Virtualization Device for Optical Wireless Network Composition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network virtualization mechanisms are inadequate for optical and wireless networks, as they do not support both slicing and aggregation, are limited to specific technologies, fail to account for unique analogue features, and lack on-demand virtualization capabilities, leading to suboptimal solutions.
Innovation Solution
A virtualization device that identifies node and link constraints, generates a physical network model, and maps virtual networks onto physical infrastructure using both slicing and aggregation, enabling dynamic composition and modification of virtual networks while ensuring quality of service and isolation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing network virtualization mechanisms are used for optical and wireless networks, then packet switched network virtualization can be achieved, but they fail to account for unique analogue features of the transmission medium such as wavelength and spectrum continuity and power constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters considered in virtualization from purely digital packet switched parameters to include analogue parameters such as wavelength, spectrum continuity, and power constraints. The virtualization device models these analogue parameters and uses them to compose virtual networks that are aware of and compliant with physical layer constraints of optical and wireless media.
2Productivity
If existing virtualization mechanisms are used, then virtual network composition can be performed, but they perform virtualization in two separate stages (node virtualization followed by link virtualization) creating suboptimal solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the separate node virtualization and link virtualization stages into a unified virtualization process. The virtualization device simultaneously performs both node mapping and link mapping in an integrated manner, considering the interdependencies between nodes and links, thereby achieving optimal virtual network composition without the suboptimality introduced by sequential processing.
3Loss of time
If existing virtualization mechanisms are used, then offline virtualization can be performed, but they lack on-demand or real-time virtualization capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic virtualization capabilities that allow the system to transition from static offline virtualization to on-demand and real-time virtualization. The virtualization device can dynamically compose, modify, and teardown virtual networks in response to changing requirements, enabling service providers to rapidly provision new services and adapt to varying network conditions without lengthy offline processing.
4Ease of manufacture
If network virtualization is implemented to support diverse applications, then service innovation becomes easier and cheaper, but the complexity of supporting multiple analogue parameters and physical layer constraints increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtualization device as an intermediary layer between the control plane and the physical network infrastructure. This intermediary handles the complexity of modelling and managing analogue parameters and physical layer constraints, shielding service providers from this complexity while enabling them to easily innovate services. The device translates high-level service requirements into physically compliant virtual network configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtualization device for composing a virtual network for implementation using physical network infrastructure, the virtualization device comprising; a node functionality and constraints module, configured to identify functionality and constraints of one or more nodes of the physical network infrastructure; a link constraints module, configured to identify constraints of one or more links of the physical network infrastructure; a network modeller module, configured to generate a model of the physical network infrastructure, based on the identified functionality and constraints of the nodes and on the identified constraints of the links; a virtual network composer module configured to receive a request for composition of a desired virtual network and to map the desired virtual network onto the physical network infrastructure based on the model generated by the network modelling module; and one or more node and link mapping modules for simultaneously mapping a virtual node of the desired virtual network onto one or more physical nodes or part of a physical node of the physical network infrastructure and for mapping a virtual link associated with the virtual node onto one or more physical links or part of a physical link of the physical network infrastructure.