Multi-cloud, multi-service data model

• US 10,015,268 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Equinix Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Equinix Incorporated
• Inventors: Rao, Ravindra J N
• Primary Examiner(s): Biagini, Christopher
• Application Number:
  US15/001,766
• Publication Number:
  US 20160337473A1
• Time in Patent Office: 895 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0813 characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/20 Network management software packages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5025 by proactively reacting to service quality change, e.g. by reconfiguration after service quality degradation or upgrade
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/586 of virtual routers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/64 using an overlay routing layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/10 characterised by the switching fabric construction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/25 Routing or path finding in a switch fabric
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1097 for distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/142 Managing session states for stateless protocols; Signalling session states; State transitions; Keeping-state mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 : Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 : Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 : Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols

Abstract

In some examples, a network data center comprises a cloud-based services exchange point comprising a network, the cloud-based services exchange point operated by a cloud exchange provider that operates the network data center; and a programmable network platform to receive a service request that includes a service definition according to a data model, wherein the service definition specifies a plurality of cloud services provided by respective cloud service provider networks operated by respective cloud service providers, wherein the service request further specifies a topology for the plurality of cloud services, and wherein the service definition specifies each of the plurality of cloud services according to a common micro-service definition; and provision, responsive to the service request, the cloud-based services exchange point to forward service traffic for the plurality of cloud services according to the topology for the plurality of cloud services.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a programmable network platform for a cloud-based services exchange point within a data center, a service request for an end-to-end service that includes a service definition according to a data model,

wherein the service definition specifies a plurality of cloud services provided by respective cloud service provider networks operated by respective cloud service providers, wherein each of the cloud service provider networks is co-located within the data center and is coupled to the cloud-based services exchange point by an aggregation link, wherein the service definition specifies each of the plurality of cloud services according to a common micro-service definition that specifies;

a first endpoint of the cloud-based services exchange point, wherein the first endpoint identifies a first cloud service provider and specifies first endpoint-specific data that specifies at least one of a port, data center, and metro location for the first endpoint within the cloud-based services exchange point, and

a second endpoint of the cloud-based services exchange point, wherein the second endpoint identifies one of a customer and a second cloud service provider and specifies second endpoint-specific data that specifies at least one of a port, data center, and metro location for the second endpoint within the cloud-based services exchange point, and

wherein the service request further specifies a topology for the plurality of cloud services; and

provisioning, by the programmable network platform responsive to the service request, the cloud-based services exchange point to forward service traffic, between respective first endpoints and respective second endpoints of the cloud services specified according to the common micro-service definition, for the end-to-end service along a sequence of the plurality of cloud services applied by the respective cloud service provider networks to the service traffic according to the topology for the plurality of cloud services.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the service definition identifies the service request as a request for the plurality of cloud services.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the service definition includes an authoritative service owner for an overall service comprising the plurality of cloud services.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the authoritative service owner is a cloud exchange provider that operates the cloud-based services exchange.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the service definition includes a service identifier for an overall service comprising the plurality of cloud services.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the service request is originated by a customer of the cloud-based services exchange.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the service definition includes a value specifying a number of the plurality of cloud services.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the common micro-service definition specifies a policy definition that defines a policy to apply to a cloud service.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the common micro-service definition specifies a quality of service definition that defines a quality of service to apply to a cloud service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the common micro-service definition specifies a time range definition that defines a range of time during which the cloud-based services exchange is to provide assurance of the delivery of a cloud service by the cloud-based services exchange.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein to specify the plurality of cloud services the service definition includes an array of a plurality of micro-service definitions that define corresponding cloud services of the plurality of cloud services.

12. A network data center comprising:

a cloud-based services exchange point comprising a network, the cloud-based services exchange point operated by a cloud exchange provider that operates the network data center; and

a programmable network platform comprising at least one programmable processor configured to;

receive a service request for an end-to-end service that includes a service definition according to a data model, wherein the service definition specifies a plurality of cloud services provided by respective cloud service provider networks operated by respective cloud service providers, wherein each of the cloud service provider networks is co-located within the data center and is coupled to the cloud-based services exchange point by an aggregation link, wherein the service definition specifies each of the plurality of cloud services according to a common micro-service definition that specifies;

a first endpoint of the cloud-based services exchange point, wherein the first endpoint identifies a first cloud service provider and specifies first endpoint-specific data that specifies at least one of a port, data center, and metro location for the first endpoint within the cloud-based services exchange point, and

a second endpoint of the cloud-based services exchange point, wherein the second endpoint identifies one of a customer and a second cloud service provider and specifies second endpoint-specific data that specifies at least one of a port, data center, and metro location for the second endpoint within the cloud-based services exchange point, and

wherein the service request further specifies a topology for the plurality of cloud services, and wherein the service definition specifies each of the plurality of cloud services according to a common micro-service definition for the data model; and

provision, responsive to the service request, the cloud-based services exchange point to forward service traffic for the end-to-end service along a sequence of the plurality of cloud services applied by the respective cloud service provider networks to the service traffic according to the topology for the plurality of cloud services.

13. The network data center of claim 12, wherein the common micro-service definition specifies a policy definition that defines a policy to apply to a cloud service.

14. The network data center of claim 12, wherein the common micro-service definition specifies a quality of service definition that defines a quality of service to apply to a cloud service.

15. The network data center of claim 12, wherein the common micro-service definition specifies a time range definition that defines a range of time during which the cloud-based services exchange is to provide assurance of the delivery of a cloud service by the cloud-based services exchange.

16. The network data center of claim 12, wherein to specify the plurality of cloud services the service definition includes an array of a plurality of micro-service definitions that define corresponding cloud services of the plurality of cloud services.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed, cause at least one programmable processor of a programmable network platform for a data center-based cloud exchange to perform operations comprising:

receiving a service request for an end-to-end service that includes a service definition according to a data model, wherein the service definition specifies a plurality of cloud services provided by respective cloud service provider networks operated by respective cloud service providers, wherein each of the cloud service provider networks is co-located within the data center and is coupled to the cloud-based services exchange point by an aggregation link, wherein the service definition specifies each of the plurality of cloud services according to a common micro-service definition that specifies;

a first endpoint of the cloud-based services exchange point, wherein the first endpoint identifies a first cloud service provider and specifies first endpoint-specific data that specifies at least one of a port, data center, and metro location for the first endpoint within the cloud-based services exchange point, and

a second endpoint of the cloud-based services exchange point, wherein the second endpoint identifies one of a customer and a second cloud service provider and specifies second endpoint-specific data that specifies at least one of a port, data center, and metro location for the second endpoint within the cloud-based services exchange point, and

wherein the service request further specifies a topology for the plurality of cloud services; and

provisioning, responsive to the service request, the cloud-based services exchange point to forward service traffic for the end-to-end service along a sequence of the plurality of cloud services applied by the respective cloud service provider networks to the service traffic according to the topology for the plurality of cloud services.