VNFM Connection Point Performance Measurement Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) environments, there is no existing solution for the Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM) to generate performance measurements for connection points (CPs) based on virtual network interface measurements received from the Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM).
Innovation Solution
The VNFM collects performance measurements from the VIM, maps these measurements to Virtual Network Functions (VNF) or VNF components, and generates CP-related performance measurements by either assigning or aggregating values, which are then reported to the Element Manager (EM) or Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO).
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the VNFM collects and processes virtual network interface measurements to generate CP performance measurements, then network performance monitoring capability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the VNFM as an intermediary component between the VIM and EM/NFVO. The VNFM receives virtual network interface measurements from the VIM, processes them through mapping and aggregation functions, and generates CP performance measurements for reporting to EM or NFVO. This intermediary approach enables sophisticated measurement processing without increasing complexity at the infrastructure manager level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the performance measurement system into distinct functional components: the VIM responsible for collecting raw virtual network interface measurements, the VNFM responsible for processing and generating CP measurements, and the EM/NFVO responsible for monitoring and decision-making. This segmentation allows each component to focus on specific tasks, improving overall measurement capability while managing system complexity through clear role separation.
2Measurement precision
If the VNFM generates detailed CP performance measurements through mapping and aggregation, then monitoring accuracy is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes predefined mapping relationships between virtual network interfaces and connection points, and defines aggregation rules in advance. When measurements are collected, the VNFM can immediately apply these pre-configured mappings and aggregation logic without performing complex real-time analysis, thus maintaining high monitoring accuracy while minimizing processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms raw virtual network interface measurements into meaningful CP performance measurements by changing the parameters through mapping and aggregation operations. This parameter transformation enables accurate monitoring of connection point performance while the operations are designed to be computationally efficient, balancing accuracy with processing speed.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus of a Virtualized Network Function Manager (VNFM) comprises one or more processors to receive one or more performance measurements related to a virtual network interface that are collected for a virtual compute instance from a Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) in a collection interval, to map a measured object of the one or more performance measurements from the virtual compute instance to a Virtual Network Function (VNF) and/or VNF component (VNFC) instance, and to map the virtual network interface to a connection point (CP) associated with the VNF or VNFC instance, to generate one or more performance measurements related the CP for the VNF or VNFC instance. The one or more performance measurements related the CP for the VNF or VNFC instance are to be reported to an Element Manager (EM) or to a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO), or a combination thereof.