Infrastructure Controller for Flexible Service Flow Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
In existing Evolved Packet System (EPS) networks, the flexibility of service flow forwarding is limited due to the binding of IP addresses with forwarding plane network elements, making it difficult to frequently redirect service flows between different Virtualized Network Functions (VNFs) in data center cloud or NFV platforms.
Innovation Solution
A method where the control plane network element sends notification messages to an infrastructure controller with forwarding identifiers, allowing the determination and configuration of end-to-end forwarding rules, enabling flexible service flow redirection between different VNFs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If IP address is bound with forwarding plane network element, then routing stability is improved, but service flow redirection flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an infrastructure controller as an intermediary between the control plane network element and forwarding plane network elements. This controller manages forwarding rules and IP address bindings dynamically, allowing service flows to be redirected without permanent IP bindings to specific forwarding elements. The intermediary abstracts the binding relationship, enabling flexible redirection while maintaining stable routing through the controller's coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic forwarding rules that can be modified in real-time without changing IP address bindings. The infrastructure controller dynamically adjusts which forwarding plane network element handles specific service flows based on current network conditions, load balancing requirements, or policy changes, while the IP addressing scheme remains stable. This dynamic reconfiguration capability resolves the contradiction between stability and flexibility.
2Productivity
If forwarding function is virtualized as VNF, then resource utilization is improved, but forwarding rule configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The infrastructure controller serves multiple functions: it manages forwarding rules for virtualized network functions, coordinates IP address bindings, handles service flow redirection, and provides centralized control across multiple VNFs. By consolidating these diverse control functions into a single universal controller, the system simplifies the overall configuration complexity despite the virtualized architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The infrastructure controller acts as an intermediary layer between the virtualized forwarding functions and the control plane, abstracting the complexity of VNF management. It provides a standardized interface for configuring forwarding rules across different VNFs, reducing the operational complexity that would otherwise arise from managing distributed virtualized forwarding elements.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to the field of communications technologies, and provides a method, an apparatus, and a system for deploying a service flow forwarding function. The method includes: sending, by a control plane network element, a notification message to an infrastructure controller, where the notification message includes at least one forwarding identifier corresponding to a user service flow and includes an identifier of a target forwarding plane network element providing service processing for the user service flow; where the notification message is used to instruct the infrastructure controller to determine a first forwarding rule including the at least one forwarding identifier and the identifier of the target forwarding plane network element and send the first forwarding rule to an infrastructure forwarder controlled by the infrastructure controller. The present invention is used for service flow forwarding, resolves a problem that flexibility of service flow forwarding is relatively low, and achieves an effect of improving flexibility of service flow forwarding.