Edge VNFC Deployment for Low-Latency Network Services
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technologies are not optimized for Network Edge Computing (NEC) scenarios, particularly failing to deploy virtualized network functions (VNFs) closest to users, leading to increased service delays and high network bandwidth requirements, which are inadequate for low-latency services like video enhancement and virtual reality.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for deploying virtualized network functions using NEC, where a central VNFC receives user terminal location information to send creation requests for edge VNFCs, ensuring they are deployed proximate to users, and dynamically migrates them as user locations change, using a central VNFM and VIM to manage resource allocation and deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If VNFs are deployed in centralized data centers using current NFV technology, then resource pooling and virtualization can be achieved, but network delay increases and service proximity to users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the VNF deployment architecture into centralized data center components and distributed edge computing components. Edge servers are deployed at multiple locations closer to users, dividing the monolithic centralized deployment into distributed segments that can serve local users with reduced network delay while maintaining centralized management capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a spatial dimension to VNF deployment by moving from a single centralized data center location to multiple edge server locations distributed geographically closer to users. This dimensional change enables simultaneous achievement of resource pooling (through virtualization at edge servers) and service proximity (through distributed deployment locations).
2Loss of time
If VNFs are deployed closest to users using edge computing, then network delay is reduced, but current NFV technology cannot meet the requirement of unified management of massive edge devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a NFV orchestrator as an intermediary component that manages the deployment, operation, and coordination of VNFs across multiple edge servers. This intermediary abstracts the complexity of managing massive distributed edge devices, providing unified management capabilities while enabling edge computing deployment that reduces service delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs the NFV orchestrator with multi-functional capabilities to handle diverse edge device management tasks including resource allocation, VNF deployment, monitoring, and coordination. This universal management platform can accommodate various types of edge servers and VNFs, simplifying the complexity of managing heterogeneous distributed devices.
3Quantity of substance
If VNFs are deployed in centralized data centers, then infrastructure resource pooling is achieved, but network bandwidth requirements increase for low-latency services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network traffic and resource pooling functions by deploying virtualized infrastructure at distributed edge servers. This segmentation allows resource pooling to occur locally at each edge server, reducing the need for high bandwidth between users and centralized data centers while maintaining the benefits of virtualization and resource consolidation.
Solution Approach 2:
The NFV orchestrator acts as an intermediary that coordinates resource allocation across distributed edge servers, enabling efficient resource pooling without requiring all traffic to traverse to centralized data centers. This intermediary manages resource sharing and allocation to reduce network bandwidth requirements while maintaining infrastructure versatility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method, an apparatus, and a system for deploying a VNF (108) using NEC are provided. The method is as follows: After receiving first location information sent by a user terminal, a central VNFC sends, to a VNFM (104), a creation request message that is used to create an edge VNFC, where the creation request message carries the first location information. After receiving the creation request message, the VNFM (104) sends, to a VIM (106), a first request message that is used to create a virtual machine or a container of the edge VNFC, where the first request message carries the first location information and a mirror of the edge VNFC. In this way, it can be implemented that a deployment location of the edge VNFC is proximate to a user in a NEC scenario, thereby reducing a service delay and improving quality of service.