NFV Network Service Lifecycle Management via VNF Instance Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network functions virtualization (NFV) technologies face low instantiation processing efficiency and resource wastage due to inefficient management of virtualized network functions (VNFs) during network service instantiation.

Innovation Solution

A life cycle management method that identifies and utilizes existing VNF instances for instantiating network services, optimizing resource utilization by matching instantiated VNF instances with requirement information and establishing mapping relationships between identifiers and characteristic parameters to streamline the instantiation process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If VNF instances are created independently for each network service without reusing existing instances, then service deployment flexibility is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates and instantiation processing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice deployment flexibilityVSAvoidinstantiation processing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by creating a mapping relationship between VNF instance identifiers and characteristic parameters before network service instantiation. This pre-established mapping enables direct reuse of existing VNF instances during service deployment, eliminating the need to create independent VNF instances for each service while maintaining deployment flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If VNF instances are reused across multiple network services, then resource utilization is improved, but the complexity of managing and tracking VNF instances increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidVNF instance management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary mapping relationship between VNF instance identifiers and characteristic parameters. This mapping acts as a mediator that enables VNF instances to be reused across multiple network services while providing clear tracking and management mechanisms. The mapping relationship simplifies the complexity by establishing structured associations rather than requiring complex direct management of shared instances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Speed

If existing VNF instances are not matched with network service requirements, then instantiation speed is improved, but resource waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinstantiation speedVSAvoidresource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by establishing a mapping relationship between VNF instance identifiers and characteristic parameters that describes the requirements of network services. During instantiation, the system references this feedback information to match existing VNF instances with service requirements, enabling both fast instantiation and efficient resource utilization by avoiding unnecessary creation of VNF instances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3668009B1Network service lifecycle management method and device
Publication Date: 2021.09.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3668009B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3668009B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3668009B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A life cycle management method and device for a network service are provided. The method includes: determining, by a second device according to a target NS, an existing VNF instance required for life cycle management on the target NS; sending, by the second device, a life cycle management request of the target NS to a first device, where the life cycle management request includes a mapping relationship between an identifier of the existing VNF instance and a characteristic parameter corresponding to the identifier; and receiving, by the first device, the life cycle management request sent by the second device for the target NS, and performing life cycle management on the target NS according to the existing VNF instance and the mapping relationship. In embodiments of the present invention, processing efficiency of life cycle management and resource utilization can be improved.