VNFM Resource Management via NFVO Granting Indications
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Network Function Virtualization (NFV) systems, existing resource management methods face inefficiencies due to high traffic exchange between the Virtualized Network Function Manager (VNFM) and the Network Functions Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO) entities, leading to increased complexity and potential single points of failure, which hinders flexible and intelligent resource allocation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a method where the VNFM receives a granting indication from the NFVO with defined granularity, allowing it to perform multiple VNF management operations without explicit permission for each operation, thereby reducing the need for repeated permission requests and directly sending resource allocation requests to the Virtual Infrastructure Manager (VIM) entity, improving interaction efficiency and reducing the risk of single-point failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the VNFM entity requests explicit permission from the NFVO entity for each VNF management operation, then the system maintains centralized control and coordination, but the traffic exchange between VNFM and NFVO increases significantly, leading to increased complexity and potential single points of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the permission management function by introducing a granting indication mechanism that divides the centralized control into discrete permission grants for specific operation types. The NFVO provides granting indications that allow the VNFM to perform specific VNF management operations without repeated explicit permissions, thereby reducing traffic while maintaining controlled autonomy
Solution Approach 2:
The NFVO entity performs preliminary action by providing granting indications in advance that define the scope of permissions for the VNFM entity. This preliminary permission granting allows the VNFM to execute multiple operations within the granted scope without needing to request permission for each individual operation, thus reducing subsequent traffic exchange
2Reliability
If the VNFM entity requests explicit permission from the NFVO entity for each VNF management operation, then the system maintains centralized control, but the number of permission requests increases, leading to increased processing overhead and potential single points of failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the permission management by introducing granting indications that categorize permissions by operation type (e.g., VNF instantiation, scaling, termination). This segmentation allows the VNFM to process multiple operations of the same type without repeated permission requests, improving processing efficiency while maintaining centralized control through the initial granting indication
Solution Approach 2:
The granting indication mechanism enables continuous execution of VNF management operations within the permitted scope without interruption for permission requests. The VNFM can continuously perform operations that fall within the granted permission scope, eliminating the stop-start nature of repeated permission request-response cycles
3Adaptability or versatility
If the NFVO entity provides detailed granting indications for each operation type, then the VNFM can perform operations with appropriate permissions, but the granularity of permission management increases complexity in defining and tracking permissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing granting indications with different granularities for different operation types. Each granting indication is tailored to the specific operation scope needed, allowing fine-grained permission control where necessary while avoiding unnecessary complexity for operations that don't require detailed permission management
Data Source
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AI summary
System and method for resource management are disclosed. These include receiving, by a virtualized network function (VNF) manger (VNFM) entity, from a network functions virtualization orchestrator (NFVO) entity a granting indication including a granting granularity in which the NFVO entity permits the VNFM entity to perform multiple VNF management operations for one or more VNFs, determining, by the VNFM entity, that a first VNF management operation is in a scope of permission based on the granting indication upon the first VNF management operation being triggered, and sending, by the VNFM entity, a first resource allocation request for the first VNF management operation to a virtual infrastructure manager (VIM) entity.