System and Method for Provision and Distribution of Spectrum Resources

• US 20160353422A1
• Filed: 05/31/2016
• Published: 12/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: VRZIC, Sophie, ZHANG, Hang, SENARATH, Nimal Gamini
• Granted Patent: US 10,313,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/02 Resource partitioning among network components, e.g. reuse partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/04 Traffic adaptive resource partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/14 Spectrum sharing arrangements between different networks

Abstract

There is provided systems and methods for Network Function Virtualization (NFV) in a control plane. The NFV framework is be used to define a plurality of virtual network functions (VNFs), each of which can correspond to a function enabling operation of a communication network. There is provided a method and system for managing a plurality of network slices in a communication network, the method comprising: instantiating a Global Control Plane set apart from the plurality of network slices, the Global Control Plane configured to at least partially manage each of the plurality of network slices.

Claims

1. A method for provisioning and distributing spectrum resources in a communication network, the method comprising:

receiving, at a spectrum negotiator, a request for additional spectrum resources for a particular network slice;

transmitting a request for the additional spectrum resources; and

receiving, in response to the transmitted request, an offer for at least some of the requested additional spectrum resources.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising allocating at least some additional spectrum resources to the particular network slice.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising checking a resource request policy in light of the request for additional spectrum resources.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising negotiating to obtain the at least some of the requested additional spectrum resources.

5. A method for obtaining additional spectrum resources, the method comprising:

detecting, at the scheduler, an indication of a spectrum resource overload condition; and

transmitting a request for additional spectrum resources.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving an indication of an allocation of at least some of the additional spectrum resources.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the indication of the spectrum resource overload condition can be a buffer overload condition, a queue length condition or an observed condition that is a predictor of increased network traffic.

8. A system for provisioning and distributing spectrum resources in a communication network, the system comprising:

a spectrum negotiator configured to transmit a request for additional spectrum resources, the spectrum negotiator operatively connected with a particular network slice; and

a spectrum manager configured to receive and act upon the request for provision of at least some of the requested additional spectrum resources.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the spectrum negotiator is instantiated within the particular network slice.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the spectrum negotiator is instantiated within an access point communicatively connected with the particular network slice.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the spectrum negotiator is instantiated within the communication network separate from the particular network slice and separate from an access point communicatively connected with the particular network slice.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the spectrum negotiator is operatively connected with a resource request policy function, wherein the resource request policy function provides parameters regarding distribution of at some of the additional spectrum.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the spectrum negotiator and the spectrum broker are configured to negotiate the provision of at least some of the requested additional spectrum resources.