Virtual Network Path Constraints for Reliable Service Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods fail to provide a simple and effective way to specify constraints for virtual network paths in communication networks, such as colocation or non-colocation for reliability, security, or efficiency reasons, beyond the scope of traditional network nodes.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses affinity and anti-affinity constraints for both virtual network functions and paths, allowing for more specific constraints like data center or country-level colocation or non-colocation, and employs integer linear programming to optimize resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional network service provisioning is used, then physical devices and connections are established, but the network cannot flexibly accommodate changing demand or new services without adding or removing devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/physical device configuration system with a virtualization-based system. Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) are deployed as software instances on physical infrastructure, allowing flexible allocation and reconfiguration without physical device changes. The orchestration system manages VNF instances through software-defined networking, enabling dynamic adaptation to changing network demands while simplifying deployment operations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If virtual network functions are allocated to physical resources, then network services can be deployed independently from physical implementations, but constraints on colocation or non-colocation of virtual network paths cannot be effectively specified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary constraint specification mechanism that bridges the gap between virtual network function deployment independence and physical resource placement requirements. The system allows operators to define colocation and non-colocation constraints for virtual network paths through the orchestration interface, which then translates these high-level constraints into specific physical resource allocation decisions during VNF instantiation and path routing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If many alternative resources are available for service accommodation, then service requests can be fulfilled with multiple implementations, but it becomes difficult to specify and enforce detailed constraints on resource allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the constraint enforcement mechanism into distinct components: virtual network function-level constraints, virtual network path-level constraints, and physical resource-level constraints. Each segment can be independently specified and enforced through the orchestration system, which processes these segmented constraints to generate valid resource allocation plans from multiple alternative implementations while maintaining detailed control over placement decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of provisioning a service in a communication network is described, in which the service comprises at least one virtual network function and at least one virtual network path, which at least one virtual network function and at least one virtual network path are to be implemented in the communication network. The method including obtaining affinity constraints and/or anti-affinity constraints relating to mapping the at least one virtual network path onto the communication network, optionally obtaining affinity constraints and/or anti-affinity constraints relating to mapping the at least one virtual network function onto the communication network, and mapping the at least one virtual network function and at least one virtual network path onto the communication network subject to said constraints.