Service Chain Management System Controller Workload Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Gi LAN mechanisms, there is a significant workload associated with controlling service chains for user equipment (UE) as existing systems require generating new service chain control information for each UE, leading to inefficiencies in processing service flows.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow a service chain management system to receive customization requests from content providers, generate service chain information, and construct control information to enable network elements like switches and flow classifiers to process service flows based on specific service chain policies, reducing the need for repetitive control generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If service chain control information is generated for each UE's service request, then individual UE service requirements are met, but the controller workload becomes excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments service chain control into two levels: content provider-level generic control information and UE-specific customization. The service chain management system generates base service chain control information for each content provider once, then reuses this information across multiple UEs, only adding UE-specific modifications when needed. This segmentation dramatically reduces the controller's per-UE processing workload while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The service chain management system performs preliminary generation of service chain control information at the content provider level before actual UE service requests arrive. By pre-configuring service chains for each content provider based on their service characteristics, the system eliminates the need to generate complete service chain control information from scratch for every UE request, significantly improving processing efficiency.
2Reliability
If service chain control is performed on a per-UE basis, then individual service flows are properly managed, but the complexity of service chain management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides service chain management complexity into two layers: a simplified content provider-level management layer that handles generic service chain configuration, and a UE-level layer that handles specific service request processing. This segmentation reduces the complexity burden on any single component while maintaining reliable per-UE service flow control.
Solution Approach 2:
The service chain management system acts as an intermediary between content providers and the controller, pre-processing and generating service chain control information that the controller can directly reuse. This intermediary role simplifies the controller's task and reduces overall management complexity while ensuring reliable service flow control.
3Productivity
If service chain control information is cached and reused, then processing efficiency improves, but the system loses flexibility to handle new service requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The service chain control information structure is designed to be dynamic and extensible. The base service chain control information generated for each content provider serves as a reusable template, while the system allows dynamic addition of UE-specific customization parameters. This dynamic structure enables efficient reuse of generic service chain configurations while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to new and individual service requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The service chain control information is designed with universal components that can be reused across multiple UEs for the same content provider. The generic portion of service chain control information serves multiple UEs simultaneously, while the system maintains the capability to add UE-specific customizations. This multi-functionality approach achieves both efficiency through reuse and adaptability through customization.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present invention provide a method and apparatus for controlling a service chain of a service flow. The method includes: receiving a service processing customization request message sent by a content provider server/service provider server; generating, according to a service processing customization condition carried in the service processing customization request message, service chain information of a service flow corresponding to the content provider server/service provider server; and constructing, based on the service chain information, service chain control information corresponding to a service chain, so that a controller acquires the service chain control information and sends flow forwarding policy information corresponding to the service chain to a switch based on the service chain control information, so that the switch processes, according to the flow forwarding policy information, a received service flow.