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CN-122003900-A - Method for routing data, configuring, assigning identifiers and accessing services in a communication network implementing network slicing, and corresponding entity and computer program

CN122003900ACN 122003900 ACN122003900 ACN 122003900ACN-122003900-A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of routing data from or to a terminal in a communication network implementing network slicing, comprising-obtaining (4411) configuration information of an algorithm enabling to associate at least one set of identifiers with at least one network slice or a type of at least one network slice, -obtaining (4412) at least one data packet containing a terminal identifier of a terminal capable of uniquely identifying the sending or receiving the at least one data packet, -selecting (4413) the network slice or the type of network slice associated with the identifier group to which the terminal identifier belongs based on the configuration information, -routing (4414) the at least one data packet via the selected network slice or the selected type of network slice.

Inventors

  • M. Bukadar
  • C. Jacques Knight

Assignees

  • 奥兰治

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20241011
Priority Date
20231012

Claims (16)

  1. 1. A method for routing data from or to a terminal in a communication network implementing network slicing, comprising: Obtaining (4411) configuration information of an algorithm for associating at least one set of identifiers with at least one network slice or with at least one type of network slice, the at least one set of identifiers being usable by a terminal to send or receive at least one data packet via the network slice or the type of network slice, each set of identifiers being associated with a single network slice or a single type of slice, Acquiring (4412) at least one data packet comprising a terminal identifier capable of uniquely identifying a terminal transmitting or receiving the at least one data packet, Selecting (4413) from the configuration information a network slice or a type of network slice associated with the set of identifiers to which the terminal identifier belongs, -Routing (4414) the at least one data packet via the selected network slice or type of network slice.
  2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises marking the at least one data packet with an identifier, a so-called slice identifier, capable of uniquely identifying the selected network slice or type of network slice.
  3. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the selecting step comprises: determining the set of identifiers to which the terminal identifier belongs, -Determining the network slice or a type of network slice associated with the set of identifiers.
  4. 4. A method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the selecting step comprises: extracting a part of the terminal identifier, -Determining the network slice or a type of network slice associated with the portion.
  5. 5. A method for configuring a communication network implementing network slicing, the method for routing data from or to at least one terminal, the method comprising: A step of associating (461) at least one set of identifiers with at least one network slice or with at least one type of network slice, the at least one set of identifiers being usable by a terminal to send or receive at least one data packet via the network slice or type of network slice, each set of identifiers being associated with a single network slice or type of single network slice, -A step of sending (462) configuration information of an algorithm to at least one entity of the network, allowing the entity to associate the at least one network slice or a type of the at least one network slice with the at least one set of identifiers.
  6. 6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that said at least one set of identifiers is identified by a unique reference mark, and in that said step of associating associates said unique reference mark with an identifier, a so-called slice identifier, capable of uniquely identifying said network slice or type of network slice.
  7. 7. The method according to any one of claims 5 and 6, wherein the at least one set of identifiers comprises at least one identifier belonging to the group comprising: -an IP address of the mobile terminal, The IP prefix is used to determine the IP address, The MAC address is used to determine the MAC address, A VLAN identifier which, -An I-SID identifier, The identifier of the ESI is used to identify, An identifier according to the LISP protocol, A combination of all or part of the above identifiers, -A result of a function applied to at least one of the above identifiers.
  8. 8. The method according to any of claims 5 to 7, wherein at least one of the set of identifiers comprises at least two discrete identifiers.
  9. 9. A method for assigning at least one identifier to a terminal in a communication network implementing network slicing, comprising: Obtaining (451) configuration information of an algorithm for associating at least one set of identifiers with at least one network slice or with at least one type of network slice, the at least one set of identifiers being usable by a terminal to send or receive at least one data packet via the network slice or the type of network slice, each set of identifiers being associated with a single network slice or a single type of slice, Receiving (452) at least one request from a terminal connected to the network to assign at least one identifier to be used by the terminal to send or receive at least one data packet via a network slice or a type of network slice to which the terminal is authorized to connect, Determining (453) the set of identifiers associated with the network slice or a type of network slice from the configuration information, -Transmitting (454) to the terminal at least one identifier of the set of identifiers assigned to the terminal and capable of uniquely identifying the terminal, a so-called terminal identifier.
  10. 10. A method for accessing at least one service by a terminal via a communication network implementing network slicing, comprising: For at least one network slice or a type of network slice to which the terminal is authorized to connect: Transmitting (412) a request for allocation of at least one identifier to be used by the terminal to transmit or receive at least one data packet via the network slice or a type of network slice, -Receiving (413), in response to said request, at least one identifier of a set of identifiers, so-called terminal identifiers, assigned to said terminal according to the assignment method of claim 9 and capable of uniquely identifying said terminal, -Storing (414) the at least one terminal identifier associated with the network slice or a type of network slice.
  11. 11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that before transmitting at least one data packet, the method comprises the step of selecting the terminal identifier to be used for transmission via a target network slice from the terminal identifier(s) stored by the terminal.
  12. 12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of replacing the local address of the terminal with the terminal identifier selected for routing data packets via a target network slice.
  13. 13. An entity capable of routing data from or to a terminal in a communication network implementing network slicing, the entity comprising at least one processor configured to: obtaining configuration information of an algorithm for associating at least one set of identifiers with at least one network slice or with at least one type of network slice, the at least one set of identifiers being usable by a terminal to send or receive at least one data packet via the network slice or the type of network slice, each set of identifiers being associated with a single network slice or a type of single network slice, Acquiring at least one data packet comprising a terminal identifier capable of uniquely identifying a terminal transmitting or receiving said at least one data packet, Selecting from the configuration information a network slice or a type of network slice associated with the set of identifiers to which the terminal identifier belongs, -Routing the at least one data packet via the selected network slice or type of network slice.
  14. 14. An entity capable of configuring a communication network implementing network slicing, the entity for routing data from or to at least one terminal, the entity comprising at least one processor configured to: Associating at least one set of identifiers with at least one network slice or a type of at least one network slice, the at least one set of identifiers being usable by a terminal to send or receive at least one data packet via the network slice or type of network slice, each set of identifiers being associated with a single network slice or type of single network slice, sending configuration information of an algorithm to at least one entity of the network, allowing the entity to associate the at least one network slice or type of at least one network slice with the at least one set of identifiers.
  15. 15. A server for assigning at least one identifier to a terminal in a communication network implementing network slicing, comprising at least one processor configured to: Obtaining configuration information of an algorithm for associating at least one set of identifiers with at least one network slice or with at least one type of network slice, the at least one set of identifiers being usable by a terminal to send or receive at least one data packet via the network slice or the type of network slice, each set of identifiers being associated with a single network slice or a single type of slice, Receiving at least one request from a terminal connected to the network to assign at least one identifier to be used by the terminal to send or receive at least one data packet via a network slice or a type of network slice to which the terminal is authorized to connect, Determining the set of identifiers associated with the network slice or a type of network slice, -Transmitting to the terminal at least one identifier of the set of identifiers assigned to the terminal and capable of uniquely identifying the terminal, a so-called terminal identifier.
  16. 16. A terminal capable of accessing at least one service via a communication network implementing network slicing, comprising at least one processor configured to: Transmitting a request to the allocation server according to claim 15 for allocating at least one identifier to be used by the terminal to transmit or receive at least one data packet via the network slice or the type of network slice to which the terminal is authorized to connect, Receiving, in response to the request, from the allocation server at least one identifier of a set of identifiers allocated to the terminal and capable of uniquely identifying the terminal, a so-called terminal identifier, -Storing the terminal identifier associated with the network slice or a type of network slice.

Description

Method for routing data, configuring, assigning identifiers and accessing services in a communication network implementing network slicing, and corresponding entity and computer program Technical Field The field of the invention is the field of communication within at least one communication network, and in particular the field of value added IP services. More precisely, the invention relates to the routing of data from or to terminals using network slice resources of a communication network. In particular, the present invention provides a solution for simplifying the method of identifying one or more network slices to be used in order to optimize the routing of data from or to a terminal. Background A network slice may be defined as a logical or physical partition of a network, such as a Virtual Private Network (VPN) deployed on a fixed, mobile infrastructure, or a combination of both. The characteristics of network slicing are mainly expressed in terms of capacity (bandwidth) and quality of service (e.g. delay or unidirectional transmission time) or even security (e.g. confidentiality of information transmitted within a VPN protected using encryption techniques) and Service Functions (SF). Illustratively, the 3GPP organization has defined different network slice types according to the characteristics of the network slice, for example: -a type of first network slice for providing enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB) services; -a type of second network slice for providing services in the context of deployment of the large-scale internet of things (mIoT), and -A third network slice type for providing ultra-reliable low-delay communication (URLLC). The choice of the type of network slice designed and deployed depends on the traffic (traffic) characteristics of the application or service that the user uses or subscribes to. For example, so-called "immersive" services utilizing augmented reality or virtual reality technology are often very demanding in terms of latency and reliability of data exchange, so the use of URLLC types of slices when deployed on a 5G mobile network infrastructure is advantageous for this type of immersive services. The characteristics of network slicing are described, for example, in the 25 th edition of document "A Framework for Network Slices in Networks Builded from IETF Technologies" published by A.Farrel et al, 2023, 9, 14. An example of using network slices deployed in a 5G mobile infrastructure is set forth in the 9 th edition of document "A Realization of IETF Network Slices for G Networks Using Current IP/MPLS Technologies" published by k.g. szarkowicz et al, 5, 23, 2023. Traditionally, traffic that might be routed within a network slice is the subject of authorization (also referred to as access control) to follow the path(s) established within the slice. Such authorization typically depends on the application of traffic classification rules. These rules are typically applied by nodes located at the periphery of the network where the network slice has been deployed. Such peripheral nodes are typically deployed at the front end of the client access (e.g., where such peripheral nodes are access routers) or are used to connect the network to other neighboring networks (e.g., where such peripheral nodes are border routers or peripheral nodes). For example, such peripheral nodes may be located at connection interfaces of a gateway allowing access to an internet network. This gateway is called the "packet gateway" of the latest generations (4G, 5G) of mobile networks. In this case, the traffic classification function may be located at an interface for connecting the "packet gateway" to the internet. The peripheral node may also be located at an interface for connecting the mobile terminal (user equipment or UE) to the Radio Access Network (RAN) in order to optimize the use of radio resources, in particular according to the type of network slice and the traffic profile of the possible routes. A service profile is a set of service-specific characteristics. These characteristics may reflect the sensitivity of the application to delay, transmission time, or packet loss, but also reflect usage practices such as traffic generated only for a given period of time (such as management traffic related to performing maintenance operations of devices scheduled at night). In summary, in peripheral nodes (e.g., access routers, border routers), traffic classification and admission control rules are applied to the network periphery. Application of traffic classification rules may be complex because the level of granularity associated with engineering and deployment of network slices may be macroscopic (e.g., deploying a network slice for routing traffic to the internet) or microscopic (e.g., deploying a network slice for application traffic exchanged between two mobile terminals). This granularity creates the overall complexity of network slicing engineering, e.g., it is difficult to optimize the use o