US 12,137,027 B2
Methods and devices for resource sharing using smart contracts
Giuseppe Celozzi, Naples (IT); Luca Baldini, Rome (IT); Daniele Gaito, Naples (IT); and Gaetano Patria, San Prisco (IT)
Assigned to Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ), Stockholm (SE)
Appl. No. 17/597,884
Filed by Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ), Stockholm (SE)
PCT Filed Aug. 6, 2019, PCT No. PCT/SE2019/050725
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 27, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/025600, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 11, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0166667 A1, May 26, 2022
Int. Cl. H04L 41/0806 (2022.01); H04L 41/5019 (2022.01); H04L 41/5054 (2022.01)
CPC H04L 41/0806 (2013.01) [H04L 41/5019 (2013.01); H04L 41/5054 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for a network operator device performing as a slice provider in a communication network, the method comprising:
receiving a first user request for creating a network slice for a network user, the first user request specifying one or more requirements to be met by the network slice;
sending, to a resource provider, a resource request for a resource to be used for creating the network slice, in which the one or more requirements being specified in the resource request;
receiving, from the resource provider, an offer of a smart contract offer for the resource including a service level agreement (SLA);
setting up the network slice using resources, including at least the resource provided by the resource provider, according to the SLA; and
causing, by the slice provider, an allocation record to be stored in a permissioned blockchain, the allocation record memorializing the smart contract for the resource according to the SLA, wherein the resource provider periodically causes a monitoring record for an assessment, as to whether the resource meets the one or more specified requirements, to be stored in the permissioned blockchain and wherein the network slice is a software-defined end-to-end sub-network using the resource and the allocation record that is stored in the permissioned blockchain is unalterable.