An automated network slicing at edge with software defined networking and network function virtualization – A federated learning approach

Abstract Network slicing allows heterogeneous applications can be launched across different domain using virtualized resources. The virtualized resources are created on the physical infrastructure. The orchestrator is essential for coordination of network slice management. The overhead in the slice orchestrator is reduced by distributed approach. The slice template act as a design specification template for the creation of network slices. This template can be predicted using federated learning, in which local models are trained with the generated data and global model is trained with local model parameters. Then the global parameters are updated in the local model for further learning. The federated model uses the SDN capability to learn the local model data distribution and hence enhance global SDN federated controller prediction accuracy for network slices. This process can be automated with the help of slice template with the predicted pattern. The parameters of the slice template are directly proportional to the performance of the slice orchestrator and prediction of future slice demands. The edge devices with its local model communicate with the global SDN federated model to satisfy the requirement of dynamic network slicing. The request on-demand services can be provided as virtual network function using network function virtualization. The optimal resource allocation for the requested slice can be done with statistical modeling of observed traffic and autoscaling can be carried out. Experimental studies reveal that the proposed network slicing with federated approach minimal response time with maximal orchestrator scalability.