US 12,273,938 B2
System and method of managing PNF connectivity in a network slice instance
Joey Chou, Scottsdale, AZ (US); and Yizhi Yao, Chandler, AZ (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/844,652.
Application 17/844,652 is a continuation of application No. 16/296,971, filed on Mar. 8, 2019, granted, now 11,382,150.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/648,335, filed on Mar. 26, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0394785 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04W 76/11 (2018.01); G06F 9/455 (2018.01); H04W 48/18 (2009.01); H04W 76/22 (2018.01)
CPC H04W 76/11 (2018.02) [G06F 9/45558 (2013.01); H04W 76/22 (2018.02); G06F 2009/45595 (2013.01); H04W 48/18 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a memory; and
one or more processors in communication with the memory and configured to:
generate a network slice (NS) update request to a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO) to add external connectivity to an existing physical network function (PNF) in an NS instance;
receive, from the NFVO in response to transmission of the NS update request, an NS update response that contains a lifecycle operation occurrence identifier, the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier identifying an NS lifecycle operation occurrence; and
after reception of the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier:
receive a first NS lifecycle change notification from the NFVO that indicates a start of the NS, the first NS lifecycle change comprising the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier; and
subsequently receive a second NS lifecycle change notification from the NFVO that indicates an end result of the NS update and the lifecycle operation occurrence identifier.