Intent-Based Management for Next-Generation Networks: an LLM-centric Approach

#networking #intent-based #management #LLM

Title: Intent-Based Management for Next-Generation Networks: an LLM-centric Approach

Intent-based networking (IBN) is crucial in enabling autonomous networks by specifying goals and constraints at a higher level to the Network Management System. TMForum has specified a dedicated architecture and model that rely on Intents to handle and manage communication services, paving the way for autonomous systems towards 6G. Intents that represent an abstracted operational goal specified by the communication service owner, which is usually provided as input to the Network Management System (NMS). The latter, in turn, generates the necessary low-level configurations to fulfill these Intents. The current model of expressing Intents still requires significant effort in writing JSON and YAML structures, demanding a detailed comprehension of the format and model specified by the Northbound Interface (NBI). This process is sometimes not straightforward, and adhering to the structure of these NBIs takes time. A natural evolution for IBN is to move beyond human-readable languages and transition towards natural language. In this talk, we will discuss the evolution of Intents in 6G relaying Large Language Model (LLM) that translates human language into operational intents to deploy communication systems, leveraging few-shot learning and human-in-the-loop Feedback.

BIOGRAPHY

Adlen Ksentini is a professor in the Communication Systems Department of EURECOM. He is leading the Network softwarization group activities related to Network softwarization, 5G/6G, and Edge Computing. Adlen Ksentini's research interests are Network Sofwerization and Network Cloudification, focusing on topics related to network virtualization, Software Defined Networking (SDN), and Edge Computing for 5G and 6G networks. He has been participating to several H2020 and Horizon Europe projects on 5G and beyond, such as 5G!Pagoda, 5GTransformer, 5G!Drones, MonB5G, ImagineB5G, 6GBricks, 6G-Intense, Sunrise-6G and AC3.
He is the technical manager of 6G-Intense and AC3, on zero-touch management of 6G resources and applications, and Cloud Edge Continuum, respectively. He is interested in the system and architectural issues but also in algorithm problems related to those topics, using Markov Chains, Optimization algorithms, and Machine Learning (ML). Adlen Ksentini has given several tutorials in IEEE international conferences, IEEE Globecom 2015, IEEEE CCNC 2017/2018/2023, IEEE ICC 2017, IEEE/IFIP IM 2017, IEEE School 2019. Adlen Ksentini is a member of the OAI board of directors, where he is in charge of OAI 5G Core Network and ORAN management (O1, E2) for OAI RAN activities.