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US-12627561-B2 - System and method for network slice subnet distribution

US12627561B2US 12627561 B2US12627561 B2US 12627561B2US-12627561-B2

Abstract

A method including determining, by a processor, whether a processing load on one or more network slice subnet management functions (NSSMFs) has exceeded a predetermined processing limit; and determining, by the processor, which processing load on the one or more NSSMFs has exceeded the predetermined processing limit; and implementing, by the processor, based on the processing load that exceeded the predetermined processing limit, an additional NSSMF for each NSSMF that exceeded the predetermined processing limit.

Inventors

  • Mihir Pathak
  • Jyoti BOSE
  • Jithin Chathankandath

Assignees

  • Rakuten Mobile, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20230124

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . A method comprising: determining, by a processor, whether a processing load on one or more network slice subnet management functions (NSSMFs) has exceeded a predetermined processing limit; and determining, by the processor, which processing load on the one or more NSSMFs has exceeded the predetermined processing limit; and implementing, by the processor, based on the processing load that exceeded the predetermined processing limit, an additional NSSMF for each NSSMF that exceeded the predetermined processing limit, wherein: implementing the additional NSSMF comprises: deploying the additional NSSMF, transferring management of a first subnet from the one or more NSSMFs to the additional NSSMF, and maintaining management of a second subnet on the one or more NSSMFs.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: implementing, by the processor, a configuration management receiving communication from a core subnet, a RAN subnet, or a transport subnet.
  3. 3 . The method of claim 2 , further comprising: distributing, by the processor, subnet communication to one or more of: a RAN; a core network; or a transport network.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 3 , further comprising: pushing, by the processor, a configuration to push configuration services which pushes a configuration to a network function.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising: placing, by the processor, a NSSMF close to an edge RAN to reduce latency.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising: taking no action, by the processor, in response to the determination none of the one or more NSSMFs has exceeded the predetermined processing limit.
  7. 7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the additional NSSMF is different from each of the one or more NSSMF.
  8. 8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein: any one of each following combination are satisfied by one or more NSSMFs: a first NSSMF for Radio Access Network (RAN), a core Network (CN), and a Transport network (TN); or a second NSSMF for the RAN and the CN and a third NSSMF for the TN; or the third NSSMF for the RAN and the TN and a fourth NSSMF for the CN; or a fifth CN and the TN and a sixth NSSMF for the RAN; or a seventh NSSMF for the RAN; and an eight NSSMF for the CN; and a ninth NSSMF for the TN.
  9. 9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein transferring management comprises distribution of processing load of a first subnet between one or more NSSMFs and the additional NSSMF.
  10. 10 . An apparatus, comprising: a processor; and a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to: determine whether a processing load on one or more network slice subnet management functions (NSSMFs) has exceeded a predetermined processing limit; and determine based on the processing load that exceeded the predetermined processing limit, which service has exceeded the predetermined processing limit; and implement an additional NSSMF for each NSSMF that exceeded the predetermined processing limit, wherein implementing of the additional NSSMF comprises: deploying the additional NSSME, transferring management of a first subnet from the one or more NSSMEs to the additional NSSME, and maintaining management of a second subnet on the one or more NSSMFs.
  11. 11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus further causes: implement a configuration management to receive communication from a core subnet, s RAN subnet, or a transport subnet.
  12. 12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus further causes: distributing subnet communication to one or more of: a RAN; a core network; or a transport network.
  13. 13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the apparatus further causes: pushing a configuration to push configuration services which pushes a configuration to a network functions.
  14. 14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , the apparatus further causes: placing a NSSMF close to an edge RAN to reduce latency.
  15. 15 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus further causes: taking no action, by the processor, in response to a determination neither of one or more NSSMFs has exceeded the predetermined processing limit.
  16. 16 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the additional NSSMF is different from each of the one or more NSSMFs.
  17. 17 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus further causes: any one of each following combination being satisfied by one or more NSSMFs: a first NSSMF for Radio Access Network (RAN), a core Network (CN), and a Transport network (TN); or a second NSSMF for the RAN and the CN and a third NSSMF for the TN; or the third NSSMF for the RAN and the TN and a fourth NSSMF for the CN; or a fifth CN and the TN and a sixth NSSMF for the RAN; or a seventh NSSMF for the RAN; and an eight NSSMF for the CN; and a ninth NSSMF for the TN.
  18. 18 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the apparatus to: determine whether a processing load on one or more network slice subnet management functions (NSSMFs) has exceeded a predetermined processing limit; and determine which processing load on the one or more NSSMFs has exceeded the predetermined processing limit; and implement, based on the processing load that exceeded the predeterminer processing limit, an additional NSSMF for each NSSMF that exceeded the predetermined processing limit, wherein implementing of the additional NSSMF comprises: deploying the additional NSSME, transferring management of a first subnet from the one or more NSSMFs to the additional NSSMF, and maintaining management of a second subnet on the one or more NSSMFs.
  19. 19 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the apparatus further causes: taking no action, by the processor, in response to a determination neither of one or more NSSMFs has exceeded the predetermined processing limit.
  20. 20 . The non-transitory computer readable medium claim 18 , wherein the additional NSSMF is different from each of the one or more NSSMFs.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a National Phase of International Application No. PCT/US2023/011394, filed Jan. 24, 2023 TECHNICAL FIELD This description relates to a system for network slice subnet distribution and method of using the same. BACKGROUND A cellular network is a telecommunication system of mobile devices (e.g., mobile phone devices) that communicate by radio waves through one or more local antenna at a cellular base station (e.g., cell tower). The coverage area in which service is provided is divided into small geographical areas called cells. Each cell is served by a separate low-power-multichannel transceiver and antenna at the cell tower. Mobile devices within a cell communicate through that cell's antenna on multiple frequencies and on separate frequency channels assigned by the base station from a pool of frequencies used by the cellular network. A radio access network (RAN) is part of the telecommunication system and implements radio access technology. RANs reside between a device, such as a mobile phone, a computer, or remotely controlled machine, and provides connection with a core network (CN). Depending on the standard, mobile phones and other wireless connected devices are varyingly known as user equipment (UE), terminal equipment (TE), mobile station (MS), and the like. SUMMARY In some embodiments, a method including determining, by a processor, whether a processing load on one or more network slice subnet management functions (NSSMFs) has exceeded a predetermined processing limit; and determining, by the processor, which processing load on the one or more NSSMFs has exceeded the predetermined processing limit; and implementing, by the processor, based on the processing load that exceeded the predetermined processing limit, an additional NSSMF for each NSSMF that exceeded the predetermined processing limit. In some embodiments, an apparatus, including a processor; and a memory having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether a processing load on one or more network slice subnet management functions (NSSMFs) has exceeded a predetermined processing limit; and determine which service has exceeded the predetermined processing limit; and implement an additional NSSMF for each NSSMF that exceeded the predetermined processing limit. In some embodiments, a non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the apparatus to determine whether a processing load on one or more network slice subnet management functions (NSSMFs) has exceeded a predetermined processing limit; and determine which processing load on the one or more NSSMFs has exceeded the predetermined processing limit; and implement, based on the processing load that exceeded the predeterminer processing limit, an additional NSSMF for each NSSMF that exceeded the predetermined processing limit. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Aspects of the embodiments are understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying Figures. In accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In some embodiments, dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a system for network slice design (NSD), in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of method for designing a network slice, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a network slice subnet management function (NSSMF), in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a NSSMF, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an edge NSSMF, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 6A is a block diagram of a dedicated NSSMF for a Radio Access Network, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 6B is a block diagram of a dedicated NSSMF for a core network and transport network, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a NSSMF function, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a vendor specific subnet configurator abstracted from a NSSMF, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 9A and 9B are block diagram of NSSMF systems, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of a process for modifying a NSSMF, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 11 is a high-level functional block diagram of a processor-based system, in accordance with some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing distinctive features of the discussed subject matter. Examples of components, values, operations, materials, arrangements, or the like, are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, examples and are unintended to be limiting. Other components, values, operations, mat