Automated certification of network functions

US10880173B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. · US

Inventors

• Vikram Seenappa · Sammamish, US
• Joseph Dahan · Redmond, US
• Srikanth Tirumala · Redmond, US
• Michal Cwian · Kirkland, US
• Dana Coburn · Snoqualmie, US
• Henry Deccio · Bellevue, US
• Henry Romero · Bothell, US
• Pratik Gandhi · McLean, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 3, 2018
• Grant date: Dec 29, 2020
• Expiry date: Feb 15, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04W48/18
• WIPO field: Digital communication
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

The described technology is generally directed towards automated acceptance testing of network functions so that only certified network functions are deployed in a wireless network. When a network function attempts to register in a network, e.g., with a network function repository, the registration attempt triggers a workflow that obtains a result of automated testing of the network function. The automated testing operation can be based on a test suite selected according to the network function type and the network slice in which the network function is to be deployed. Only upon determining that the network function passed the automated testing operation is the network function registered (by the network function repository) for operation in the wireless network.