NFV Performance Subscription Mechanism for Real-Time VNF Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network function virtualization (NFV) systems face challenges in timely and efficient monitoring of virtual network function (VNF) performance measurements, leading to delayed identification and mitigation of issues, as operators need to manually collect and analyze vast amounts of data, which is time-consuming and costly.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of subscription and un-subscription mechanisms for data availability and threshold crossing notifications within the NFV network, allowing entities to subscribe to notifications associated with virtualized resources performance measurement data, enabling real-time monitoring and reducing the volume of data collected by setting thresholds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual data collection and analysis is used, then operators can monitor VNF performance measurements, but the process is time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance monitoring efficiencyVSAvoidtime for data collection and analysis
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by implementing automated subscription mechanisms where network entities automatically subscribe to performance measurement data notifications. The VNF manager and other network entities autonomously manage their own performance monitoring subscriptions without requiring manual operator intervention for data collection and analysis, thereby improving productivity while reducing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If all performance measurement data is collected, then complete monitoring information is available, but the volume of data increases operational burden

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance monitoring completenessVSAvoiddata processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by implementing threshold-based filtering that tailors the data collection to specific local needs. Each network entity subscribes to notifications only for performance metrics that cross predefined thresholds relevant to their specific operational context. This ensures reliable monitoring of critical performance issues while reducing the overall volume of data that needs to be processed, thereby reducing operational burden without sacrificing monitoring completeness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of time

If real-time notifications are implemented, then performance issues are identified immediately, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime to identify performance issuesVSAvoidsubscription mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements preliminary action by pre-configuring performance thresholds and subscription criteria before performance issues occur. Network entities establish their notification subscriptions in advance with predefined threshold values, so that when performance metrics cross these thresholds, immediate notifications are triggered without requiring complex real-time analysis. This approach enables rapid identification of performance issues while managing system complexity through pre-established rules.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3456004B1Apparatus of performance measurement data subscription for NFV performance management
Publication Date: 2023.06.07 INTEL CORP
  • EP3456004B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3456004B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3456004B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and system to perform notification subscriptions in a network function virtualization (NFV) network are discussed. An example system includes an apparatus configured to be employed within a network manager (NM) of the NFV network comprising one or more processors configured to: output an NM subscription request comprising a request to subscribe to a notification associated with a virtualization resources (VR) performance measurement (PM) data of a VNF instance in the NFV network, to an element manager (EM); and process an EM subscription response received from the EM, in response to the NM subscription request, wherein the EM subscription response comprises information on a result of the subscription.