CN109218046B - Method and system for managing network slices and storage medium - Google Patents

Abstract

The embodiment of the invention provides a management method, a system and a storage medium of network slices, and the management system applied to a network side comprises the following steps: the network slice management functional entity determines a network slice template according to the creation requirement, wherein the network slice template comprises a network slice description file and network slice maintenance management information, and splits the network slice requirement corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements; the sub-network slice management function entity is based on a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, the sub-network slice template comprises a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance management information, and the resource management and arrangement function entity allocates virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file to generate sub-network slices and end-to-end network slices.

Description

Network slice management method, system and storage medium

technical field

The present invention relates to the field of network technologies, and in particular, to a network slice management method and system, and a storage medium.

Background technique

With the development of communication technology, network slicing has emerged. Network slicing is a collective description of a series of network functions; existing physical network resources are logically divided into different networks through network slicing.

In the prior art, the network slices are all separately deployed on specific network elements, and the network slices are relatively opposed to each other, and are only used for information exchange during application. Some performance and error management can be done, but there is no way to uniformly manage all network slices of a certain service, so network slice management is complicated, and the service quality is poor due to management disorder or asynchronous problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of this, the embodiments of the present invention are expected to provide a network slice management method and system, and a storage medium, at least for solving one of the above problems.

In order to achieve the above object, the technical scheme of the present invention is achieved in this way:

A first aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a network slice management method, which is applied to a network-side management system, including:

The network slice management function entity determines a network slice template according to the creation requirements, wherein the network slice template includes a network slice description file and network slice maintenance and management information, and the network slice maintenance and management information is used for the network slice description file instance. Maintenance and management of end-to-end network slices formed by

The network slice management functional entity splits the network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

The sub-network slice management function entity obtains a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, wherein the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance and management information, and the sub-network slice maintenance management information, used for the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice formed by the instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

A resource management and orchestration functional entity, allocates virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description files and the network slice description files, generates the sub-network slices and combines the sub-network slices to generate the end-to-end Network Slicing.

A second aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a method for managing network slices, including:

The network slice management function entity determines a network slice template according to the creation requirements, wherein the network slice template includes a network slice description file and network slice maintenance and management information, and the network slice maintenance and management information is used for the network slice description file instance. Maintenance and management of end-to-end network slices formed by

The network slice management functional entity splits the network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

The sub-network slice management function entity obtains a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, wherein the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance and management information, and the sub-network slice maintenance management information, used for the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice formed by the instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

Resource management and orchestration functional entity, allocate virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, generate the sub-network slice and combine the sub-network slices network slicing to generate the end-to-end network slice;

The method also includes:

The sub-network slice management functional entity sends a sub-network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity; correspondingly, the resource management and orchestration functional entity allocates virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, generating the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice, including: the resource management and orchestration functional entity, in response to the sub-network slice instantiation request allocating virtualized resources to Instantiate the sub-network slice description file to generate the sub-network slice network; and receive the association information of the network slice management functional entity, associate the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the terminal end-to-end network slicing;

or,

The method also includes:

The network slice management functional entity sends a network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity after the sub-network slice management functional entity generates the sub-network slice maintenance and management information; correspondingly, the resource management and an orchestration functional entity, allocating virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file or network slice description file, and generating the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice, including: according to the network slice instantiation request , instantiate the sub-network slice description file to generate the sub-network slice, and according to the network slice instantiation request, associate the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the end-to-end network slice.

A third aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a method for managing network slices, the method further comprising:

The network slice management function entity sends a network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and orchestration function entity according to the deletion requirement; and releases the maintenance management of the end-to-end network slice according to the deletion requirement;

a resource management and orchestration functional entity, which releases the resources mapped by the end-to-end network slice based on the network slice resource release instruction;

Sub-network slice management functional entity, according to the sub-network slice resource release instruction provided by the network slice management functional entity or based on the sub-network slice resource release result provided by the resource management and arrangement functional entity, release the maintenance management of the sub-network slice .

A fourth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a method for managing network slices, the method further comprising:

The network slice management function entity determines the end-to-end network slice to be deleted according to the deletion requirement, sends a sub-network slice deletion instruction to the corresponding sub-network slice management function entity, and releases the maintenance of the end-to-end network slice to be deleted. manage;

a sub-network slice management functional entity, which releases the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice according to the sub-network slice deletion instruction, and sends a sub-network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity;

The resource management and orchestration functional entity releases the virtualized resources mapped by the sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice resource release instruction and releases the maintenance and management of the end-to-end network slice to be deleted.

A fifth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a method for managing network slices, the method further comprising:

The network slice management function entity determines a network slice template according to the creation requirements, wherein the network slice template includes a network slice description file and network slice maintenance and management information, and the network slice maintenance and management information is used for the network slice description file instance. Maintenance and management of end-to-end network slices formed by

The network slice management functional entity splits the network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

The sub-network slice management function entity obtains a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, wherein the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance and management information, and the sub-network slice maintenance management information, used for the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice formed by the instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

a resource management and orchestration functional entity, which allocates virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, and generates the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice;

The network slice management functional entity determines whether there are shareable and created end-to-end network slices that meet the creation requirements, and/or, determines whether there are shareable and created sub-network slices or network function entities that meet the creation requirements. create requirements;

If there are shareable and created network slices that meet the creation requirements, share the created end-to-end network slices and perform related configuration management;

If there is no shared and created network slice that meets the creation requirement and/or, and there is no shared network sub-network slice or network function entity that meets the creation requirement, the network slice management function entity shall Create requirements to determine the network slice description file;

If there is no shared and created network slice that meets the creation requirement, the network slice management function entity selects a shareable sub-network slice and/or network function entity that meets the creation requirement, and combines with the network slice based on the network slice. The slice template creates sub-network slices and/or network functional entities, and jointly creates a network slice template of the end-to-end network slice.

A sixth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a network slice management system, including:

A network slice management function entity, configured to determine a network slice description file according to creation requirements, wherein the network slice template includes a network slice description file and network slice maintenance and management information, and the network slice maintenance and management information is used for the network slice Maintenance and management of the end-to-end network slice formed by the instantiation of the description file; splitting the network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

A sub-network slice management functional entity, configured to obtain a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, wherein the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance and management information, and the sub-network slice slice maintenance and management information, used for the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice formed by the instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

A resource management and orchestration functional entity, configured to allocate virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, and generate the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice.

A seventh aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a network slice management system, the system includes:

A network slice management function entity, configured to determine a network slice template according to creation requirements, wherein the network slice template includes a network slice description file and network slice maintenance and management information, and the network slice maintenance and management information is used for the network slice description Maintenance and management of end-to-end network slices formed by file instantiation; splitting network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

A sub-network slice management function entity, configured to obtain a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, wherein the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance and management information, wherein the sub-network slice template Sub-network slice maintenance and management information, used for maintenance and management of sub-network slices formed by instantiating the sub-network slice description file;

a resource management and orchestration functional entity, configured to allocate virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, and generate the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice;

The network slice management function entity is also used to determine whether there are shareable and created end-to-end network slices that meet the creation requirements, and/or, determine whether there are shareable and created sub-network slices or network functions the entity satisfies the creation requirement;

The network slice management functional entity is specifically configured to share the created end-to-end network slice if there is a shareable and created network slice that meets the creation requirement; and/or, if there is no shareable and created network slice; When the created network slice meets the creation requirement and there is no shared network sub-network slice or network function entity that meets the creation requirement, the network slice template is determined according to the creation requirement, and/or, if there is no shared network slice and no network slice has been created If the created network slice meets the creation requirement, a network slice template is determined according to the creation requirement; and/or, if there is no shared and created network slice that meets the creation requirement and there are created sub-network slices that can be shared and/or network function entity, select a shareable sub-network slice and/or network function entity that meets the creation requirements, and create a sub-network slice and/or network function entity based on the network slice template. The network slice template of the end-to-end network slice.

An eighth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a network slice management system, including one or more functional entities, where the functional entities include:

memory for storing computer programs;

A processor, connected to the memory, is configured to implement the method provided by any one or more of the foregoing technical solutions by executing the computer program.

A ninth aspect of the embodiments of the present invention provides a computer storage medium, where the computer storage medium is used to store a computer program; after the computer program is executed, the method provided by any one or more of the foregoing technical solutions can be implemented.

In the technical solution provided by the embodiment of the present invention, an end-to-end network slice is created based on the creation requirements, and an end-to-end network slice is generated, so that the network slice can be maintained and managed throughout the network, and the maintenance and management are simple. In addition, the abnormal phenomenon of network service provision caused by the management disorder or asynchrony of different network domains is avoided, and it has the characteristics of abnormally few and good service quality. And the embodiment of the present invention provides a specific method of how to create the end-to-end network slice, which has the characteristics of simple and convenient creation process.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic flowchart of a method for managing network slices provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of another method for managing network slices provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

3 is a schematic structural diagram of a first network slice management system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

4 is a schematic structural diagram of a management system for providing a second network slice according to an embodiment of the present invention;

5 is a schematic structural diagram of a functional entity provided by an embodiment of the present invention;

6 is a schematic structural diagram of a third network slice management system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

7 is a schematic structural diagram of a fourth network slice management system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a fifth network slice management system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a schematic structural diagram of a sixth network slice management system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed ways

The technical solutions of the present invention will be further elaborated below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments of the description.

As shown in FIG. 1 , this embodiment provides a network slice management method, which is applied to a network-side management system, including:

Step S110: The network slice management functional entity determines a network slice template according to the creation requirement, wherein the network slice template includes a network slice description file and network slice maintenance and management information, and the network slice maintenance and management information is used for the network slice Maintenance and management of end-to-end network slices formed by instantiation of description files;

Step S120: the network slice management functional entity splits the network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

Step S130: The sub-network slice management functional entity obtains a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, wherein the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance and management information, and the sub-network slice network slice maintenance and management information, used for the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice formed by the instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

Step S140: Resource management and orchestration functional entities, allocate virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description files and the network slice description files, generate the sub-network slices and combine the sub-network slices to generate the sub-network slices End-to-end network slicing.

The network slice management method provided in this embodiment can be applied to a management system on the network side of a communication network. The management system includes at least three functional entities, namely, a network slice management function entity, a sub-network slice management function entity, and a resource management and arrangement function entity. The network slice management functional entity is used for maintenance and management of the entire end-to-end network slice; the sub-network slice management functional entity is used for maintenance and management of the sub-network slices constituting the end-to-end network slice. The resource guarani and orchestration functional entity is used to virtualize network resources on the network side to form virtualized resources, and to perform resource mapping, resource management and orchestration for network slices and/or sub-network slices.

In this embodiment, the maintenance management of the network slice includes: creation, deletion, update and routine maintenance of the network slice. The routine maintenance here may include: determining whether the current network slice is running normally through monitoring, etc., and adjusting the relevant parameters of the network slice to make it return to normal when an abnormality occurs.

The maintenance management of network slices may include: creation, deletion, update and routine maintenance of sub-network slices. The routine maintenance here may include: determining whether the current sub-network slice is running normally through monitoring, etc., and adjusting the relevant parameters of the network slice when an abnormality occurs to make it return to normal, etc.

The end-to-end network slicing may be: a plurality of sub-network slices are connected according to a predetermined connection relationship and run through the entire communication network, and are dedicated networks for providing specific business services.

The end-to-end network slicing in this embodiment is a network slicing that runs through the entire communication network, that is, the network slicing in this embodiment is provided with sub-network slices that meet specific service requirements in each area of the communication network.

In this embodiment, the communication network may include: a wireless domain, a core network domain, a transmission domain, and the like. The wireless domain may include one or more base stations, or, at least one Resident Access Network (Resident Access Network, RAN), and the core network domain may include: a mobility management entity (Mobility Management Entity, MME), a gateway (Gateway , GW) and other network functional entities.

The end-to-end network slicing may include: sub-network slicing located in the wireless domain, core network domain, and transmission domain of the communication network, and through the end-to-end network slicing, the terminal can obtain the entire specific business service.

One of the sub-network slices may define one or more functions located in one network domain, or may define multiple function combinations located in different network domains, and functional entities implementing the above functions and function combinations.

The end-to-end network slice created in this embodiment is based on the unified coordination and management of the end-to-end network slice for each sub-network slice in the end-to-end network slice, so that it can be easily avoided that only one service can be provided. Various abnormal problems caused by the lack of coordination between the management of some network slices ensure the stability of network slices and the service quality of services.

In this embodiment, the creation requirement is collected by the network slice function management entity from the user interface provided by the communication operator. The creation requirement may include: service requirement information and network capability requirement information. The service requirement information is used to indicate the service type and/or service content currently required by the user. The service type here may be the type of network service provided by the communication operator to the communication terminal, and the service content may be the specific network service that needs to be provided to the communication terminal in communication operation.

The service types may include: Internet of Things type services, Internet of Vehicles service types, and human terminal service types. The Internet of Things-type business can be a business that provides network services for Internet of Things terminals. The IoV service type may be a service that provides network services for in-vehicle devices. The service type of the onboard terminal may be a type of network service provided to a mobile terminal carried by a person such as a mobile phone or a wearable device.

In some embodiments, the service types may include traffic-type services and timing-type services from the perspective of charging. The traffic type service is a service that is billed according to the data interaction volume generated by the network service, and the time type service can be a service that is charged according to the duration of the network service.

The network service capability requirement information is used to indicate the communication capability supported by the configured network slice. The communication capability here may include: the number of terminals that are allowed to access at the same time, the number of concurrent connections supported at the same time, the bandwidth, and the network scale. information on the requirements of various network capabilities.

In this embodiment, after receiving the creation requirement, the network slice function management entity will determine which network slice description file in the current period can satisfy the creation requirement after being instantiated.

Determining the network slice template in step S110 may include: querying the network slice template library for an existing network slice template that meets the creation requirement, and may further include: querying the network function library to query the available network slice templates according to the creation requirement. Various network functions create the network slice template.

The network slice template may include: configuration information for creating the end-to-end network slice; the configuration information may be used to indicate information such as resource types and resource quantities of virtualized resources required for creating the end-to-end network slice, and may specifically include : describe the topology parameters of the network topology of the end-to-end network slice, etc. In some embodiments, the network slice template may further include: basic maintenance and management parameters; the basic maintenance and management parameters here may be used for basic maintenance and management of maintenance and management of the end-to-end network slice.

In some embodiments, the network slice management function entity further configures exclusive maintenance management parameters according to the creation requirements, or generates specific maintenance management parameters based on the basic maintenance management parameters, thereby forming the network slice maintenance management information. The network slice maintenance and management information can be used for the maintenance and management of the network slice management functional entity after the end-to-end network slice is created, and provides information support or maintenance and management basis.

In this embodiment, after determining the network slice template, the network slice management functional entity knows that the network slice requirements of the current network slice template are divided into sub-network slice requirements.

In this embodiment, the network slicing requirement may be indicated by the configuration information in the network slicing template, which may be a network function or a combination of network functions that the end-to-end network slicing needs to provide. The sub-network slicing requirement here may be the function or function combination that needs to be satisfied by the sub-network slicing to be created.

In this embodiment, the splitting of network slicing requirements and the generation of sub-network slicing requirements are equivalent to determining the type and number of sub-network slices that constitute the end-to-end network slice to be created, and the connections between the sub-network slices relation.

The operation and maintenance management system corresponding to the embodiment of the present invention may include: one or more sub-network slice management functional entities, and a plurality of the sub-network slice management functional entities can complete the maintenance and management of all types of sub-network slices, and may also be Different sub-network slice management functional entities can only complete the maintenance and management of sub-network slices that can provide specific network functions or function combinations.

In any case, in this embodiment, the sub-network slice management functional entity will obtain a corresponding sub-network slice template based on the split sub-network slice requirements. The sub-network slice template here may include at least: configuration information of the sub-network slice, the configuration information may be used for resource mapping during the instantiation of the sub-network slice description file, and may also include the sub-network slice description file. In this embodiment, the sub-network slice management functional entity will at least generate maintenance and management information of the sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice description file, so as to maintain and manage the sub-network slice created by the user subsequently.

In step S140, the resource management and orchestration functional entity first allocates virtualized resources to the sub-network slices, and then implements the instantiation of the network slice description file by combining or connecting each sub-network slice, so as to complete the end-to-end network slice the creation of.

The virtualized resources in this embodiment may include parameters such as virtual machines and virtual gateways established on the physical resources. In this embodiment, allocating virtualized resources may include: allocating a corresponding virtual machine to a corresponding sub-network slice for use, and allocating a corresponding virtual port or virtual network protocol (Internet Protocol, IP) address to the sub-network slice. .

In some embodiments the method may further include:

The sub-network slice management functional entity performs service configuration on the sub-network slice according to the service requirement information in the creation requirement, and the service configuration may at least include: a service identifier corresponding to the service requirement information and the These sub-network slices correspond to each other, so that subsequent sub-network slices can perform corresponding operations according to the service identifiers of the data packets after receiving the data packets of the corresponding services. The operations here may include: forwarding, filtering, re-encapsulating and Data query and other operations.

In a word, this embodiment provides a method for creating an end-to-end network slice. The created end-to-end network slice runs through the entire communication network. The network slice management functional entity uniformly coordinates and manages the network slice, and is managed by the sub-network slice. The entity maintains and manages each sub-network slice separately, ensuring the stability of the network slice and the quality of business services provided.

In some embodiments, the method further includes: the network slice management functional entity determines the sub-network slice template according to the sub-network slice requirements. In this embodiment, the network slice management function entity can directly determine the sub-network slice template according to the sub-network slice requirements or the decomposed sub-network slice requirements. For example, the network slice management function entity According to the sub-network slicing requirements, query the sub-network slicing template library, and determine the sub-network slicing template, or the sub-network slicing can be automatically created according to the sub-network slicing requirements and the network functions provided by each functional entity in the network. template.

In other embodiments, the network slice management function entity sends the sub-network slice requirement to the sub-network slice management function entity; and the sub-network slice management function entity determines according to the sub-network slice requirement The sub-network slice template.

In this embodiment, the network slice management functional entity is only responsible for the splitting of sub-network slicing requirements, and is not responsible for determining the sub-network slice template, but is determined by the sub-network slicing functional entity by itself. Specifically, the sub-network slicing functional entity queries a sub-network slicing template library based on the sub-network slicing requirements, and selects a sub-network slicing template that can meet the sub-network slicing requirements, or the sub-network slicing management functional entity , and create the sub-network slicing template according to the sub-network slicing requirement.

The creation of the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice includes a variety of optional methods. The following two optional methods are provided:

Optional way 1, the method further includes:

The sub-network slice management functional entity sends a sub-network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity;

The step S140 may include:

The resource management and orchestration functional entity responds to the sub-network slice instantiation request, allocates virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file, and generates the sub-network slice network;

Receiving the association information of the network slice management functional entity, and associating the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the end-to-end network slice.

In this manner, after the sub-network slice management functional entity determines the sub-network slice template, it is equivalent to determining the configuration parameters of the sub-network slice. In this embodiment, the sub-network slice management functional entity can be directly based on The sub-network slice template sends a sub-network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity. In this case, the resource management and orchestration functional entity may receive a creation request for creating multiple sub-network slices of an end-to-end network slice. The resource management and orchestration functional entity respectively performs virtualized resource mapping of the sub-network slice template according to the sub-network slice instantiation request, and completes the instantiation of the sub-network slice template to create each sub-network slice. After completing each sub-network slice, the resource management and orchestration functional entity will also receive association information from the network slice management functional entity. The topology of the end-to-end network slice is formed, and the sub-network slices are connected or combined, so as to complete the instantiation of the network slice template and complete the creation of the network slice.

In a specific implementation process, after completing the creation of the corresponding sub-network slice, the resource management and orchestration functional entity will send a creation feedback to the sub-network slice management functional entity, and the sub-network slice management functional entity is based on The creation feedback informs the network slice management functional entity of the creation result of the corresponding sub-network slice. The network slice management function entity sends the association information to the resource management and orchestration function entity after determining that the creation of each sub-network slice is completed.

Optional way 2, the method further includes:

The network slice management functional entity sends a network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity after the sub-network slice management functional entity generates the sub-network slice maintenance and management information;

The step S140 may include:

According to the network slice instantiation request, instantiate the sub-network slice description file to generate the sub-network slice, and according to the network slice instantiation request, associate the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file that generates the end-to-end network slice.

In this embodiment, the resource management and orchestration function entity directly receives the network slice instantiation request from the network slice management function entity, and the network slice instantiation request carries associated information. In this case, the resource After the sub-network slice is created, the management and arrangement functional entity will automatically associate the created sub-network slice based on the association information, and complete the instantiation of the network slice template.

In this method, after the resource management and orchestration functional entity creates a sub-network slice, it notifies the corresponding sub-network slice functional management entity; after completing the creation of the network slice, it notifies the network slice management functional entity, so that the sub-network slice management function Entity and network slice management function entity to know the current creation status.

In some embodiments, the method may further include:

The sub-network slice management functional entity further starts the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice according to the sub-network slice maintenance and management information after it is determined that the corresponding sub-network slice is created.

The network slice management function entity starts the maintenance and management of the network slice according to the network slice maintenance and management information after the end-to-end network slice is created.

Optionally, the method further includes:

The network slice management function entity generates a network slice management identifier of an end-to-end network slice, wherein the network slice management identifier is at least used for the creation and management of the end-to-end network slice by the network slice management function entity.

After the network slice management identifier described in this embodiment is generated, the network slice management functional entity will carry the network slice management identifier when sending the sub-network slice requirement or the sub-network slice template to the sub-network slice management functional entity; in this case, The sub-network slice management functional entity will create a sub-network slice management identifier under the network slice management identifier, and determine a sub-network slice template.

The sub-network slice management functional entity generates a sub-network slice management identifier of the sub-network slice, wherein the sub-network slice management identifier is used for the sub-network slice management functional entity, and the sub-network slice management identifier is used for the sub-network slice network. Create and manage.

The sub-network slice management functional entity will also generate a sub-network slice management identifier, and when sending a sub-network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity, the sub-network slice management identifier will be carried, so as to facilitate the resources The management and orchestration functional entity creates a sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice management identifier, and corresponds to the sub-network slice management identifier after generating the sub-network slice instance identifier.

Or, the sub-network slice management functional entity returns the sub-network slice management identifier to the network slice management functional entity, and the network slice management functional entity sends the network slice creation to the resource management and orchestration functional entity When required, the resource management and orchestration functional entity starts the network slice creation task based on the network slice management identifier carried by the network slice creation requirement, and the sub-network slice management identifier carried by the network slice creation requirement is created in the network slice. Start the sub-network slice subtask under the task, and complete the creation of the sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice management identifier.

The resource management and orchestration functional entity generates a sub-network slice instance identifier of the sub-network slice and a network slice instance identifier of the end-to-end network slice, wherein the sub-network slice instance identifier is used for the resource the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice by the management and orchestration functional entity; the network slice instance identifier is used for the management of the resource management and orchestration functional entity;

The sub-network slice management function entity corresponds to the sub-network slice management identifier and the sub-network slice instance identifier; the network slice management function entity corresponds to the network slice management identifier and the network slice instance identifier.

Optionally, the method further includes:

The network slice management functional entity determines whether there are shareable and created end-to-end network slices that meet the creation requirements, and/or, determines whether there are shareable and created sub-network slices or network function entities that meet the creation requirements. create requirements.

The step S110 may include at least one of the following:

If there are sharable and created network slices that meet the creation requirements, share the created end-to-end network slice and perform related configuration management; for example, use the created end-to-end network slice instance The chemical identification is added to the subscription information of the user requesting to be created;

If there is no shared and created network slices that meet the creation requirements, and no shared network sub-network slices or network function entities meet the creation requirements, determining a network slice template according to the creation requirements;

If there are no shareable and created network slices that meet the creation requirements and there are created sub-network slices and/or network function entities that can be shared, select the shareable sub-network slices and/or network functions that meet the creation requirements entity, and jointly create the network slice template of the end-to-end network slice in combination with the sub-network slice and/or network function entity created based on the network slice template.

In this embodiment, in order to reduce the creation of network slice templates for end-to-end network slicing, first, according to the creation requirements, it is checked whether there are existing end-to-end network slices that can meet the creation requirements, and if so, there is no need to repeatedly create , which simplifies the maintenance and management of network slices.

If there are sharable sub-network slices and network function entities, when creating the corresponding end-to-end network slice, the creation of this end-to-end network slice can be simplified by sharing the corresponding sub-network slice and/or network function entity. or instantiate.

In some embodiments, as shown in Figure 2, the method further includes:

Step S210: the network slice management functional entity determines the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete according to the deletion requirement, and releases the maintenance and management of the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete;

Step S220: the sub-network slice management functional entity releases the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice of the end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted;

Step S230: The resource management and orchestration functional entity releases the sub-network slice mapping virtualized resources of the end-to-end network slice.

In this embodiment, the network slice management functional entity can receive the deletion request from an operationally provided interactive interface, where the deletion request may be a deletion instruction for deleting a corresponding end-to-end network slice.

In this embodiment, the network slice management functional entity will first remove the end-to-end network slice according to the instruction to delete, and release the maintenance and management of the end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted. The sub-network slice management functional entity will release the maintenance and management of sub-network slices.

In this embodiment, releasing the management and maintenance may include: deleting the corresponding management and maintenance information and releasing management resources used for managing end-to-end network slices or sub-network slices.

The resource management and orchestration functional entity will release the virtualized resources corresponding to the end-to-end network slice mapping according to the deletion requirement, and these resources can be used to create other network slices or sub-network slices after being released.

There are several specific ways to delete the end-to-end network slice, and two optional ways are provided below:

Type 1:

The step S210 may include:

After determining the end-to-end network slice to be deleted, the network slice management function entity sends a sub-network slice deletion instruction to the corresponding sub-network slice management function entity and releases the end-to-end network slice to be deleted. maintenance management;

The step S220 may include:

The sub-network slice management functional entity releases the maintenance management of the sub-network slice according to the sub-network slice deletion instruction, and sends a sub-network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity;

The step S230 may include:

The resource management and orchestration functional entity releases the virtualized resources mapped by the sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice resource release instruction.

In this embodiment, after receiving the deletion request, the network slice management functional entity will firstly determine the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete by the user, and generate a sub-network slice deletion instruction of the end-to-end network slice. The sub-network slice deletion instruction may carry the network slice management identifier of the end-to-end network slice. In this case, the sub-network slice management functional entity can query the corresponding sub-network slice management identifier based on the network slice management identifier, and release the maintenance management of the corresponding sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice management identifier, Send a sub-network slice resource release instruction carrying the network slice management identifier and/or the sub-network slice management identifier to the resource management and arrangement functional entity. In this way, after receiving the sub-network slice resource release instruction, the resource management and orchestration functional entity can determine the current end-to-end network slice and sub-network slice to be deleted, and release the corresponding virtualized resources.

In some embodiments, after releasing the resources of the end-to-end network slice or sub-network slice, the resource management and orchestration function entity returns the network slice resource release result to the network slice function management entity, or returns the network slice resource release result to the network slice function management entity. The sub-network slice resource release result is returned to the sub-network slice functional entity. The network slice management functional entity may specifically release the maintenance management of the end-to-end network slice after it is determined that the resources of the end-to-end network slice are released based on the network slice resource release result. The sub-network slice management functional entity may specifically release the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice after it is determined based on the corresponding sub-network slice resource release result that the resources of the sub-network slice are released.

In some embodiments, the resource management and orchestration functional entity may only return the sub-network slice resource release result to the sub-network slicing functional entity, and the sub-network slice management functional entity may After the slice resource release result determines that the resources of the sub-network slice are released, the maintenance management of the sub-network slice is released, and the resource release result of the sub-network slice is returned to the network slice management functional entity. The network slice management function entity, based on the release result of the sub-network slice resources, determines that all the resources of the sub-network slices of the end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted are released, and then releases the maintenance and management of the end-to-end network slice. .

Type 2:

The step S210 may include:

The network slice management function entity sends a network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and arrangement function entity and releases the maintenance management of the end-to-end network slice to be deleted;

The step 230 may include:

The resource management and orchestration functional entity releases the resources mapped by the end-to-end network slice based on the network slice resource release instruction;

The step S220 may include:

The sub-network slice management functional entity, according to the sub-network slice resource release instruction provided by the network slice management functional entity or based on the sub-network slice resource release result provided by the resource management and orchestration functional entity, unblocks the sub-network slice. Maintenance management.

In this embodiment, after receiving the deletion request, the network slice management functional entity will directly send a network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and orchestration functional entity, so that after the resource management and orchestration functional entity receives the network slice deletion instruction , which will release resources for end-to-end network slice mapping.

The resource management and orchestration functional entity, after completing the resource release, may return the network slice resource release result to the network slice function entity, and the network slice function entity may report to the sub-network slice management function entity according to the network slice resource release result. A network slice resource release instruction is sent to trigger the sub-network slice functional entity to release the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice.

In some embodiments, the resource management and orchestration functional entity can also release the result to the resources of the network slice, so that the sub-network slice management functional entity can also be triggered to release the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice.

If a resource management and orchestration functional entity can complete the instantiation of an end-to-end network slice, the network slice management functional entity may preferentially send a network slice creation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity, triggering the The resource management and orchestration functional entity completes the creation of all sub-network slices at one time, and associates each sub-network slice. In this case, when deleting the end-to-end network slice, the network slice management functional entity also preferentially completes the deletion of the entire end-to-end network slice at one time to the resource management and orchestration functional entity.

If the management system includes multiple resource management and orchestration functional entities and can only complete the creation of some sub-network slices, the sub-network slices will preferentially send sub-network slice instantiation requests to the corresponding resource management and orchestration functional entities, and sub-network slice resource release instructions, so as to delete each sub-network slice one by one.

Optionally, the method further includes:

The network slice management function entity determines whether the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete is a shared network slice or there are shared network sub-network slices and network function entities;

When the end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted is not a shared network slice and there is no shared network sub-network slice or network function entity, the deletion of the end-to-end network slice is initiated.

Here, initiating deletion of the end-to-end network slice may be performed by executing the steps S210 to S230.

The method also includes at least one of the following:

When the end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted is a shared end-to-end network slice, the network slice management functional entity releases the user who proposes the deletion request from the use right of using the end-to-end network slice;

When there are shared network sub-network slices or network function entities in the end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted, delete the network sub-network slices and network function entities that are not shared in the end-to-end network slice.

If the deleted end-to-end network slice is instructed to be deleted, it will affect the use of other users. Therefore, in this embodiment, the user's use right will be deleted according to the deletion requirements. The configuration information corresponding to the end-to-end network slice and the sub-network slice in the network slice management function entity, the sub-network slice management function entity, and the resource resource management and arrangement function entity is sufficient. Specifically, it may include: the user of the user in the configuration information Identifies deletion. However, if the E2E network slice currently instructed to delete has sub-network slices or network functional entities that are shared with other E2E network slices, only the sub-network slices and network functional entities that are not shared will be deleted to avoid affecting other end-to-end network slices. Normal functionality for end-to-end network slicing.

There are several ways to delete the network slice, and the following two methods are optional:

Optional method 1: The methods for deleting network slices include:

The network slice management function entity sends a network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and orchestration function entity according to the deletion requirement; and releases the maintenance management of the end-to-end network slice according to the deletion requirement;

a resource management and orchestration functional entity, which releases the resources mapped by the end-to-end network slice based on the network slice resource release instruction;

Sub-network slice management functional entity, according to the sub-network slice resource release instruction provided by the network slice management functional entity or based on the sub-network slice resource release result provided by the resource management and arrangement functional entity, release the maintenance management of the sub-network slice .

Optional method 2, the method for deleting network slices includes:

The embodiment of the present invention also provides another network slice management method, the method further includes:

The network slice management function entity determines the end-to-end network slice to be deleted according to the deletion requirement, sends a sub-network slice deletion instruction to the corresponding sub-network slice management function entity, and releases the maintenance of the end-to-end network slice to be deleted. manage;

a sub-network slice management functional entity, which releases the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice according to the sub-network slice deletion instruction, and sends a sub-network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity;

The resource management and orchestration functional entity releases the virtualized resources mapped by the sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice resource release instruction.

As shown in FIG. 3 , this embodiment provides a network slice management system, including:

A network slice management function entity 110, configured to determine a network slice description file according to creation requirements, wherein the network slice template includes a network slice description file and network slice maintenance and management information, and the network slice maintenance and management information is used for the network slice Maintenance and management of end-to-end network slices formed by instantiating slice description files; splitting network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

The sub-network slice management function entity 120 is configured to obtain a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, wherein the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance and management information, and the sub-network slice slice maintenance and management information, used for the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice formed by the instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

The resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 is configured to allocate virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, and generate the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice.

The network slice management functional entity 110, the sub-network slice management functional entity 120, and the resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 provided in this embodiment may all correspond to having one or more servers. These servers may include a memory and a processor, where executable codes such as computer programs are stored in the memory, and the processor may implement the functions of the above functional entities by executing the executable codes. The network slice management function entity 110 , the sub-network slice management function entity 120 , and the resource management and orchestration function entity 130 may be integrated on one physical server, or may be separately installed on different physical devices.

In some embodiments, the sub-network slice template is determined by the network slice management functional entity 110, and may also be determined by the sub-network slice management functional entity 120. Specifically, the network slice management functional entity is further configured to determine the sub-network slice template according to the sub-network slice requirements or the decomposed sub-network slice requirements; or, the network slice management function entity 110 is further configured to use to send the sub-network slice requirement to the sub-network slice management functional entity; the sub-network slice management functional entity 120 is further configured to determine the sub-network slice template according to the sub-network slice requirement.

The network slice management system may include: a network slice management functional entity 130 that can create all end-to-end network slices, a sub-network slice functional entity 120 that can create all types of sub-network slices, and a network slice functional entity 120 that can create all types of sub-network slices. A resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 that creates all types of end-to-end network slices or sub-network slices. In some embodiments, the sub-network slicing functional entities 120 may include multiple sub-network slicing functional entities 120, and some sub-network slicing functional entities 120 may only be able to create sub-network slices of some types. The resource management and orchestration functional entities 130 may also include multiple ones, and some of the resource management and orchestration functional entities 130 may only create some sub-network slices. At this time, different types of resource management and orchestration functional entities 130 and sub-network slicing functional entities 120 may be required to coordinate and jointly create sub-network slices and end-to-end network slices.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a management system provided by an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows a plurality of sub-network slice management entities.

Optionally, the sub-network slice management functional entity 120 is further configured to send a sub-network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity;

The resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 is specifically configured to allocate virtualized resources in response to the sub-network slice instantiation request to instantiate the sub-network slice description file, and generate the sub-network slice network; receive the network slice The association information of the management functional entity 110 is associated with the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the end-to-end network slice.

In this embodiment, it is the sub-network slice management functional entity 120 that triggers the resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 to instantiate the sub-network slice template.

In other embodiments, the network slice management functional entity 110 is further configured to send network slice maintenance and management information to the resource management and orchestration functional entity after the sub-network slice management functional entity generates the sub-network slice maintenance and management information Slice instantiation request; the resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 is specifically configured to instantiate the sub-network slice description file according to the network slice instantiation request to generate the sub-network slice, and generate the sub-network slice according to the network slice instantiation request. An instantiation request is associated with the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the end-to-end network slice. The network slice management function entity itself that triggers the resource mapping of the resource management and orchestration function entity 130 in this embodiment.

In some embodiments, the network slice management function entity 110 is further configured to generate a network slice management identifier of an end-to-end network slice, wherein the network slice management identifier is at least used by the network slice management function entity for the Creation and management of end-to-end network slices;

The sub-network slice management functional entity 120 is further configured to generate a sub-network slice management identifier of the sub-network slice, wherein the sub-network slice management identifier is used for the sub-network slice management functional entity, and is used for the sub-network slice management functional entity. Sub-network slice network creation and management;

The resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 is further configured to generate a sub-network slice instance identifier of the sub-network slice and a network slice instance identifier of the end-to-end network slice, wherein the sub-network slice instance identifier is represented by: maintenance and management of the sub-network slice by the resource management and orchestration functional entity; the network slice instance identifier is used for the management of the resource management and orchestration functional entity; the sub-network slice management functional entity 120, also It is used to correspond to the sub-network slice management identifier and the sub-network slice instance identifier; the network slice management functional entity 110 is further configured to correspond to the network slice management identifier and the network slice instance identifier.

Optionally, the network slice management functional entity 110 is further configured to determine whether there are shareable and created end-to-end network slices that meet the creation requirements, and/or determine whether there are shareable and created sub-network slices. Network slices or network functional entities meet the creation requirements;

The network slice management functional entity 110 is further specifically configured to share the created end-to-end network slice and perform related configuration if a shareable and created network slice meets the creation requirement; and/or, If there is no shared and created network slice that meets the creation requirement, and no shared network sub-network slice or network function entity meets the creation requirement, then determine the network slice description file and network slice maintenance according to the creation requirement Management information; if there is no shared and created network slice that meets the creation requirement, select a shareable sub-network slice and/or network function entity that meets the creation requirement according to the creation requirement, and create the end-to-end network slice A network slice template for network slices.

After completing the creation and instantiation of the network slice template of the end-to-end network slice, when the corresponding service is cancelled, the deletion of the end-to-end network slice is designed. Therefore, in this embodiment, the network slice management functional entity 110 is further configured to determine the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete according to the deletion requirement, and release the maintenance and management of the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete; the The sub-network slice management functional entity 120 is further configured to release the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice of the end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted; the resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 is further configured to release the end-to-end network slice The sub-network slice maps virtualized resources.

Optionally, the network slice management functional entity 110 is specifically configured to send a sub-network slice deletion instruction to the corresponding sub-network slice management functional entity after determining the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion, and remove the need for it. Maintenance management of the deleted end-to-end network slice

The sub-network slice management functional entity 120 is specifically configured to release the maintenance and management of the sub-network slice according to the sub-network slice deletion instruction, and send the sub-network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and orchestration functional entity ;

The resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 is specifically configured to release the virtualized resources mapped by the sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice resource release instruction.

Optionally,

The network slice management functional entity 110 is specifically configured to send a network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and orchestration functional entity and release the maintenance management of the end-to-end network slice to be deleted;

The resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 is specifically configured to release the resources of the end-to-end network slice mapping based on the network slice resource release instruction;

The sub-network slice management functional entity 120 is specifically configured to release the sub-network slice resource release instruction provided by the network slice management functional entity or based on the sub-network slice resource release result provided by the resource management and orchestration functional entity. Maintenance and management of subnet slices.

In addition, the network slice management function entity 110 is further configured to determine whether the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete is a shared network slice or there are shared network sub-network slices and network function entities; when the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete arrives When the end network slice is not a shared network slice and there is no shared network sub-network slice or network function entity, the deletion of the end-to-end network slice is started.

In some embodiments, the network slice management functional entity 110 is further configured to release the user who requested the deletion from using the user when the end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted is a shared end-to-end network slice. the right to use the end-to-end network slice; and/or, when there are shared network sub-network slices or network functional entities in the end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted, delete the non-shared network sub-network slices in the end-to-end network slice Network slicing and network functional entities.

In some embodiments, the sub-network slice management functional entity 120 is further configured to perform service configuration on sub-network slices, and the specific configuration operations may refer to the foregoing embodiments.

In some embodiments, a network slice management system includes:

A network slice management function entity, configured to determine a network slice template according to creation requirements, wherein the network slice template includes a network slice description file and network slice maintenance and management information, and the network slice maintenance and management information is used for the network slice description Maintenance and management of end-to-end network slices formed by file instantiation; splitting network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

A sub-network slice management function entity, configured to obtain a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, wherein the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance and management information, wherein the sub-network slice template Sub-network slice maintenance and management information, used for maintenance and management of sub-network slices formed by instantiating the sub-network slice description file;

a resource management and orchestration functional entity, configured to allocate virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, and generate the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice;

The network slice management function entity is also used to determine whether there are shareable and created end-to-end network slices that meet the creation requirements, and/or, determine whether there are shareable and created sub-network slices or network functions the entity satisfies the creation requirement;

The network slice management functional entity is specifically configured to share the created end-to-end network slice if there is a shareable and created network slice that meets the creation requirement; and/or, if there is no shareable and created network slice; When the created network slice meets the creation requirement and there is no shared network sub-network slice or network function entity that meets the creation requirement, the network slice template is determined according to the creation requirement, and/or, if there is no shared network slice and no network slice has been created If the created network slice meets the creation requirement, a network slice template is determined according to the creation requirement; and/or, if there is no shared and created network slice that meets the creation requirement and there are created sub-network slices that can be shared and/or network function entity, select a shareable sub-network slice and/or network function entity that meets the creation requirements, and create a sub-network slice and/or network function entity based on the network slice template. The network slice template of the end-to-end network slice.

As shown in Figure 5, a network slice management system includes one or more functional entities, and the functional entities may include:

memory 210 for storing computer programs;

The processor 220, connected to the memory, is configured to implement one or more of the network slice management methods by executing the computer program.

The functional entities here are classified according to their implemented functions, at least including: the aforementioned network slice management functional entity 110 , sub-network slice management functional entity 120 , and resource management and orchestration functional entity 130 .

In this embodiment, the memory 210 may include various types of memory, preferably a memory that may include a non-transitory storage medium, and may be used to store the computer program.

The processor 220 may include: a central processing unit, a microprocessor, an application processor, a digital signal processor, a programmable array, or the like.

The processor 220 and the memory 210 may be connected through a bus 230, where the bus 230 may include an integrated circuit (IIC) bus, or an internal communication interface of a detection device such as a peripheral interconnect standard (PCI) bus.

The processor 220 may be configured to execute the method shown in FIG. 1 and/or FIG. 2 by executing a computer program in the memory 210 .

Embodiments of the present invention further provide a computer storage medium, where the computer storage medium is used to store a computer program; after the computer program is executed, the method provided by any one or more of the foregoing technical solutions can be implemented. 1 and/or the method shown in Figure 2.

The computer storage medium provided by the embodiment of the present invention may be a random storage medium, a read-only storage medium, a flash memory or a removable storage device, an optical disc, or the like. The computer storage medium may be a non-transitory storage medium.

Several specific examples are provided below in conjunction with the above-described embodiments:

Example one:

This example provides a network slice management system, including a network slice management function entity, a sub-network slice management function entity, and a resource management and orchestration function entity.

The network slice management functional entity can implement one or more of the following functional descriptions:

1) Obtain the service requirement information of the user, and the user inputs the service requirement information and network capability requirement information through the open interface provided by the operator.

2) Analyze the user's business demand information, and determine the service types and network slice types that the network can provide to the user;

3) Design the end-to-end network slice topology/composition, and define the sub-network slices, network functional entities and the topological connections between them that make up the end-to-end network slice.

4) Generate end-to-end network slice configuration policy information, misconfiguration accounting performance mapped to each domain/sub-network slice, secure FCAPS configuration and/or new operation and maintenance management information other than the FCAPS information according to user requirements.

5) Generate the deployment strategy of the end-to-end network slice, and decide the deployment location of each sub-network slice and network function that constitute the network slice, such as deciding whether to deploy edge computing applications and the relevant locations of application deployment. The deployment strategy can be used to select the corresponding virtualized resource map to generate end-to-end network slices. For example, the deployment strategy can be used for resource management and orchestration of functional entities to select a part from a plurality of functional entities that can satisfy the requirement information to provide corresponding functions, so as to generate the network slice. For example, when multiple functional entities that satisfy the same function are available, but currently only one is required, which one is selected specifically, the most suitable one of the functional entities can be selected by referring to the deployment strategy to participate in the network slice description file instantiation of .

6) End-to-end business management and monitoring functions, collect the domains and subnets reported by the network management functions corresponding to each domain and sub-network slice (including but not limited to EM, NM in traditional network management, and sub-network slice management function entities, etc.) Slicing operation parameters (including but not limited to bandwidth, delay, number of connections, etc.)

7) Generating an end-to-end network slice life cycle management policy, the life cycle management policy may be one of the foregoing network slice maintenance and management information, and may be used for end-to-end network slice maintenance and management.

The sub-network slice management functional entity can implement one or more of the following functional descriptions:

Obtain the sub-network slicing requirements from the network slice management functional entity. Such requirements can be descriptions of sub-network slicing functions, or a sub-network slicing template that can be deployed by a sub-network slice management functional entity.

If the sub-network slice requirement obtained by the sub-network slice management functional entity from the network slice management functional entity is the functional description of the sub-network slice, the sub-network slice management functional entity can convert the functional description into a sub-network slice template that can be deployed; The sub-network slice requirement obtained from the network slice management function entity macro is the sub-network slice template. The sub-network slice management function entity can directly deploy the sub-network slice, and the deployment process may include and virtualized network management functions (Network Function Virtualization ( NFV), software-defined networking (SDN) management functions) interaction.

Current domain and sub-network slice business management and monitoring functions: related operating parameters of each domain, sub-network slice or network function of the mobile phone (including but not limited to bandwidth, delay, number of connections, etc.).

Resource management and orchestration functional entity: It can implement one or more SDN management orchestrators, NFV management orchestrators, and end-to-end collaborative multi-domain management orchestrators (global resource management orchestration) in the following functional descriptions: Domain management and orchestration functions for resource mapping and resource management of end-to-end network slices.

Example two:

As shown in Figure 6, this example provides a method for creating a network slice, including:

Step S1: The network slice management function entity receives the service requirement information input by the user.

The business requirement information includes but is not limited to one or more of the following:

Types of services that require network support, service scale, network slice priority, network slice service quality (such as bandwidth, delay, network capacity, number of simultaneous connections, etc.), network deployment location, and resource occupancy options (whether resources can be shared with other network slices).

Step S2: The network slice management functional entity converts the service requirement information into network slice requirements, determines whether there is an end-to-end network slice that meets the network slice requirements, and if not, determines a network slice template that meets the network slice requirements. The step S2 may specifically include: the network slice management functional entity converts the service-level requirement description into a network slice description file, and determines whether there is already an instantiated end-to-end network slice in the network that can meet the creation requirement input by the user, and the user Whether to accept sharing network slices with other users, if so, directly use the existing network slices to provide services to users; if not, create an end-to-end network slice and continue to the next step. If a new end-to-end network slice needs to be created, the network slice management function entity generates an end-to-end network slice template (describes the network slice topology and related end-to-end network slice configuration information), generates a network slice management identifier, and the subsequent network slice management function entity will Manage end-to-end network slices based on this identity.

Step S3: Decompose the network slicing requirements into sub-network slicing requirements at each domain and each sub-network slicing level, and distribute them to the sub-network slicing management functional entity. Specifically, it may include: the network slice management functional entity transmits the decomposed sub-network slice requirements to the sub-network slice management functional entity (transferring the sub-network slice templates of each domain and sub-network slice, and the related end-to-end network slice configuration such as network slice selection Correspondence configuration.

Step S4: The sub-network slice management functional entity generates sub-network slice maintenance and management information, which may specifically include:

According to the requirements of the sub-network slicing, the management file of the sub-network slice (such as FCAPS management information) is generated, and each domain and the sub-network slice management identifier are generated. Subsequent sub-network slice management functional entities manage the sub-network slice according to the sub-network slice management identifier.

Step S5: the sub-network slice management functional entity transmits the sub-network slice requirements to the resource management and orchestration functional entity, which may specifically include: the sub-network slice management functional entity transmits the sub-network slice creation requirements and the sub-network slice creation requirements generated in the network slice template design stage to the resource management. and orchestration functions. The resource management and orchestration functions can be centrally deployed virtualized resource management data centers including NFV/SDN, or distributed virtualized resource management data centers distributed in various domains and regions.

Step S6: The resource management and orchestration functional entity allocates virtualized resources, generates sub-network slices, and allocates sub-network slice instance identifiers, which may specifically include: arranging virtual resources, generating domain and sub-network slices, and assigning sub-network slice instance identifiers.

Step S7: The resource management and orchestration functional entity returns the sub-network slice instance identifier to the sub-network slice management functional entity, and corresponds the sub-network slice instance identifier to the sub-network slice management identifier.

Step S8: the sub-network slice management functional entity returns the creation result of the sub-network slice to the network slice management functional entity; specifically, it may include: after all sub-network slice templates are successfully instantiated, each sub-network slice management functional entity returns the instantiation success message to the network slice management functional entity.

Step S9: The network slice management functional entity configures an end-to-end network slice, and combines different sub-network slices into a complete end-to-end network slice, which may specifically include: an end-to-end network slice generated by the network slice management function entity according to the network slice template design stage. The configuration information of the end-to-end network slice (connecting different domains, different sub-network slices; configuring the correspondence between network slices, sub-network slices, and selection of virtualized resources, etc.) configures end-to-end network slices.

Step S10: The resource management and orchestration functional entity generates a network slice instance identifier, and the resource level life cycle management is managed by the resource management and orchestration functional entity according to the network slice instance identifier.

Step S11: The network slice instance identifier corresponds to the network slice management identifier. The network slicing process ends.

Example three:

As shown in Figure 7, this example provides a method for creating a network slice, including:

Step S21: The network slice management function entity receives the service requirement information input by the user.

The business requirement information includes but is not limited to one or more of the following:

Types of services that require network support, service scale, network slice priority, network slice service quality (such as bandwidth, delay, network capacity, number of simultaneous connections, etc.), network deployment location, and resource occupancy options (whether resources can be shared with other network slices).

Step S2: the network slice management functional entity converts the service requirement information into network slice requirements;

Step a: Determine whether there are already instantiated network slices in the network that can meet the network slice requirements input by the user, and whether the user accepts to share network slices with other users, if so, directly use the existing network slices to provide services to users; if not , create a new network slice, and continue to the next step.

Step b: If a new network slice needs to be created, the network slice management functional entity generates an end-to-end network slice template (describes the network slice topology and related end-to-end network slice configuration information).

Step c: Decompose network slicing requirements into sub-network slicing requirements for each domain and each sub-network slicing level.

Step d: Generate a network slice management identifier, and the subsequent network slice management functional entity will manage the network slice according to the network slice management identifier.

Step S23: The network slice management functional entity transmits the decomposed sub-network slice requirements to the sub-network slice management functional entity (transfers the description files of each domain and the sub-network slice, and the relevant end-to-end network slice configuration, such as the network slice selection correspondence configuration).

Step S24: The sub-network slice management functional entity generates sub-network slice maintenance management information (FCAPS management information) of the sub-network slice according to the sub-network slice requirements, and generates sub-network slice management identifiers of each domain and sub-network slice.

Step S25: The sub-network slice management function entity returns a response generated by the configuration information of the sub-network slice to the network slice management function entity. The sub-network slice configuration information can be used at least for resource mapping of the sub-network slice.

Step S26: The network slice management function entity sends a network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration function entity, which may specifically include: the network slice management function entity transmits network slice creation requirements and defines each sub-network in the network slice description file or network slice template. The description file of the slice and the topology of the sub-network slice are described to the resource management and orchestration functions, and the instantiation of the network slice is initiated.

Step S27: The resource management and orchestration functional entity allocates virtualized resources, creates sub-network slices, generates sub-network slice instance identifiers of the sub-network slices, associates each sub-network slice, and generates network slice instance identifiers, which may specifically include: resource management and The orchestration functional entity orchestrates virtual resources, generates each domain and sub-network slice, assigns the sub-network slice instance identifier, and generates the network slice instance identifier.

Step S28: The resource management and orchestration functional entity returns the sub-network slice instance identifier to the sub-network slice functional entity, and the sub-network slice instance identifier corresponds to the sub-network slice management identifier.

Step S29 : the sub-network slice management functional entity performs the service configuration of the sub-network slice, which may include: configuring each domain and sub-network slice based on service requirements (individual service configuration of each domain and sub-network slice).

Step S30: the sub-network slice management function entity returns the network slice instance identifier to the network slice function entity, and corresponds the network slice instance identifier to the network slice management identifier, which may specifically include: returning an end-to-end network slice success notification to the network slice Manage the functional entity, and pass the network slice instance identifier corresponding to the end-to-end network slice management identifier.

Step S31: The network slice management functional entity configures an end-to-end network slice, and combines different sub-network slices to form a complete end-to-end network slice, which may specifically include: an end-to-end network slice configuration generated according to the network slice template design stage Information (connecting different domains, different sub-network slices; configuring network slice selection correspondence, etc.) configures end-to-end network slices.

Example four:

As shown in Figure 8, this example provides a method for creating a network slice, including:

Step S41: The network slice management function entity receives a user input deletion request; the deletion request may include: a user initiates a service deletion instruction, such as an unsubscribe service instruction.

Step S42: The network slice management function entity determines whether the corresponding end-to-end network slice needs to be deleted, which may specifically include: judging whether the end-to-end network slice is shared by different users according to the situation of the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete Network slice, if the network slice is not deleted, and if the user uses it alone, it is determined to delete the end-to-end network slice.

Step S43: The network slice management function entity transmits the subnet slice resource release instruction to different subnet slice management function entities.

Step S44: After receiving the sub-network slice resource release instruction, each sub-network slice management functional entity executes a sub-network slice deletion operation.

Step S45: the sub-network slicing functional entity transmits the sub-network slicing resource deletion instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity;

Step S46 : the resource management and orchestration functional entity releases resources, which may specifically include: releasing the corresponding virtualized resources of the current sub-network slice after receiving the sub-network slice resource deletion instruction.

Step S47: the resource management and arrangement functional entity returns the resource release result of the sub-network slice to the sub-network slice management functional entity;

Step S48: each sub-network slice management function entity returns the deletion result of the sub-network slice to the network slice management function entity;

Step S49: The network slice management function entity deletes the end-to-end network slice, including: deleting other resources of the end-to-end network slice, such as deleting connection resources of different domains and sub-network slices, deleting connections, and the like.

Example five:

As shown in Figure 9, this example provides a method for creating a network slice, including:

Step S51: The network slice management function entity receives a user input deletion request; the deletion request may include: a user initiates a service deletion instruction, such as an unsubscribe service instruction.

Step S52: The network slice management function entity determines whether the corresponding end-to-end network slice needs to be deleted, which may specifically include: judging whether the end-to-end network slice is shared by different users according to the situation of the end-to-end network slice instructed to delete Network slice, if the network slice is not deleted, if it is used by the user alone, then the end-to-end network slice is determined to be deleted.

Step S53: The network slice management functional entity sends a network slice deletion instruction to the resource management and orchestration functional entity, which may specifically include: transmitting the network slice deletion instruction of the end-to-end network stealing network slice to the resource management and orchestration functions, and instructing the resource management and orchestration functions. The orchestration function releases the virtual resources occupied by the end-to-end network slice.

Step S54: the resource management and orchestration functional entity releases the resources of the end-to-end network slice, and deletes the connections between sub-network slices or between domains;

Step S55: the resource management and orchestration functional entity, returning the sub-network slice resource release result to the sub-network slice management functional entity;

Step S56: Each sub-network slice management functional entity returns the sub-network slice deletion result to the network slice management functional entity.

Step S57: The network slice management functional entity deletes other resources of the end-to-end network slice, such as deleting connection resources of different domains and sub-network slices, and deleting connections.

Example six:

This example provides a network slice management system, including: a network slice management function entity, a sub-network slice management function entity, and a resource resource management and orchestration function entity.

Network slice management functional entity: Convert the user's business/service requirements into corresponding network slice requirements, design a network slice template, and be responsible for connecting different sub-network slice management functional entities.

Sub-network slice management functional entity: It may be a whole domain (radio domain RAN/core network domain, or a combination of different domains, or a combination of multiple network functions within a domain), and virtualized with NFV and SDN The management systems cooperate with each other to realize the life cycle management of network slices.

The resource management and orchestration functional entity is responsible for the orchestration of virtualized network resources, such as SDNO&NFVO, which can be a centralized management and orchestration function, or multiple management and orchestration functions scattered in each domain. The network slice selection and network slice routing functions are separated. It can be flexibly configured in different locations in the network.

The network slice management functional entity can specifically determine whether to create/delete an end-to-end network slice for the user, or use the existing end-to-end network slice in the network according to the user's choice when ordering services and entering service requirements. Provide network services. If the existing network slice in the network is used to serve different users, it can be flexibly determined whether to delete the network slice when executing the network slice deletion instruction.

The network slice management functional entity is also used to decompose the network slice requirements into sub-network slice requirements, and transmit them to different sub-network slice management functional entities.

The network slice management functional entity can generate a network slice description file according to the user's business requirements, which is used by the sub-network slice management functional entity and the resource management and orchestration functional entity to instantiate the configuration information required by the network slice template.

The network slice management functional entity can generate network slice configuration information according to user requirements. The configuration information is mainly end-to-end network slice configuration information.

The sub-network slice management functional entity generates relevant sub-network slice configuration information according to the sub-network slice requirements. The sub-network slice management function entity can transmit the sub-network slice template generated by the sub-network slice management function entity obtained from the network slice management function entity or generated by the sub-network slice management function entity to the resource management and orchestration function entity.

The resource management and orchestration functional entity will then allocate virtual resources to the required sub-network slice template of the sub-network slice, and complete the virtualized deployment.

The sub-network slice management functional entity can automatically generate sub-network slice related management and maintenance information (FCAPS information) according to the sub-network slice requirements.

The network slice management functional entity can also directly communicate with the resource management and orchestration functional entity to inform the network slice virtualization instantiation/deletion of the need to release resources, or communicate with the sub-network slice management functional entity first, and communicate with the sub-network slice management functional entity through the sub-network slice management functional entity. The resource management and orchestration functions interact to complete the actions of virtualized deployment/deletion to release resources.

In the several embodiments provided in this application, it should be understood that the disclosed apparatus and method may be implemented in other manners. The device embodiments described above are only illustrative. For example, the division of the units is only a logical function division. In actual implementation, there may be other division methods. For example, multiple units or components may be combined, or Can be integrated into another system, or some features can be ignored, or not implemented. In addition, the coupling, or direct coupling, or communication connection between the components shown or discussed may be through some interfaces, and the indirect coupling or communication connection of devices or units may be electrical, mechanical or other forms. of.

The unit described above as a separate component may or may not be physically separated, and the component displayed as a unit may or may not be a physical unit, that is, it may be located in one place or distributed to multiple network units; Some or all of the units may be selected according to actual needs to achieve the purpose of the solution in this embodiment.

In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present invention may all be integrated into one processing module, or each unit may be separately used as a unit, or two or more units may be integrated into one unit; the above-mentioned integration The unit can be implemented either in the form of hardware or in the form of hardware plus software functional units.

Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or part of the steps of implementing the above method embodiments can be completed by program instructions related to hardware, the aforementioned program can be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, and when the program is executed, execute Including the steps of the above-mentioned method embodiment; and the aforementioned storage medium includes: a mobile storage device, a read-only memory (ROM, Read-Only Memory), a random access memory (RAM, Random Access Memory), a magnetic disk or an optical disk and other various A medium on which program code can be stored.

The above are only specific embodiments of the present invention, but the protection scope of the present invention is not limited thereto. Any person skilled in the art can easily think of changes or substitutions within the technical scope disclosed by the present invention. should be included within the protection scope of the present invention. Therefore, the protection scope of the present invention should be based on the protection scope of the claims.

Claims (22)

1. A management method of network slices is characterized in that the management method is applied to a management system at a network side and comprises the following steps:

the network slice management functional entity determines a network slice template according to the creation requirement, wherein the network slice template comprises a network slice description file and network slice maintenance management information, and the network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of an end-to-end network slice formed by instantiation of the network slice description file;

the network slice management functional entity splits the network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

a sub-network slice management functional entity, configured to obtain a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, where the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance management information, and the sub-network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of a sub-network slice formed by instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

a resource management and orchestration function that allocates virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, generates the sub-network slices, and combines the sub-network slices to generate the end-to-end network slices.

2. The method of claim 1,

the method further comprises the following steps:

the network slice management functional entity determines the sub-network slice template according to the network slice requirements or decomposed sub-network slice requirements;

or,

the network slice management functional entity sends the sub-network slice requirements to the sub-network slice management functional entity; and the sub-network slice management functional entity determines the sub-network slice template according to the sub-network slice requirement.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,

the method further comprises the following steps:

the sub-network slice management functional entity sends a sub-network slice instantiation request to the resource management and arrangement functional entity;

the resource management and orchestration function allocating virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, generating the sub-network slices and combining the sub-network slices to generate the end-to-end network slices, comprising:

the resource management and arrangement functional entity responds to the sub-network slice instantiation request, allocates virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file, and generates the sub-network slice network; and receiving the associated information of the network slice management functional entity, and associating the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the end-to-end network slice.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2,

the method further comprises the following steps:

the network slice management functional entity sends a network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity after the sub-network slice management functional entity generates the sub-network slice maintenance management information;

the resource management and orchestration function allocating virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, generating the sub-network slices and combining the sub-network slices to generate the end-to-end network slices, comprising:

instantiating the sub-network slice description file to generate the sub-network slice according to the network slice instantiation request, and associating the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the end-to-end network slice according to the network slice instantiation request.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2,

the method further comprises the following steps:

the network slice management functional entity generates a network slice management identifier of an end-to-end network slice, wherein the network slice management identifier is at least used for the creation and management of the end-to-end network slice by the network slice management functional entity;

the sub-network slice management functional entity generates a sub-network slice management identifier of the sub-network slice, wherein the sub-network slice management identifier is used for the sub-network slice management functional entity to create and manage the sub-network slice network;

the resource management and orchestration functional entity generates a sub-network slice instance identifier of the sub-network slice and a network slice instance identifier of the end-to-end network slice, wherein the sub-network slice instance identifier is used for maintenance and management of the sub-network slice by the resource management and orchestration functional entity; the network slice instance identifier is used for managing the resource management and arrangement functional entity;

the sub-network slice management functional entity corresponds to the sub-network slice management identifier and the sub-network slice instance identifier;

the network slice management function entity corresponds to the network slice management identification and the network slice example identification.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2,

the method further comprises the following steps:

the network slice management functional entity judges whether a sharable and created end-to-end network slice meets the creation requirement and/or judges whether a sharable and created sub-network slice or a network functional entity meets the creation requirement;

the network slice management functional entity determines a network slice template according to the creation requirement, and comprises at least one of the following components:

if sharable and established network slices meet the establishment requirements, sharing the established end-to-end network slices and performing related configuration management; if no sharable network slice meets the creation requirement and no sharable network sub-network slice or network functional entity meets the creation requirement, determining a network slice template according to the creation requirement;

if no sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement and there is a created sub-network slice and/or network function entity that can be shared, selecting a sub-network slice and/or network function entity that can be shared that meets the creation requirement, and co-creating a network slice template for the end-to-end network slice in conjunction with the sub-network slice and/or network function entity created based on the network slice template.

7. The method of claim 1,

the method further comprises the following steps:

the network slice management functional entity determines the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion according to the deletion requirement and removes the maintenance management of the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion;

the sub-network slice management functional entity relieves the maintenance management of the sub-network slices of the end-to-end network slices indicating deletion;

and the resource management and arrangement functional entity releases the sub-network slice mapping virtualization resource of the end-to-end network slice.

8. The method of claim 7,

the network slice management functional entity determines the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion according to the deletion requirement and removes the maintenance management of the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion, and comprises the following steps:

after determining the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion, the network slice management functional entity sends a sub-network slice deletion instruction to the corresponding sub-network slice management functional entity and removes maintenance management on the end-to-end network slice needing to be deleted;

the sub-network slice management functional entity relieves maintenance management on sub-network slices of end-to-end network slices indicating deletion, and comprises the following steps:

the sub-network slice management functional entity releases the maintenance and management of the sub-network slices according to the sub-network slice deleting instruction and sends a sub-network slice resource releasing instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity;

the resource management and orchestration function entity releases the sub-network slice mapping virtualization resources of the end-to-end network slice, including:

and the resource management and arrangement functional entity releases the virtualized resources mapped by the sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice resource release instruction.

9. The method of claim 7,

the network slice management functional entity determines the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion according to the deletion requirement and removes the maintenance management of the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion, and comprises the following steps:

the network slice management functional entity sends a network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity and removes the maintenance and management of the end-to-end network slice to be deleted;

the resource management and orchestration function entity releases the sub-network slice mapping virtualization resources of the end-to-end network slice, including:

the resource management and arrangement functional entity releases the resources mapped by the end-to-end network slice based on the network slice resource release instruction;

the sub-network slice management functional entity relieves maintenance management on sub-network slices of end-to-end network slices indicating deletion, and comprises the following steps:

the sub-network slice management functional entity releases the maintenance management of the sub-network slice according to the sub-network slice resource release instruction provided by the network slice management functional entity or the sub-network slice resource release result provided by the resource management and arrangement functional entity.

10. The method of claim 7,

the method further comprises the following steps:

the network slice management functional entity determines whether the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion is a shared network slice or a shared network sub-network slice and a network functional entity exist;

initiating deletion of the end-to-end network slice when the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion is not a shared network slice and there is no shared network sub-network slice or network functional entity;

when the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion is a shared end-to-end network slice, the network slice management functional entity relieves the use right of the end-to-end network slice used by the user for proposing the deletion requirement;

when the shared network sub-network slice or the network functional entity exists in the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion, deleting the network sub-network slice and the network functional entity which are not shared in the end-to-end network slice.

11. A method for managing network slices, the method comprising:

the network slice management functional entity determines a network slice template according to the creation requirement, wherein the network slice template comprises a network slice description file and network slice maintenance management information, and the network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of an end-to-end network slice formed by instantiation of the network slice description file;

the network slice management functional entity splits the network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

a sub-network slice management functional entity, configured to obtain a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, where the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance management information, and the sub-network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of a sub-network slice formed by instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

a resource management and orchestration function that allocates virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file, instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, generate the sub-network slice, and combine the sub-network slices to generate the end-to-end network slice;

the method further comprises the following steps:

the sub-network slice management functional entity sends a sub-network slice instantiation request to the resource management and arrangement functional entity; correspondingly, the resource management and orchestration function allocating virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, generating the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice, comprising: the resource management and arrangement functional entity responds to the sub-network slice instantiation request to allocate virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file, and generates the sub-network slice network; receiving the associated information of the network slice management functional entity, and associating the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the end-to-end network slice;

or,

the method further comprises the following steps:

the network slice management functional entity sends a network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity after the sub-network slice management functional entity generates the sub-network slice maintenance management information; correspondingly, the resource management and orchestration function allocating virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file or the network slice description file, generating the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice, comprising: instantiating the sub-network slice description file to generate the sub-network slice according to the network slice instantiation request, and associating the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the end-to-end network slice according to the network slice instantiation request.

12. A method for managing network slices, the method further comprising:

the network slice management functional entity sends a network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity according to the deletion requirement; and according to the deletion requirement, the maintenance management of the end-to-end network slice is removed;

a resource management and arrangement functional entity for releasing the resources mapped by the end-to-end network slice based on the network slice resource release instruction;

and the sub-network slice management functional entity releases the maintenance management of the sub-network slices according to the sub-network slice resource release instruction provided by the network slice management functional entity or the sub-network slice resource release result provided by the resource management and arrangement functional entity.

13. A method for managing network slices, the method further comprising:

the network slice management functional entity determines an end-to-end network slice indicating deletion according to a deletion requirement, sends a sub-network slice deletion instruction to the corresponding sub-network slice management functional entity and removes maintenance management on the end-to-end network slice needing to be deleted;

the sub-network slice management functional entity releases the maintenance and management of the sub-network slices according to the sub-network slice deleting instruction and sends a sub-network slice resource releasing instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity;

and the resource management and arrangement functional entity releases the virtualized resources mapped by the sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice resource release instruction.

14. A method for managing network slices, the method further comprising:

the network slice management functional entity determines a network slice template according to the creation requirement, wherein the network slice template comprises a network slice description file and network slice maintenance management information, and the network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of an end-to-end network slice formed by instantiation of the network slice description file;

the network slice management functional entity splits the network slice requirements corresponding to the network slice template into sub-network slice requirements;

a sub-network slice management functional entity, configured to obtain a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, where the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance management information, and the sub-network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of a sub-network slice formed by instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

a resource management and orchestration function that allocates virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, generating the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice;

the network slice management functional entity judges whether a sharable and created end-to-end network slice meets the creation requirement and/or judges whether a sharable and created sub-network slice or a network functional entity meets the creation requirement;

if sharable and established network slices meet the establishment requirements, sharing the established end-to-end network slices and performing related configuration management;

if no sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement and/or no sharable network sub-network slice or network functional entity meets the creation requirement, the network slice management functional entity determines a network slice description file according to the creation requirement;

if no sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement, the network slice management functional entity selects a sub-network slice and/or a network functional entity sharable to meet the creation requirement, and creates a network slice template of the end-to-end network slice together with creating a sub-network slice and/or a network functional entity based on the network slice template.

15. A system for managing network slices, comprising:

the network slice management functional entity is used for determining a network slice description file according to a creation requirement, wherein the network slice template comprises the network slice description file and network slice maintenance management information, and the network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of an end-to-end network slice formed by instantiation of the network slice description file; splitting the network slicing requirements corresponding to the network slicing template into sub-network slicing requirements;

a sub-network slice management functional entity, configured to obtain a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, where the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance management information, and the sub-network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of a sub-network slice formed by instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

and the resource management and arrangement functional entity is used for allocating virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file and generate the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice.

16. The system of claim 15,

the sub-network slice management functional entity is also used for sending a sub-network slice instantiation request to the resource management and arrangement functional entity; the resource management and orchestration functional entity is specifically configured to allocate a virtualized resource to instantiate the sub-network slice description file in response to the sub-network slice instantiation request, and generate the sub-network slice network; receiving the association information of the network slice management functional entity, associating the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to generate the end-to-end network slice;

or,

the network slice management functional entity is further configured to send a network slice instantiation request to the resource management and orchestration functional entity after the sub-network slice management functional entity generates the sub-network slice maintenance management information; the resource management and orchestration function entity is specifically configured to instantiate the sub-network slice description file to generate the sub-network slice according to the network slice instantiation request, and associate the sub-network slice to instantiate the network slice description file to biochemically instantiate the end-to-end network slice according to the network slice instantiation request.

17. The system of claim 15 or 16,

the network slice management functional entity is further configured to determine whether a sharable and created end-to-end network slice meets the creation requirement, and/or determine whether a sharable and created sub-network slice or a network functional entity meets the creation requirement;

the network slice management functional entity is specifically configured to share the created end-to-end network slice if a sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement; and/or determining a network slice description file and network slice maintenance management information according to the creation requirement if no sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement and no sharable network subnetwork slice or network functional entity meets the creation requirement, and/or determining a network slice description file and network slice maintenance management information according to the creation requirement if no sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement; and/or if no sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement and a created sub-network slice and/or network functional entity is sharable, selecting the sub-network slice and/or network functional entity sharable to meet the creation requirement, and jointly creating the end-to-end network slice together with the sub-network slice and/or network functional entity created based on the network slice template.

18. The system of claim 15 or 16,

the network slice management functional entity is specifically configured to, after determining an end-to-end network slice indicated to be deleted according to a deletion requirement, send a sub-network slice deletion instruction to the corresponding sub-network slice management functional entity and remove maintenance management on the end-to-end network slice to be deleted; the sub-network slice management functional entity is specifically configured to release maintenance and management of the sub-network slice according to the sub-network slice deletion instruction, and send a sub-network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity; the resource management and arrangement functional entity is specifically configured to release the virtualized resource mapped by the sub-network slice based on the sub-network slice resource release instruction;

or,

the network slice management functional entity is specifically used for sending a network slice resource release instruction to the resource management and arrangement functional entity after determining an end-to-end network slice indicating deletion according to a deletion requirement and removing maintenance management on the end-to-end network slice needing to be deleted; the resource management and arrangement functional entity is specifically configured to release the resource mapped by the end-to-end network slice based on the network slice resource release instruction; the sub-network slice management functional entity is specifically configured to release the maintenance management of the sub-network slice according to a sub-network slice resource release instruction provided by the network slice management functional entity or based on a sub-network slice resource release result provided by the resource management and orchestration functional entity.

19. The system of claim 15 or 16,

the network slice management functional entity is further configured to determine whether the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion is a shared network slice or whether a shared network sub-network slice and a network functional entity exist; initiating deletion of the end-to-end network slice when the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion is not a shared network slice and there is no shared network sub-network slice or network functional entity; the network slice management function entity is further configured to release the usage right of the proposed user for using the end-to-end network slice of the deletion requirement when the end-to-end network slice indicating deletion is a shared end-to-end network slice; and/or deleting the network sub-network slices and the network functional entities which are not shared in the end-to-end network slices when the shared network sub-network slices or the network functional entities exist in the deleted end-to-end network slices.

20. A system for managing network slices, the system comprising:

the network slice management functional entity is used for determining a network slice template according to the creation requirement, wherein the network slice template comprises a network slice description file and network slice maintenance management information, and the network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of an end-to-end network slice formed by instantiation of the network slice description file; splitting the network slicing requirements corresponding to the network slicing template into sub-network slicing requirements;

a sub-network slice management functional entity, configured to obtain a sub-network slice template corresponding to the sub-network slice requirement, where the sub-network slice template includes a sub-network slice description file and sub-network slice maintenance management information, and the sub-network slice maintenance management information is used for maintenance management of a sub-network slice formed by instantiation of the sub-network slice description file;

a resource management and orchestration function for allocating virtualized resources to instantiate the sub-network slice description file and the network slice description file, generating the sub-network slice and the end-to-end network slice;

the network slice management functional entity is further configured to determine whether a sharable and created end-to-end network slice meets the creation requirement, and/or determine whether a sharable and created sub-network slice or a network functional entity meets the creation requirement;

the network slice management functional entity is specifically configured to share the created end-to-end network slice if a sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement; and/or determining a network slice template according to the creation requirement if no sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement and no sharable subnetwork slice or network functional entity meets the creation requirement, and/or determining a network slice template according to the creation requirement if no sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement; and/or if no sharable and created network slice meets the creation requirement and a sharable created sub-network slice and/or network functional entity exists, selecting the sub-network slice and/or network functional entity sharable to meet the creation requirement, and jointly creating a network slice template of the end-to-end network slice in combination with the sub-network slice and/or network functional entity created based on the network slice template.

21. A system for management of network slices, comprising one or more functional entities, the functional entities comprising:

a memory for storing a computer program;

a processor, coupled to the memory, for implementing the method of any of claims 1 to 14 by executing the computer program.

22. A computer-readable storage medium for storing a computer program; the computer program is capable of implementing the method of any one of claims 1 to 14 when executed.

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