5 Framework approach for evaluating autonomous network levels

28.1003GPPLevels of autonomous networkManagement and orchestrationRelease 17TS

A framework approach for evaluating autonomous network levels is as following, which is used for evaluating the autonomy capability of telecom system. In the following framework table:

– "Human" represents corresponding tasks are accomplished by human or human utilizing the tools for network and service management and orchestration.

– "Human & System" represents corresponding tasks are accomplished by collaboration of human and telecom system, the detailed collaboration pattern depends on the scenario, which is not addressed in the framework approach for evaluating autonomous network levels.

– "System" represents corresponding tasks are fully accomplished by telecom system.

Table 5-1: Framework approach for evaluating autonomous network levels

Autonomous network level		Task categories
		Execution	Awareness	Analysis	Decision	Intent handling
L0	Manual operating network	Human	Human	Human	Human	Human
L1	Assisted operating network	Human & Telecom system	Human & Telecom system	Human	Human	Human
L2	Preliminary autonomous network	Telecom system	Human & Telecom system	Human & Telecom system	Human	Human
L3	Intermediate autonomous network	Telecom system	Telecom system	Human & Telecom system	Human & Telecom system	Human
L4	Advanced autonomous network	Telecom system	Telecom system	Telecom system	Telecom system	Human & Telecom system
L5	Full autonomous network	Telecom system	Telecom system	Telecom system	Telecom system	Telecom system
Note 1: Human reviewed decision have the highest authority in each level if there is any confliction between human reviewed decision and telecom system generated decision. Note 2: The order of above five task categories does not reflect the workflow sequence.

Level 0 manual operating network: No categorization of the tasks is accomplished by telecom system itself.

Level 1 assisted operating network: A part of the execution and awareness tasks are accomplished automatically by telecom system itself based on human defined control information. At this level, telecom system can assist human to improve the execution and awareness efficiency.

Level 2 preliminary autonomous network: All the execution tasks are accomplished automatically by telecom system itself. A part of the awareness and analysis tasks are accomplished automatically by telecom system itself based on human defined control information. At this level, telecom system can assist human to achieve the closed loop based on human defined control information.

Level 3 intermediate autonomous network: All the execution and awareness tasks are accomplished automatically by telecom system itself. A part of the analysis and decision tasks are accomplished automatically by telecom system itself based on human defined control information. At this level, the telecom system can achieve the closed loop automation based on the human defined closed loop automation control information.

Level 4 advanced autonomous network: All the execution, awareness, analysis and decision tasks are accomplished automatically by telecom system itself. And intent handling tasks can be partly accomplished automatically by telecom system itself based on human defined intent handling control information. At this level, telecom system can achieve the intent driven closed loop automation based on human defined intent handling control information, which means the telecom system can translate the intent to the detailed closed loop automation control information and translate the detailed network and service information to intent fulfilment information (e.g. the intent is satisfied or not) based on human defined intent handling control information.

Level 5 fully autonomous network: The entire network autonomy workflow is accomplished automatically by telecom system without human intervention. At this level, telecom system can achieve the whole network autonomy.

Note 1: Above framework approach for evaluating autonomous network levels is applicable for evaluating the autonomous network level from both management scope and scenario perspective. The overall autonomous network level of the whole telecom system is a comprehensive reflection of autonomous network level of the individual management scope and scenarios, which means in fully autonomous network level, the telecom system can achieve the whole network autonomy for all management scopes and scenarios.

Note 2: The control information in the present document represents the information which can be formatted as rules or policies to assist/control the system to perform corresponding tasks in an autonomous manner.