Virtualized Network Function Performance Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
In virtualized communication networks, existing methods lack effective mechanisms for end-to-end visibility and performance monitoring of bearer signals, making it difficult to troubleshoot and optimize service quality, especially in environments with mixed virtualized and legacy equipment.
Innovation Solution
Defining new operations, information elements, and attributes for virtualized network functions to access infrastructure-related information, providing insights into performance metrics and allowing for optimal data session management without decoupling from underlying hardware, and implementing open interfaces for standardization across vendors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Network Function Virtualization is implemented to evolve telecom networks towards Cloud architecture, then adaptability and resource utilization are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of monitoring performance increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary monitoring system that sits between the virtualized network functions and the infrastructure resources. This intermediary collects performance metrics from virtualized functions and translates them into meaningful infrastructure performance data, resolving the complexity of directly monitoring virtualized environments while maintaining adaptability benefits
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where performance metrics are continuously collected from virtualized network functions and fed back to the monitoring system. This feedback loop enables real-time detection of performance degradation and facilitates proactive management of virtualized resources, addressing the monitoring difficulties introduced by virtualization
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple new components, interfaces, and technologies are deployed simultaneously in NFV, then service capability and adaptability are improved, but difficulty of detecting and measuring performance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the performance monitoring function into distinct components that can independently monitor specific aspects of virtualized network performance. By dividing the monitoring task into manageable segments, the system can effectively track performance across multiple new components and interfaces without being overwhelmed by their collective complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal monitoring framework that can handle multiple types of performance metrics and monitor various virtualized network functions through a single system. This multi-functional approach simplifies performance detection and measurement across diverse new technologies and components
3Productivity
If virtualized network functions are deployed to improve resource utilization, then productivity is improved, but loss of information about infrastructure performance occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical performance monitoring methods with information-based electronic monitoring. By substituting physical measurement approaches with digital metric collection and analysis, the system preserves infrastructure performance information while enabling efficient virtualized resource utilization
Data Source
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AI summary
A method, in a first bearer-processing node of a multi-node bearer path in a data session, for monitoring an overall performance of the data session, wherein at least the first bearer- processing node in the multi-node bearer path is a virtualized network function, VNF, is disclosed. The method comprises: obtaining a first performance metric related to the data session, the first performance metric related to the data session including information related to an infrastructure supporting the virtualized network function; and sending the first performance metric including the information related to the infrastructure, over the multi-node bearer path, for use in determining the overall performance related to the data session. A network node for carrying this method is also disclosed.