NFV Fault Management via Priority-Based Countermeasure Execution
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) platforms, faults within Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) cannot be effectively monitored, leading to conflicts between internal and external fault countermeasures, making it difficult for VNFs to appropriately handle faults.
Innovation Solution
A processing apparatus and system that includes a virtualization control unit, a network providing unit, and a management apparatus, which detect and manage faults, generate notification and detection data, and execute countermeasures based on priority data to address both internal and external faults, ensuring appropriate fault handling within the VNF.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If external monitoring and control is implemented for VNF faults, then fault detection capability is improved, but conflict with internal fault countermeasures occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a fault management entity that acts as an intermediary between external monitoring systems and internal VNF fault countermeasures. This mediator receives fault notifications from both external and internal sources, manages the countermeasures, and resolves conflicts by prioritizing appropriate actions, thereby preventing direct conflict between monitoring and control mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The fault management functionality is segmented into distinct components: external fault notification reception, internal fault detection, countermeasure management, and conflict resolution. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently while coordinating through standardized interfaces, reducing the complexity of managing conflicting countermeasures
2Reliability
If both internal and external fault monitoring are implemented, then comprehensive fault coverage is improved, but determination conflict between NFV platform and VNF occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the fault management entity continuously monitors the status of both external and internal fault detections, receives feedback from countermeasure execution results, and dynamically adjusts its decisions. This feedback loop enables comprehensive fault coverage while resolving determination conflicts through iterative optimization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of fault management from static independent monitoring to dynamic coordinated management. By introducing priority levels, timing parameters, and conditional logic for countermeasure selection, the system can handle both internal and external fault monitoring without determination conflicts
3Reliability
If fault-tolerant function is used inside VNF, then internal fault handling is improved, but conflict with external countermeasures arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges internal fault-tolerant functions with external monitoring and control mechanisms into a unified fault management system. By combining these previously separate functionalities under a single coordinated framework, the system achieves improved internal fault handling while eliminating conflicts with external countermeasures through integrated management
Data Source
AI summary
A processing apparatus includes a virtualization control unit configured to virtualize hardware, and a network providing unit configured to provide a network function by using a resource virtualized by the virtualization control unit. The network providing unit includes a notification reception unit configured to receive, from a management apparatus configured to manage the virtualization control unit, notification data including a first countermeasure for a first fault caused in the virtualization control unit, a detection unit configured to detect a second fault caused in the network providing unit and generate detection data including a second countermeasure for the second fault, and a countermeasure unit configured to execute a countermeasure associated with a condition satisfied by the notification data or the detection data with reference to priority data indicating a countermeasure given priority in a case where a predetermined condition is satisfied, out of the first countermeasure and the second countermeasure.