Virtual Machine Bandwidth Measurement Grouping
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Solution Overview
Problem
In network functions virtualization (NFV), individual virtual machines (VNFs) connected to a wide area network (WAN) cannot efficiently share available bandwidth measurements, leading to extra communication load and inefficient data transmission due to bandwidth limits.
Innovation Solution
A system that classifies virtual machines, measures available bandwidth by transmitting packets to a physical node, determines actual available bandwidth for each machine, and notifies them, allowing efficient data transmission by sharing measurement results and considering bandwidth limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If individual VNFs perform available bandwidth measuring separately, then each VNF can obtain its own bandwidth measurement, but extra communication load is created and measurement efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual VNF bandwidth measurements into a single centralized measurement process. A representative VNF performs bandwidth measurement on behalf of multiple VNFs, and the results are shared among all VNFs in the group. This eliminates redundant measurement packets and reduces communication load while maintaining measurement accuracy for each VNF.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal measurement mechanism where a single measurement process serves multiple VNFs simultaneously. The bandwidth measurement function is made multi-functional by allowing one VNF to represent multiple VNFs, and the measurement results are universally applicable to all VNFs in the same group, improving overall system efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple VNFs share the same physical node and communicate with different physical nodes, then resource utilization is improved, but bandwidth measurement becomes complex and results cannot be shared
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments VNFs into groups based on their communication targets (physical nodes). VNFs communicating with the same physical node are grouped together, allowing measurement results to be shared within each group. This segmentation reduces measurement complexity by creating manageable groups while maintaining the ability to handle multiple physical node communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a grouping mechanism as an intermediary layer between individual VNFs and the bandwidth measurement process. This intermediary groups VNFs by their communication targets and manages the sharing of measurement results, simplifying the overall measurement process while supporting complex multi-physical node communication scenarios.
3Measurement precision
If available bandwidth measurement is performed frequently to maintain accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but network load and system overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges periodic bandwidth measurement operations for multiple VNFs into single centralized measurements. Instead of each VNF performing frequent independent measurements, a representative VNF performs measurements on behalf of the group, significantly reducing network load and system overhead while maintaining measurement precision through shared results.
Data Source
AI summary
An available bandwidth measuring apparatus classifies, into one group, a plurality of virtual machines communicating with a physical node. Then, the available bandwidth measuring apparatus obtains available bandwidth measurements with respect to the virtual machines belonging to the same group by transmitting, to the physical node, measuring packets emulating each of the virtual machines. The available bandwidth measurements represent available bandwidth available when each of the virtual machines performs data transmission in a different time slot. Based on the available bandwidth measurements, the available bandwidth measuring apparatus determines actual available bandwidth of each of the virtual machines, to be used when the virtual machines perform data transmission to the physical node in the same time slot, and notifies each of the virtual machines of the actual available bandwidth determined for the virtual machine.