Transparent orchestration and management of composite network functions

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9584377-B2
Application number	US-201414550271-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 21, 2014
Priority date	Nov 21, 2014
Publication date	Feb 28, 2017
Grant date	Feb 28, 2017

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 2 , wherein the managing comprises receiving key performance indicators (KPIs) from each VM.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the managing further comprises adding an additional VM to the CNF in response to the KPIs.

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

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

7. The method of claim 6 , 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.

8. 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.

9. A non-transitory 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 10 , wherein the managing comprises receiving key performance indicators (KPIs) from each VM.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11 , wherein the managing further comprises adding an additional VM to the CNF in response to the KPIs.

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

14. 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.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 , 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.

16. 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.

17. A network management system for managing a plurality of network elements, the system comprising:
a processor executing instructions to:
receive a network topology of the network elements, the network elements comprising a first type of network elements and a second type of network elements;
create a first network function (NF) group corresponding to the first type of network elements;
create a second NF group corresponding to the second type of network elements;
implement a functionality of the first NF group on a physical network function component;
implement a functionality of the second NF group as a virtual machine (VM); and
form a composite network function (CNF) comprising the first NF group and the second NF group.

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

19. The system 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 system of claim 17 , 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.

Assignees

• Oracle Int Corp

Inventors

• Prasad Renuka
• Scali James Lawrence
• Lorkiewicz Gary M

Classifications

• H04L67/1097

  for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS] · CPC title

• H04L41/0893

  Assignment of logical groups to network elements · CPC title

• H04L67/1031

  Controlling of the operation of servers by a load balancer, e.g. adding or removing servers that serve requests · 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

• H04L41/5025

  by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade · CPC title