Offloading Card Network Function Accelerator for 5G Virtualization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in efficiently managing and optimizing the resources and workload distribution for radio-based applications in 5G networks, particularly in terms of computing, memory, storage, and electrical power usage, as well as in simplifying the management and administration of these applications.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtualization servers equipped with offloading cards that include network function accelerators (NFAs) and virtualization management components, which offload certain tasks from primary processors and enable faster execution of network functions, allowing for intelligent workload distribution and simplified management through control plane servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If virtualization servers with offloading cards including network function accelerators are implemented, then network function execution speed is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments network function execution into two distinct paths: software-based execution on primary processors and hardware-accelerated execution on network function accelerators. This segmentation allows the patent to achieve faster network function execution while managing complexity through modular architecture where the offloading card handles acceleration tasks separately from the main virtualization server functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The offloading card acts as an intermediary component between the primary processors and the network functions. It includes a virtualization management offloading card that mediates between the virtualization manager and network function accelerators, enabling fast execution while abstracting the complexity from the main system architecture.
2Use of energy by moving object
If workload is offloaded to network function accelerators, then resource consumption is reduced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts network function acceleration tasks from the primary processors and places them in dedicated network function accelerators within the offloading card. This extraction reduces the computational burden on the primary processors, thereby reducing overall resource consumption, while the acceleration functionality is encapsulated in a separate hardware module that manages its own complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The offloading card is designed as a multi-functional component that handles both virtualization management tasks and network function acceleration. By consolidating these functions into a single device with multiple capabilities, the patent reduces the number of separate components needed, thereby reducing overall system complexity while achieving resource efficiency.
3Productivity
If virtualization management offloading card is implemented, then workload distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the virtualization management functions and network function acceleration capabilities into a single offloading card. This consolidation improves workload distribution efficiency by providing an integrated solution for both virtualization tasks and network function execution, while the unified device structure reduces the complexity that would arise from managing separate components.
Data Source
AI summary
Instructions stored at a memory of an offloading card of a server, when executed at a processor of the offloading card, perform virtualization management tasks pertaining to a compute instance launched at the server, including allocation of memory of the server to the compute instance. In response to a request from the compute instance, a network function of a radio-based application is executed at an accelerator incorporated within the offloading card.