Apparatus and method for network and computational resource management for service-oriented communications within a software-defined network architecture

Abstract

An apparatus and method for network resource management and computational resource management for service-oriented communications within a software-defined network architecture (SDN), wherein an SDN control unit (138) monitors network traffic within a communications network (100), the SDN control unit (138) receives data about computational resource usage and service-oriented communications within the communications network (100), the SDN control unit (138) determines network resource settings and computational resource settings in response to an evaluation of the data, and the SDN control unit (138) configures the network resources and computational resources in response to the network resource settings and computational resource settings.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for network and computational resource management for service-oriented communications within a software-defined network architecture. Summary of the Invention

[0002] A method for network resource management and computational resource management for service-oriented communication in a software-defined network architecture (SDN) contemplates that an SDN controller monitors network traffic in a communication network, the SDN controller receives data about computational resource usage and service-oriented communication in the communication network, the SDN controller determines network resource configurations and computational resource configurations according to a result of evaluating the data, and the SDN controller configures the network resources and computational resources according to the network resource configurations and computational resource configurations. The service-oriented communication automatically discovers services in the communication network 100 that must communicate with each other. The network resource management and computational resource management of the SDN controller adapts the communication network to the service requirements.

[0003] Preferably, depending on the results of the data evaluation, allocation of instances of services to control devices and message paths is determined, and the message paths exchange instances with each other, which are characteristic of the network resource configuration and the computational resource configuration, thereby avoiding congestion on data lines in the communication network and overloading control devices.

[0004] For example, if the result of the data evaluation identifies congestion on a data line of a communication network and a network switch of the communication network forwards a message to this data line, the network switch is configured by the network settings not to forward the message to this data line.

[0005] For example, if an overloaded control device is identified as a result of the data evaluation and an instance of a service is running on this control device, the instance is configured by resource configuration to not send offers for the service or not respond to requests arriving at the service.

[0006] For example, if an overloaded control device is identified as a result of the data evaluation and an instance of a service is running on this control device, at least one network switch is configured in the network settings to not forward offers for the service from this instance.

[0007] An apparatus for network resource management and computational resource management for service-oriented communication in a software-defined network architecture (SDN) contemplates that an SDN controller is configured to monitor network traffic in the communication network, the SDN controller is configured to receive data about computational resource usage and service-oriented communication in the communication network, the SDN controller is configured to determine network resource settings and computational resource settings in response to an evaluation of the data, and the SDN controller is configured to configure the network resources and computational resources in response to the network resource settings and computational resource settings, thereby enabling the communication network to adapt to service requirements.

[0008] The SDN control unit is preferably configured to determine, depending on the results of the data evaluation, the allocation of service instances to control devices and message paths, which exchange instances with each other, and these instances characterize network resource configurations and computational resource configurations.

[0009] The SDN control unit is configured to, for example, when congestion on a data line of a communication network is recognized as a result of data evaluation and a network switch of the communication network forwards a message to this data line, configure the network switch by network settings so that the message is not forwarded to this data line.

[0010] The SDN control unit is configured, for example, to configure, if as a result of the evaluation of the data, an overloaded control device is recognized and an instance of a service is running on this control device, the instance by resource configuration not to send offers for the service or not to respond to requests arriving at the service.

[0011] The SDN control unit is configured, for example, to configure at least one network switch by network configuration to not forward offers for services from this instance if, as a result of the data evaluation, an overloaded control device is identified and an instance of a service is running on this control device.

[0012] In one example, the communication network includes a control device, at least one network switch, and / or at least one gateway of a vehicle, an industrial system, or an IoT system, and the SDN control unit is configured to install, update, activate, or deactivate an instance of a service on the control device in accordance with the network resource configuration and / or the computational resource configuration, and / or the SDN control unit is configured to configure the at least one network switch and / or the at least one gateway to forward or not forward messages from and / or to the service or its instance in accordance with the network resource configuration and / or the computational resource configuration.

[0013] The computer program may be contemplated as comprising computer readable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the method to proceed.

[0014] Further advantageous embodiments can be seen from the following description and drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a portion of a communication network having a software-defined network architecture. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates method steps for network and computational resource management for service-oriented communications within a software-defined network architecture. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In FIG. 1, a portion of a communication network 100 is shown schematically. The communication network 100 is a software-defined communication network (SDN) having a software-defined network architecture (SDN architecture). The control unit of the communication network 100 is separated from the message forwarding function within the communication network 100. The control unit is programmable independently of the forwarding function.

[0017] Communications network 100 includes a service-oriented architecture. The underlying infrastructure of communications network 100, i.e., the hardware of communications network 100, is agnostic to the services, i.e., software, that run within communications network 100. Instances of services run on suitable equipment in the infrastructure. Instances are the source or destination of messages. Messages from a source are forwarded to their destinations via paths within the infrastructure defined by the SDN architecture.

[0018] The communication network 100, in the example, includes a first control device 102 connected to a second network switch 106 via a first network switch 104. The second network switch 106 is connected to a third network switch 108 and a fourth network switch 110. The second network switch 106 is connected to a second control device 112. The third network switch 108 is connected to a third control device 114. The fourth network switch 110 is connected to a fourth control device 116.

[0019] These control devices and network switches are located in the vehicle 118 in the example. The communication network 100 includes a data line 120 of a first network type within a first portion of the communication network 100. The control devices and network switches are configured to communicate over the data line 120 based on a first protocol of the first network type. The first network type is, in an example, a technology related to a wired data network that interconnects software and / or hardware. In an example, the data line 120 is a LAN cable and the protocol is Ethernet. Ethernet enables data exchange between the control devices as end devices.

[0020] Respective data lines 120, i.e., LAN cables, physically connect the second control device 112 to the second network switch 106, the third control device 114 to the third network switch 108, and the fourth control device 116 to the fourth network switch 110. In the example, no physical data lines are provided between any of the second control device 112, the third control device 114, and the fourth control device 116, respectively, to any of the other control devices or to one of the network switches.

[0021] One data line 120 is arranged between the second network switch 106 and the third network switch 108, and one data line 120 is arranged between the third network switch 108 and the fourth network switch 110. One data line 120 is arranged between the second network switch 106 and the first network switch 102, one data line 120 is arranged between the third network switch 108 and the first network switch 102, and one data line 120 is arranged between the fourth network switch 110 and the first network switch 102.

[0022] In the example, none of the data lines 120 are equipped with active network devices. The second control device 112, the third control device 114, and the fourth control device 116 are connected to a second portion of the communication network 100. The second control device 112, the third control device 114, and the fourth control device 116 are configured to communicate via a line 122 of a second network type based on a second protocol of the second network type. The second network type, in an example, is a technology related to a wired data network that interconnects software and / or hardware. In an example, the line 122 is a twisted pair cable, and the protocol is a controller area network protocol. The controller area network protocol enables data exchange between these control devices as end devices based on a predetermined pattern. In an example, the line 122 does not include any active network devices.

[0023] The first control device 102 is not connected to the second part of the network via one of the lines 122 in the example. From the second control device 112, in the example, a first instance 124 of the first service is presented. From the third control device 114, in the example, a second instance 126 of the first service is presented. From the fourth control device 116, in the example, a first instance 128 of the second service is presented. From the first control device 102, in the example, a second instance 130 of the second service is presented. From the second control device 112, in the example, an instance 132 of the third service, which is unique within the communication network 100, is presented. From the first control device 102, in the example, an instance 134 of the fourth service, which is unique within the communication network 100, is presented. From the third control device 114, in the example, an instance 136 of the fifth service, which is unique within the communication network 100, is presented.

[0024] In this example, the first control device 102 is provided with an SDN control unit 138 configured to control the SDN. The SDN control unit 138 is, in particular, a logically unified control unit and is implemented on a software basis.

[0025] The SDN control unit 138, in an example, is configured to transmit an instance of the service to each of the control devices on which the service should be executed. The SDN control unit 138, in an example, is configured to activate the instance on one or more control devices on which the service should be executed. The SDN control unit 138, in an example, is configured to deactivate the instance on one or more control devices on which the service should not be executed.

[0026] A service that requires another service for its functionality is, in an example, configured to find this other service within the communication network 100. For example, the service is configured to retrieve requests for this other service via the communication network 100. In an example, an instance of this service is configured to find an instance of another service. The service or the instance is configured to send requests, particularly as a broadcast, within the communication network 100. A service that offers its functionality to other services is, in an example, configured to offer them via the communication network 100. For example, the service is configured to offer them via the communication network 100. In an example, the service or an instance of this service is configured to send offers, particularly as a broadcast, within the communication network 100.

[0027] Data flows between sources and destinations, i.e., messages sent from one instance to another, are transported within the communication network 100. If too many data flows are simultaneously passing through the same data line 120 or the same network switch, congestion can occur. If too many instances of different services are used on one of the control devices, this control device can become overloaded.

[0028] The following procedure avoids congestion and / or overloading of control devices: In this method, the SDN control unit 138 performs network resource management and computational resource management.

[0029] SDN controller 138 is illustratively configured to monitor network traffic within communication network 100. SDN controller 138 is illustratively configured to receive offers and / or requests occurring within the network traffic.

[0030] SDN controller 138 is illustratively configured to evaluate received offers and / or requests. SDN controller 138 is illustratively configured to recognize existing or potential congestion on data line 120. SDN controller 138 is illustratively configured to deactivate forwarding of messages from a data flow over data line 120 if this would cause data line 120 to become overloaded.

[0031] The SDN controller 138, in an example, is configured to recognize whether a control device is overloaded or would become overloaded due to activation of an instance. The SDN controller 138, in an example, is configured to control the use of instances in the communication network 100 and / or the allocation of instances to control devices in a manner that avoids overloading the control devices.

[0032] This procedure is illustrated using an example of the method shown schematically in FIG. In step 202 , the SDN controller 138 monitors network traffic within the communication network 100 , and the SDN controller 138 receives data about computational resource usage and service-oriented communications within the communication network 100 .

[0033] In an example, the SDN controller 138 monitors network traffic and collects data including, for example: Information about available instances of a service and the allocation of available instances to control devices. This data is available, for example, as part of offers and / or requests occurring in network traffic, for example, as messages based on the Scalable Service-Oriented Middleware over Internet Protocol (SOME / IP protocol) or the Data Distribution Service (DDS).

[0034] Demands on the communication network 100 and computational resources. This information can be derived, for example, from a service description. For example, this description includes information about the quality of the service. This description is, for example, included in the offer and / or request based on SOME / IP or DDS, among others.

[0035] Network topology: The network topology is determined, for example, via a separate protocol, such as the Link-Layer Discovery Protocol (LLDP).

[0036] The availability of computing resources of the control device. This information is known, for example, by an internal scheduling model or communicated from the control device, inter alia, regularly or irregularly or based on a request by the SDN control unit 138. The control device may also be intended to communicate this information triggered by an outcome, for example, the temporary unavailability of an instance of a service on the control device.

[0037] In step 204, the SDN control unit 138 determines network resource configurations and computational resource configurations depending on the results of the data evaluation. In the example, the SDN control unit 138 determines the allocation of service instances to control devices and message paths that exchange instances with each other, i.e., paths for the corresponding data flows.

[0038] The allocation is determined in the example according to the computing resource availability of the control devices so that the control devices offering the service are not overloaded. The allocation is illustratively determined according to at least one network resource of the communication network 100 so as to avoid congestion on the data lines 120 or network switches within the communication network 100 .

[0039] For this purpose, for example, an optimization problem is formulated and solved. The optimization problem can be formulated as a constraint satisfaction problem (CSP) or heuristically.

[0040] The solution to the optimization problem is, in examples, the assignment of instances to control devices and / or the assignment of paths to pairs of instances. In step 206, the SDN control unit 138 sets the network resources and the computational resources according to the network resource settings and the computational resource settings.

[0041] In the example, the SDN controller 138 implements the results of the evaluation of the data, particularly the solution of the optimization problem, within the communication network 100. In the example, the SDN controller 138 sends instructions that cause the following: The SDN control unit 138 programs the table to look up the network switch to route messages between pairs of instances via paths defined for this purpose.

[0042] The SDN control unit 138 configures instances to communicate with each other. In one example, a protocol is defined using which the SDN control unit 138 notifies instances about whether they should be active or deactivated. In another example, an addendum to SOME / IP or DDS is defined using which the SDN control unit 138 instructs instances not to send offers or respond to requests. In one example, the SDN control unit 138 instructs instances operating on an otherwise overloaded control device not to send offers or respond to requests.

[0043] If a service has two instances, the SDN control unit 138 instructs the network switch to reject a broadcast from this service offered by one of the instances. In an example, the SDN control unit 138 instructs the network switch to reject a broadcast from an instance running on an otherwise overloaded control device.

[0044] For example, if congestion exists between the second network switch 106 and the third network switch 108, with respect to the first instance 124 of the first service on the second control device 112 and the second instance 126 of the first service on the third control device 114, the network switch is configured to reject a broadcast with an offer for the first service from the second instance 126 of the first service, i.e., from the third control device 114. Rejection in this context means that even if this broadcast is received by the network switch, it will not be forwarded by the network switch. With respect to the second service, for example, a similar procedure is followed if it is recognized that congestion will occur due to the data flow of the second service.

[0045] For example, if there is an overload on one of the control devices and one of multiple instances of a service is presented on this control device, the SDN control unit 138 instructs the network switch to reject a broadcast in which the service is presented from the instance running on the overloaded control device.

[0046] With respect to the first instance 124 of the first service on the second control device 112 and the second instance 126 of the first service on the third control device 114, the network switch is configured to reject a broadcast from the first instance 124 of the first service, i.e., from the second control device 112, with an offer for the first service, for example, if the second control device 112 is overloaded. Rejection in this context means that even if this broadcast is received by the network switch, it will not be forwarded by the network switch.

[0047] The method and the apparatus may be used within vehicle architectures, especially in their gateways or switches, in control equipment, in vehicle computers, in systems at the border of the communication network 100. The method and the apparatus may be used within industrial or IoT systems, especially in their gateways or switches.

Claims

1. 1. A method for network and computing resource management for service-oriented communications in a software-defined network architecture (SDN), comprising: an SDN controller (138) monitoring (202) network traffic in a communications network (100); the SDN controller receiving data about computing resource usage and service-oriented communications in the communications network (100); the SDN controller determining (204) network and computing resource configurations in response to an evaluation of the data; and the SDN controller configuring (206) network and computing resources in response to the network and computing resource configurations; and if the result of the evaluation of the data indicates that congestion exists on a data line (120) of the communication network (100) and a network switch of the communication network (100) forwards a message to the data line (120), the network switch is configured (206) by the network resource configuration to not forward the message to the data line (120).

2. A method for network resource management and computational resource management for service-oriented communication in a software-defined network architecture SDN, comprising: an SDN control unit (138) monitoring (202) network traffic in a communication network (100); the SDN control unit (138) receiving data about computational resource usage and service-oriented communication in the communication network (100); the SDN control unit (138) determining (204) network resource configurations and computational resource configurations in response to a result of evaluating the data; and the SDN control unit (138) configuring (206) network resources and computational resources in response to the network resource configurations and computational resource configurations; A method characterized in that, in the result of the evaluation of the data, an overloaded control device is recognized and if an instance of a service is running on the control device, the instance is configured by the network resource configuration to not send offers for the service or not respond to requests arriving at the service.

3. A method for network resource management and computational resource management for service-oriented communication in a software-defined network architecture SDN, comprising: an SDN control unit (138) monitoring (202) network traffic in a communication network (100); the SDN control unit (138) receiving data about computational resource usage and service-oriented communication in the communication network (100); the SDN control unit (138) determining (204) network resource configurations and computational resource configurations in response to a result of evaluating the data; and the SDN control unit (138) configuring (206) network resources and computational resources in response to the network resource configurations and computational resource configurations; 10. The method of claim 9, wherein, if an overloaded control device is identified as a result of the evaluation of the data and an instance of a service is running on the control device, at least one network switch is configured by the network resource configuration to not forward offers for the service from the instance.

4. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein depending on the result of the evaluation of the data, an allocation of instances of services to control devices and message paths is determined (204), the message paths mutually exchanging the instances, the instances characterizing the network resource configuration and the computing resource configuration.

5. An apparatus for network and computing resource management for service-oriented communications in a software-defined network architecture (SDN), comprising: an SDN controller (138) configured to monitor network traffic in a communications network (100); the SDN controller (138) configured to receive data about computing resource usage and service-oriented communications in the communications network (100); the SDN controller (138) configured to determine (204) network and computing resource configurations in response to an evaluation of the data; and the SDN controller (138) configured to configure network and computing resources in response to the network and computing resource configurations. The SDN control unit (138) is configured to, when the result of the evaluation of the data indicates that congestion on a data line (120) of the communication network (100) is recognized and a network switch of the communication network (100) forwards a message to the data line (120), configure the network switch to not forward the message to the data line (120) by the network resource configuration.

6. An apparatus for network resource management and computational resource management for service-oriented communication in a software-defined network architecture SDN, wherein an SDN control unit (138) is configured to monitor network traffic in a communication network (100), said SDN control unit (138) is configured to receive data about computational resource usage and service-oriented communication in said communication network (100), said SDN control unit (138) is configured to determine (204) network resource configurations and computational resource configurations depending on a result of evaluating said data, and said SDN control unit (138) is configured to configure network resources and computational resources depending on said network resource configurations and computational resource configurations, The device is characterized in that the SDN control unit (138) is configured to, if an overloaded control device is recognized in the result of the evaluation of the data and an instance of a service is running on the control device, configure the instance by the network resource configuration to not send offers for the service or not respond to requests arriving at the service.

7. An apparatus for network resource management and computational resource management for service-oriented communication in a software-defined network architecture SDN, wherein an SDN control unit (138) is configured to monitor network traffic in a communication network (100), said SDN control unit (138) is configured to receive data about computational resource usage and service-oriented communication in said communication network (100), said SDN control unit (138) is configured to determine (204) network resource settings and computational resource settings depending on a result of evaluating said data, and said SDN control unit (138) is configured to configure network resources and computational resources depending on said network resource settings and computational resource settings, The SDN control unit (138) is configured to configure at least one network switch by the network resource configuration to not forward offers for the service from the instance if an overloaded control device is identified in the result of the evaluation of the data and an instance of a service is running on the control device.

8. 8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the SDN control unit (138) is configured to determine, depending on the result of the evaluation of the data, the allocation of instances of services to control devices and message paths, the message paths exchanging the instances with each other, the instances characterizing the network resource configuration and the computational resource configuration.

9. 8. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the communication network (100) comprises a control device (102, 112, 114, 116), at least one network switch (104, 106, 108, 110), and / or at least one gateway of a vehicle (118), an industrial system, or an IoT system, and wherein the SDN control unit (138) is configured to activate or deactivate an instance of a service on the control device (102, 112, 114, 116) according to the network resource configuration and / or computational resource configuration, and / or the SDN control unit (138) is configured to configure the at least one network switch (104, 106, 108, 110) and / or at least one gateway to forward or not forward messages from and / or to a service or an instance thereof according to the network resource configuration and / or computational resource configuration.

10. A computer program comprising computer-readable instructions, the instructions being executed by a computer to carry out the method of any one of claims 1 to 3.

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