Mobility network slice selection
Core network slices that belong to a given operator community are efficiently tracked at the network control/user plane functions level, with rich data analytics in real-time based on their geographic instantiations. In one aspect, an enhanced vendor agnostic orchestration mechanism is utilized to connect a unified management layer with an integrated slice-components data analytics engine (SDAE), a slice performance engine (SPE), and a network slice selection function (NSSF) in a closed-loop feedback system with the serving network functions of one or more core network slices. The tight-knit orchestration mechanism provides economies of scale to mobile carriers in optimal deployment and utilization of their critical core network resources while serving their customers with superior quality.
1. A method comprising:
instantiating, by a system comprising a processor and based on load factors relating to utilization of a first network function instance operating within a core network slice, a second network function instance within the core network slice, the second network function instance being distinct from the first network function instance, wherein the instantiating comprises instantiating the second network function instance without modifying other network function instances, other than the first network function instance, operating within the core network slice;
determining, by the system and in response to the instantiating, a length of a defined time period based on predicted traffic flows associated with the core network slice; and
de-instantiating, by the system, the second network function instance in response to the defined time period being determined to have concluded.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
selecting, by the system, the first network function instance according to a criterion; and
monitoring, by the system, the load factors relating to the utilization of the first network function instance in response to the selecting.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the criterion comprises a policy of a network operator associated with the core network slice.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instantiating is in further response to resources within the core network slice for the instantiating being determined to be available.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first network function instance is a first instance of a network function, and wherein the second network function instance is a second instance of the network function.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the network function is a user plane function.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the network function is an access and mobility management function.
8. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
instantiating, based on load factors associated with a first network function instance operating within a core network slice, a second network function instance, different from the first network function instance, within the core network slice, wherein the instantiating comprises instantiating the second network function instance without modifying other network function instances, other than the first network function instance, operating within the core network slice;
in response to the instantiating, determining a length of a defined time interval based on predicted traffic flows associated with the core network slice; and
de-instantiating the second network function instance in response to determining that the defined time interval has elapsed.
9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
selecting the first network function instance based on a selection criterion; and
monitoring the load factors associated with the first network function instance in response to the selecting.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the selection criterion comprises a policy of a network operator associated with the core network slice.
11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the instantiating is in further response to determining that resources for the second network function instance are available within the core network slice.
12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first network function instance is a first instance of a network function, and wherein the second network function instance is a second instance of the network function.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the network function is a user plane function.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the network function is an access and mobility management function.
15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
instantiating, based on load factors indicative of utilization of a first network function instance associated with a core network slice, a second network function instance associated with the core network slice, the second network function instance being different from the first network function instance, wherein the instantiating comprises instantiating the second network function instance without modifying other network function instances, other than the first network function instance, operating within the core network slice;
determining a length of a time interval based on predicted traffic flows associated with the core network slice; and
in response to expiration of the time interval, de-instantiating the second network function instance.
16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
selecting the first network function instance according to a policy of a network operator associated with the core network slice; and
monitoring the load factors indicative of the utilization of the first network function instance in response to the selecting.
17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the instantiating is in further response to determining that resources for the second network function instance are available within the core network slice.
18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first network function instance is a first instance of a network function, and wherein the second network function instance is a second instance of the network function.
19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the network function is a user plane function.
20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the network function is an access and mobility management function.