Integration of proactivity in wireless networks via targeted-contracts
Methods, apparatus, and systems for integrating proactivity into communication networks are disclosed. Predictive functions in networks can enable the networks to foresee and anticipate potential future events. However, responding proactively to such predictions has typically involved trade-offs between reliability, proactivity, and resource wastage. Embodiments of the present disclosure may resolve these trade-offs by using targeted contracts that define the proactive operations among network entities. Some embodiments may identify master and target network entities that collaborate through contracts that are specific to the network entities and potential events to provide responses unique to the situation. In some embodiments the contracts may be negotiated and updated according to more recent predictions to promote flexibility and reliability.
1 . A method for proactive operation in a network, the network including one or more network entities (NEs), one of the one or more NEs being an orchestrator, the method comprising,
by the orchestrator:
obtaining an initial prediction of a potential state of the network;
obtaining one or more additional initial predictions for at least one additional potential state of the network, each of the at least one additional potential state being an alternative to the potential state;
identifying one or more target NEs of the one or more NEs;
generating one or more contracts, each contract having a respective one or more terms, each term defining a respective network action by a respective at least one target NE to prepare the network for the potential state or for one of the at least one additional potential states, wherein each at least one target NE belongs to the one or more target NEs;
executing at least one contract of the one or more contracts; and
causing, when the at least one contract is executed,
the respective network action of each term of the at least one contract to begin executing by the respective at least one target NE, and
a respective one or more network resources of each at least one target NE of the at least one contract to become reserved for the potential state or for the one additional potential state.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising,
by the orchestrator:
categorizing each of the one or more target NEs into a class of one or more classes.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein categorizing each of the one or more target NEs into the class of the one or more classes includes using a target classifier function.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein each class corresponds to a priority level.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein generating the one or more contracts includes:
generating for each class a general contract; and
individualizing each general contract according to the target NEs of the corresponding class.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein generating for each class the general contract includes retrieving one or more terms from a pool of terms.
7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein generating for each class the general contract includes using a general contract generator function.
8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein individualizing each general contract according to the target NEs of the corresponding class includes using an individualized contract generator function.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising,
by the orchestrator:
detecting a trigger event in the network, wherein the trigger event is a change in a network parameter that meets a threshold value.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein obtaining the initial prediction of the potential state of the network is done when the trigger event is detected.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising,
by the orchestrator:
sending each contract to each target NE of the respective at least one target NE of each term of the respective contract.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein one term of each of the one or more contracts defines a respective hardening condition for finalizing the respective contract.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein each hardening condition depends from a probability of the potential state or a time duration.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising,
by the orchestrator:
receiving from each target NE of the respective at least one target NE of each term of the at least one contract an agreement to the at least one contract.
15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising,
by the orchestrator:
obtaining a second prediction of the potential state, the second prediction obtained after the initial prediction.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising,
by the orchestrator:
sending to at least one target NE the second prediction.
17 . A communication network comprising one or more network entities (NEs), at least one of the one or more NEs being an orchestrator configured to implement the method of claim 1 .
18 . A method for proactive operation in a network, the network including one or more network entities (NEs), one of the one or more NEs being an orchestrator, the method comprising,
by the orchestrator:
obtaining an initial prediction of a potential state of the network;
identifying one or more target NEs of the one or more NEs;
categorizing each of the one or more target NEs into a class of one or more classes;
generating one or more contracts, each contract having a respective one or more terms, each term defining a respective network action by a respective at least one target NE to prepare the network for the potential state, wherein each at least one target NE belongs to the one or more target NEs;
sending to a set of the one or more target NEs each a template hard contract defining a respective one or more template hard contract terms, each template hard contract term defining a respective network action by a respective at least one target NE among the one or more target NEs for immediate execution;
executing at least one contract of the one or more contracts; and
causing, when the at least one contract is executed,
the respective network action of each term of the at least one contract to begin executing by the respective at least one target NE, and
a respective one or more network resources of each at least one target NE of the at least one contract to become reserved for the potential state or for the one additional potential state.
19 . The method of claim 18 further comprising, by the orchestrator:
detecting a trigger event in the network, wherein the trigger event is being a change in a network parameter that meets a threshold value.
20 . The method of claim 18 further comprising, by the orchestrator:
sending each contract to each target NE of the respective at least one target NE of each term of the respective contract.