Method and apparatus for selecting processing paths in a software defined network

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method including selecting a second network slice, according to first information and a first characteristic of a first service associated with a communication device. The first network slice is directed to route a first portion of user plane traffic between the communication device and the second network slice, while retaining a second portion according to a second characteristic of the first service. The first network slice retains control plane processing for the communication device. The second network slice is directed to facilitate providing the first service via the first portion of the user plane traffic. Anticipated resource usage information associated with the second network slice is determined and a first virtual network function is instantiated at the second network slice according to the anticipated resource usage information associated with the second network slice. Other embodiments are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory machine-readable storage medium, comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:
 receiving a request from a first network slice included in a plurality of network slices, wherein the request includes first characteristics of a first communication device, second characteristics of an access network, and third characteristics of services requested by the first communication device;   selecting a second network slice of the plurality of network slices according to the first characteristics, the second characteristics, and the third characteristics;   directing the first network slice to route a first portion of user plane communication traffic associated with the services between the first communication device and the second network slice, while retaining a second portion of the user plane communication traffic associated with the services between the first communication device and the first network slice; and   directing the second network slice to facilitate providing the services to the first communication device via the first portion of the user plane communication traffic routed between the first communication device and the second network slice.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 identifying anticipated resource usage information associated with the second network slice; and   instantiating a first virtual network function at the second network slice according to the anticipated resource usage information associated with the second network slice.   
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the retaining of the second portion of the user plane communication traffic is based on the third characteristics. 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first network slice provides control plane processing for the first communication device. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the first communication device is connected to a network via a default network slice comprising a set of virtual network functions. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 5 , wherein the set of virtual network functions comprises a mobility gateway function. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein a default network slice facilitates an anchoring of connectivity between the first communication device and a network. 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein a default network slice processes the user plane communication traffic prior to routing the first portion of the user plane communication traffic between the first communication device and the second network slice. 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 instantiating a set of virtual network functions in a network.   
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise configuring the set of virtual network functions to cooperatively facilitate the services. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the third characteristics of the services comprise a policy capability achievable via the plurality of network slices. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the third characteristics of the services comprise a quality of service capability achievable via the plurality of network slices. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the third characteristics of the services comprise a data latency capability achievable via the plurality of network slices. 
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory machine-readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the third characteristics of the services comprise a billing capability achievable via the plurality of network slices. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processing system including a processor; and   a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations, the operations comprising:   receiving a request from a first network slice included in a plurality of network slices, wherein the request includes first characteristics of a first client, second characteristics of an access network, and third characteristics of services requested by the first client;   selecting a second network slice of the plurality of network slices according to the first characteristics, the second characteristics, and the third characteristics;   directing the first network slice to route a first portion of user plane communication traffic associated with the services between the first client and the second network slice, while retaining a second portion of the user plane communication traffic associated with the services between the first client and the first network slice; and   directing the second network slice to facilitate providing the services to the first client via the first portion of the user plane communication traffic routed between the first client and the second network slice.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first network slice facilitates a first connection of the first client to a network associated with the plurality of network slices. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the first network slice processes the user plane communication traffic prior to routing the first portion of the user plane communication traffic between the first client and the second network slice. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise:
 instantiating a set of virtual network functions in a network; and   configuring the set of virtual network functions to cooperatively facilitate the services.   
     
     
         19 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, by a processing system including a processor, a request from a first network slice, wherein the request includes first characteristics of a first communication device, second characteristics of an access network, and third characteristics of a service requested by the first communication device;   selecting, by the processing system, a second network slice according to the first characteristics, the second characteristics, the third characteristics, or any combination thereof;   directing, by the processing system, the first network slice to route a first portion of user plane communication traffic associated with the service between the first communication device and the second network slice, while retaining a second portion of the user plane communication traffic associated with the service between the first communication device and the first network slice; and   directing, by the processing system, the second network slice to facilitate providing the service to the first communication device via the first portion of the user plane communication traffic routed between the first communication device and the second network slice.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the selecting is according to the first characteristics, the second characteristics, and the third characteristics.