VNF Resource Pool Management for Distributed Deployment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In virtual network function (VNF) systems, functional groups formed by VNF network elements often fail when these elements run on the same virtual machine, hypervisor, or server, due to risk sharing issues, leading to improper functioning.
Innovation Solution
A VNF resource pool management apparatus that receives and processes VNF network element requests, determining and deploying matching elements across different virtual machines, hypervisors, or servers based on attribute and location policies to ensure reliability and prevent failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If VNF network elements are deployed on the same VM, Hypervisor, or server to simplify resource management, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to risk sharing issues causing functional group failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments VNF network elements across different virtualization layers (VMs, Hypervisors, servers) rather than consolidating them. The resource pool management apparatus divides the deployment space into hierarchical segments, selecting elements from different segments to form functional groups, thereby preventing single-point failures while maintaining manageable resource allocation through structured segmentation.
2Reliability
If VNF network elements are distributed across different VMs, Hypervisors, and servers to improve reliability, then functional group availability is enhanced, but device complexity increases due to more complex resource allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The resource pool management apparatus acts as an intermediary between VNF network elements and functional group requirements. It maintains a structured view of available resources across multiple VMs, Hypervisors, and servers, and automatically performs location-based matching to select appropriate elements, thereby shielding upper-layer applications from the complexity of distributed resource management while ensuring reliable functional group formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces location policy parameters (such as locationPolicy in request messages) that encode deployment constraints and preferences. By changing the parameter representation from simple resource identifiers to structured location policies with hierarchical scope information, the system enables complex distributed allocation decisions through parameter-based control rather than complex allocation logic.
3Reliability
If location policy constraints are enforced to ensure elements are on different VMs, Hypervisors, or servers, then reliability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase for matching attributes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing the resource pool structure and categorizing available VNF network elements according to their location attributes (which VM, Hypervisor, server they reside on). The resource pool management apparatus maintains this organized view in advance, so when functional group formation is requested, it can quickly match elements based on location policies without requiring complex real-time analysis, thereby reducing precision requirements during the matching process.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides a virtual network function network element management method, apparatus, and system. A VNF resource pool management apparatus receives a VNF network element request message sent by a VNF resource pool user apparatus, where the VNF network element request message includes attribute information and a location policy of a VNF network element that is requested; the VNF resource pool management apparatus determines a first VNF network element that matches the attribute information and the location policy from the VNF resource pool; and the VNF resource pool management apparatus sends a VNF network element response message to the VNF resource pool user apparatus, where the VNF network element response message includes identification information of the first VNF network element. In this way, a risk that a functional group formed by VNF network elements cannot properly work can be avoided.