Cloud Network Service API Mediation for External Function Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Integrating external network functions into cloud-based network services requires substantial time and effort due to the need for modifying a network's operation to adapt to each external service's application programming interface (API).
Innovation Solution
A system that receives an API description from a service provider, generates an API call based on traffic flow, and transmits it to the provider to create a new service instance, allowing seamless integration without modifying the network's operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a network modifies its operation to adapt to an external service's API, then the external service can be integrated into the network, but substantial time and effort are required for the modification
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an API description file as an intermediary that mediates between the external service provider and the network. This file contains standardized interface definitions that enable automatic generation of integration code, eliminating the need for manual network operation modifications. The intermediary translates external service requirements into network-compatible formats automatically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by requiring service providers to pre-define their API interfaces in standardized description files before integration. This advance preparation of interface specifications allows the network to automatically generate integration configurations without time-consuming modifications during deployment. The interface definitions are prepared in advance following standardized templates.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a network modifies its operation to implement an external service's API, then the service can be instantiated and routed, but substantial time and effort are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by generating network configuration templates and routing rules automatically from the API description file. Instead of manually creating complex integration configurations, the system copies and adapts the standardized interface definitions into network-specific configuration formats, dramatically reducing configuration complexity and human effort.
3Adaptability or versatility
If external services are integrated by adapting to each service's API, then service functionality is achieved, but the process requires substantial time and effort for each integration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a standardized API description framework that works across multiple service providers and service types. The same integration mechanism can handle different external services (firewall, load balancer, CDN) through a common interface definition format, enabling rapid provisioning of diverse services without redeveloping integration processes for each provider.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are system, method, and computer program product embodiments for providing an API description of an external network service and using the API to integrate the external service into a network. An embodiment operates by receiving, from a service provider, a description of an application programming interface (API), transmitting a call to the service provider using the API for creating a new instance of a service and transmitting to the service provider a traffic flow upon which the service will be applied.