radio Access Network (RAN) functions and Core Network (CN) functions comprise either one or both of User plane connectivity and control-plane connectivity.

19 . The system as claimed in claim 16 where the NSMF is responsive to a first request from a parent management function to selectively manage the first allocation of network function resources, the parent management function being either one or both of a communication service management function (CSMF) associated with the communication service instance and a second NSMF associated with the second NSI.

20 . The system as claimed in claim 19 where the first message comprises a request to expose any one or more of:
an identification of available network function types,
an identification of available network function pools;
a maximum authorized range to request extension of available network function pools; and
an available capacity of each available network function type.

21 . The system as claimed in claim 20 where the identification of available network function types comprises identification of any one or more of:
network functions associated with physical network resources;
virtualized network functions; and
a respective location of each network function;

22 . The system as claimed in claim 20 where the available capacity of each available network function type comprises any one or more of:
a maximum number of simultaneous sessions;
an identification of available sessions types;
an identification of maximum available throughput;
an identification of an available la

Assignees

• Leroux Philippe
• Senarath Nimal Gamini
• Liang Chengchao
• Huawei Tech Co Ltd

Inventors

• Leroux Philippe
• Senarath Nimal Gamini
• Liang Chengchao

Classifications

• H04L41/0226

  Mapping or translating multiple network management protocols · CPC title

• H04W28/26 Primary

  Resource reservation · CPC title

• H04L67/1097

  for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS] · CPC title

• H04W8/22

  Processing or transfer of terminal data, e.g. status or physical capabilities · CPC title

• H04L41/122

  of virtualised topologies, e.g. software-defined networks [SDN] or network function virtualisation [NFV] · CPC title