VNF Controller Priority-Based Resource Reallocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) environments, managing network resources to ensure Service Level Agreement (SLA) compliance and handle dynamic conditions such as failures and resource bottlenecks is challenging, particularly in scaling and healing operations, where resources may be underutilized or misallocated, impacting service quality.
Innovation Solution
A VNF controller prioritizes and orchestrates Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) by assigning priority values and dynamically reallocating network resources from lower-priority VNFs to higher-priority ones in response to changing conditions, ensuring critical services are maintained during failures or resource shortages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network resources are allocated to multiple VNFs without prioritization, then resource distribution is simple and uniform, but critical services cannot be guaranteed during resource shortages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different priority levels to different VNFs based on their service criticality. Each VNF receives differentiated resource allocation according to its specific importance, with critical VNFs receiving higher priority and non-critical VNFs receiving lower priority. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring reliable service delivery to critical functions while maintaining manageable complexity through structured priority categories.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the resource allocation parameter from uniform distribution to priority-based distribution. By introducing priority values as a variable parameter, the system can dynamically adjust resource allocation based on service requirements. This resolves the contradiction by enabling SLA compliance through parameter differentiation while keeping the management framework organized through defined priority levels.
2Reliability
If resources are dynamically reallocated based on priority during failures, then critical services are maintained, but resource management becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing dynamic resource reallocation that adapts to changing network conditions. During normal operation, resources are distributed according to baseline priorities. When failures or resource bottlenecks occur, the system dynamically shifts resources from lower-priority VNFs to higher-priority VNFs based on current service continuity requirements. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring service continuity through adaptive reallocation while managing complexity through automated priority-based decision logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that monitor network resource status, service performance, and failure conditions. This feedback information drives automated resource reallocation decisions, allowing the system to respond to changing conditions while maintaining service continuity. The feedback loop resolves the contradiction by enabling reliable service maintenance through condition-based triggers while keeping orchestration complexity manageable through automated responses rather than manual intervention.
3Ease of operation
If uniform resource allocation is used across all VNFs, then resource management is simple, but service quality varies during resource constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating resource allocation based on local service requirements. Each VNF is assigned a priority level reflecting its specific importance to service quality. During resource constraints, this local differentiation ensures that critical services maintain consistent quality while non-critical services experience reduced allocation. This resolves the contradiction by achieving service quality consistency through targeted allocation while keeping the overall management approach simple through standardized priority categories.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual network function (VNF) controller (or module) instantiates two or more VNFs in a communication network to support a network service where the two or more VNFs include at least a first VNF and a second VNF. The VNF controller assigns a priority value to each VNF base on an overall network impact, a physical location of at least one network resource allocated to the respective VNF, a type of service to be implemented by the respective VNF and a customer impact based on how many customers would be using the respective VNF. The VNF controller monitors network resources allocated to each VNF. The VNF controller further determines the first VNF requires additional network resources and releases the network resources allocated to the second VNF based on respective priority values. The VNF controller further allocates the network resources released by the second VNF to the first VNF.