NFVO VIM Selection Using Location Information
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network virtualization systems, such as those following ETSI NFV standards, lack a specific parameter to specify the geographical location of virtual resources, making it inefficient for users to select a VIM that manages virtual resources, particularly for deployment near user terminals.
Innovation Solution
A network virtualization system that includes a VIM selection unit within the NFVO, which uses location information from VNF creation requests to select a VIM that satisfies deployment requirements, including geographical location, by referencing stored VIM information containing location settings and physical/virtual resource state information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the NFVO selects a VIM deployment destination using conventional ETSI NFV standard interfaces, then the selection process follows standardized procedures, but the system cannot specify or select virtual resources based on geographical location requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the VIM information into multiple independent parameters, including a new 'location' parameter. This allows the location-based selection to be added as a separate dimension without restructuring the entire VIM information framework, thus improving adaptability while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enhances the existing VIM information structure to serve multiple functions: it can now store both traditional VIM parameters and location information. This multi-functional approach allows the same data structure to support both conventional resource selection and location-based deployment, avoiding the need for separate complex selection mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If users manually manage and select VIMs based on IP addresses, then specific deployment locations can be targeted, but the process requires significant user effort and time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the NFVO to automatically perform VIM selection based on location information contained in VNF creation requests. The system self-services the deployment location determination without requiring users to manually search for or select appropriate VIMs, thereby dramatically reducing user effort and time investment while improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the NFVO pre-process the VNF creation request to extract location information and automatically identify the appropriate VIM before the actual VNF creation process begins. This preliminary automated selection eliminates the need for users to spend time on manual VIM selection during the deployment process.
Data Source
AI summary
Upon receiving a virtual network function (VNF) creation request including location information, a VNF manager (VNFM) of a network virtualization system transmits the VNF creation request to a VNF orchestrator (NFVO). Using the location information included in the VNF creation request, the NFVO extracts a virtual infrastructure manager (VIM) that satisfies the requirement of the location information with reference to the VIM information, and selects, from among the extracted VIMs, the VIM that satisfies a creation requirement other than the location information with reference to physical device/virtual resource information.