NFV Platform Mediator for VNF Physical Interface Visibility
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network Function Virtualization (NFV) platforms face challenges in enabling Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) to identify physical aspects of the host system, leading to issues like traffic blackholing and packet loss due to lack of visibility into physical interface states and parameters, which can result in failures and inoperability.
Innovation Solution
A communication channel and protocol between the NFV platform and VNFs for exchanging information about the host system's physical aspects, using a standardized messaging system to convey states of physical interfaces, parameters, and IP information, thereby improving VNF performance without requiring external controllers or resource-intensive monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If VNFs directly monitor physical interface states, then visibility into physical aspects is improved, but resource consumption and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an NFV platform as an intermediary between VNFs and physical interfaces. The platform receives notifications about physical interface state changes and forwards this information to VNFs through a standardized messaging system, eliminating the need for VNFs to directly monitor physical interfaces while maintaining full visibility into physical aspects.
2Measurement precision
If VNFs implement resource-intensive monitoring, then accuracy of physical state detection is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The NFV platform performs self-service by actively monitoring physical interface states through host system notifications and automatically distributing this information to VNFs. This eliminates the need for VNFs to implement their own resource-intensive monitoring mechanisms while ensuring accurate and timely detection of physical state changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the NFV platform receives real-time notifications about physical interface state changes from the host system and immediately communicates these changes to affected VNFs through standardized messages, ensuring accurate and timely state detection without continuous polling or resource-intensive monitoring by VNFs.
3Ease of operation
If standardized messaging system is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but initial system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The NFV platform implements a universal standardized messaging system that serves multiple functions: notifying VNFs about physical interface state changes, conveying IP information, and providing general operational data. This single multi-functional messaging infrastructure simplifies operations across diverse VNF types while the platform handles the complexity of implementation centrally.
Data Source
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AI summary
A network function virtualization (NFV) platform may include one or more processors to identify a condition associated with the NFV platform, where the condition may affect operation of at least one virtual network function (VNF) hosted by or associated with the NFV platform; determine, based on the condition, information that may be provided or an action that may be performed with regard to the at least one VNF; and/or generate or transmit a message identifying the information and/or that may cause the action to be performed with regard to the at least one VNF.