Network Functions Virtualization Shared Database State Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network virtualization in telecommunications networks faces challenges with virtual network function instances acting as single points of failure for dynamic session and call state data, leading to potential interruptions or delays in communication services.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a shared database functionality that maintains all data in a persistent state, allowing virtual network function instances to operate in a stateless or nearly stateless manner, ensuring data resilience and redundancy across the network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If virtual network function instances store session and call state data locally, then service responsiveness is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to single point of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the session and call state data from the virtual network function instances and stores them externally in a database system. This allows the VNF instances to operate in a stateless manner while maintaining access to necessary state information, thereby eliminating the single point of failure while preserving service responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a database system as an intermediary between the virtual network function instances and the session/call state data. This mediator enables multiple VNF instances to access the same state information without requiring local storage, thus improving reliability while maintaining service responsiveness through centralized data management.
2Duration of action of stationary object
If virtual network function instances maintain stateful operation, then service continuity is improved, but adaptability deteriorates during scaling operations
Solution Approach 1:
By extracting state data from individual VNF instances and storing it externally, the patent enables VNF instances to be created, moved, or deleted without affecting service continuity. The external database maintains the state information, allowing seamless scaling operations while preserving service continuity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a dynamic architecture where VNF instances can be dynamically created, moved, or scaled without maintaining local state. The external database provides persistent state storage that remains accessible throughout these dynamic changes, enabling both service continuity and scaling flexibility.
3Reliability
If distributed stateful VNF instances are used, then service resilience is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the state storage function from individual VNF instances into a single centralized database system. This consolidation reduces the overall system complexity by eliminating the need for each VNF instance to maintain its own state, while still providing service resilience through the centralized, protected state storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized database system serves multiple VNF instances simultaneously, providing a universal state storage solution. This multi-functional approach reduces complexity compared to having each VNF instance maintain its own state, while still achieving service resilience through the shared, protected state management.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for an improved processing of network communication between a telecommunications network and at least one user equipment by means of realizing, within the telecommunications network, network functions virtualization, wherein the telecommunications network provides a plurality of communication services to the user equipment, wherein the telecommunications network comprises at least one application server functionality, wherein the application server functionality is realized by means of a plurality of virtual network function instances, wherein the telecommunications network furthermore comprises a shared database functionality, wherein - in order for the telecommunications network to provide a specific communication service, out of the plurality of communication services, to the user equipment - subscription data, session data and/or call state data are required to be available to at least a first virtual network function instance out of the plurality of virtual network function instances, wherein the method comprises the steps of: -- in a first step, the subscription data, session data and/or call state data - required by the first virtual network function instance out of the plurality of virtual network function instances - are transmitted, by the shared database functionality, to the first virtual network function instance out of the plurality of virtual network function instances, -- in a second step, subsequent to the first step and in case of at least a change being applied to the subscription data, session data and/or call state data, the changed subscription data, session data and/or call state data or an updated version of the subscription data, session data and/or call state data is transmitted, by the first virtual network function instance out of the plurality of virtual network function instances, to the shared database functionality, -- in a third step, subsequent to the second step and in case of a failure of the first virtual network function instance out of the plurality of virtual network function instances, a second virtual network function instance out of the plurality of virtual network function instances resumes the functionality of the first virtual network function instance, using the changed subscription data, session data and/or call state data or the updated version of the subscription data, session data and/or call state data.