What is Transport Slice Controller?

The Transport Slice Controller (TSC) is a functional block that provides realization, monitoring, and optimization of transport slices in the network. It has a layered architecture, with a northbound interface toward a higher-level system (i.e. end-to-end network slice orchestrator) and southbound interface toward the transport network controllers. The NBI is technology-agnostic while the SBI is technology-specific. TSC provides automation of the transport slices during the realization and also allows pro-active monitoring of transport slices and performs closed-loop optimization in the case of SLA violations.

The TSC provides the following functions:

• automating the creation/modification/deletion of transport slices

• monitoring, analytics and reporting on transport slices

• closed-loop optimization on transport slices

The NSP as TSC provides a programmable function for automating, monitoring, and optimizing 4G/5G transport slices in a managed network. The TSC uses the NSP intent-based framework to provide transport slice realization and SLA assurance across multiple technology types including IP/MPLS, optical, PON, and microwave.

• Transport slice front-end - a new dashboard on NSP which is transports slice-centric and provides a single pane of glass for all transport slices in the network.

• Transport slice back-end - this functionality provides a programmable framework for transport slice lifecycle management. The back-end is a multi-vendor intent-based programmable framework that allows the operator to realize transport slices for any technology in fronthaul, midhaul, and backhaul networks. It also provides the pro-active monitoring of transport slices and preform the closed-loop optimization in case of SLA violations.