Transparent orchestration and management of composite network functions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016149771-A1
Application number	US-201414550271-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 21, 2014
Priority date	Nov 21, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system that manages a network of network elements receives a network topology of the network elements, where the network elements include a first type of network elements and a second type of network elements. The system creates a first network function (“NF”) group that corresponds to the first type of network elements, and creates a second NF group that corresponds to the second type of network elements. The system implements a functionality of the first NF group on a physical network function component. The system implements a functionality of the second NF group as a virtual machine (“VM”). The system then forms a composite network function (“CNF”) using the first NF group and the second NF group. The CNF can be centrally managed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method of managing a network comprising a plurality of network elements, the method comprising:
receiving a network topology of the network elements, the network elements comprising a first type of network elements and a second type of network elements; creating a first network function (NF) group corresponding to the first type of network elements; creating a second NF group corresponding to the second type of network elements; implementing a functionality of the first NF group on a physical network function component; implementing a functionality of the second NF group as a virtual machine (VM); and forming a composite network function (CNF) comprising the first NF group and the second NF group.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising centrally managing the CNF.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein each instance of the second type of network elements comprises a high availability pair.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the CNF comprises a plurality of verticals, wherein each vertical is mapped to a distinct data center.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein a first data center is at a first geographic location, and a second data center is at a second geographic location that is geographically different than the first geographic location.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the CNF comprises a plurality of layers, wherein each layer comprises a plurality of network elements, and a distinct template deploys the network elements of each layer.

7 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the managing comprises receiving key performance indicators (KPIs) from each VM.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the managing further comprises adding an additional VM to the CNF in response to the KPIs.

9 . A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to manage a network comprising a plurality of network elements, the managing comprising:
receiving a network topology of the network elements, the network elements comprising a first type of network elements and a second type of network elements; creating a first network function (NF) group corresponding to the first type of network elements; creating a second NF group corresponding to the second type of network elements; implementing a functionality of the first NF group on a physical network function component; implementing a functionality of the second NF group as a virtual machine (VM); and forming a composite network function (CNF) comprising the first NF group and the second NF group.

10 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , the managing further comprising centrally managing the CNF.

11 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein each instance of the second type of network elements comprises a high availability pair.

12 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the CNF comprises a plurality of verticals, wherein each vertical is mapped to a distinct data center.

13 . The computer-readable medium of claim 12 , wherein a first data center is at a first geographic location, and a second data center is at a second geographic location that is geographically different than the first geographic location.

14 . The computer-readable medium of claim 9 , wherein the CNF comprises a plurality of layers, wherein each layer comprises a plurality of network elements, and a distinct template deploys the network elements of each layer.

15 . The computer-readable medium of claim 10 , wherein the managing comprises receiving key performance indicators (KPIs) from each VM.

16 . The computer-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the managing further comprises adding an additional VM to the CNF in response to the KPIs.

17 . A composite network function (CNF) comprising:
a communications network topology of network elements comprising a first type of network elements and a second type of network elements; a physical network function component that implements a first network function (NF) group corresponding to the first type of network elements; a virtual machine (VM) that implements a second NF group corresponding to the second type of network elements; and a central management component.

18 . The CNF of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of verticals, wherein each vertical is mapped to a distinct data center.

19 . The CNF of claim 18 , wherein a first data center is at a first geographic location, and a second data center is at a second geographic location that is geographically different than the first geographic location.

20 . The CNF of claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of layers, wherein each layer comprises a plurality of network elements, and a distinct template deploys the network elements of each layer.

Assignees

• Oracle Int Corp

Inventors

• Prasad Renuka
• Scali James Lawrence
• Lorkiewicz Gary M

Classifications

• H04L41/122

  of virtualised topologies, e.g. software-defined networks [SDN] or network function virtualisation [NFV] · CPC title

• H04L41/0894

  Policy-based network configuration management · CPC title

• H04L41/0895

  Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements · CPC title

• H04L41/40

  using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities · CPC title

• H04L41/5054 Primary

  Automatic deployment of services triggered by the service manager, e.g. service implementation by automatic configuration of network components · CPC title