Network functions virtualization platforms with function chaining capabilities
First Claim
1. An integrated circuit die in a network functions virtualization (NFV) platform, comprising:
- a first virtual function hardware accelerator module n the integrated circuit die that performs a first function;
a second virtual function hardware accelerator module in the integrated circuit die that performs a second function; and
data switching circuitry in the integrated circuit die that receives data output from the first virtual function hardware accelerator module, that checks the data output from the first virtual function hardware accelerator module to determine whether the data satisfies an accelerator condition associated with the second virtual function hardware accelerator, and that routes the data output from the first virtual function hardware accelerator module directly back to the second virtual function hardware accelerator module in response to determining that the data satisfies the accelerator condition.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A virtualization platform for Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) is provided. The virtualization platform may include a host processor coupled to an acceleration coprocessor. The acceleration coprocessor may be a reconfigurable integrated circuit to help provide improved flexibility and agility for the NFV. The coprocessor may include multiple virtual function hardware acceleration modules each of which is configured to perform a respective accelerator function. A virtual machine running on the host processor may wish to perform multiple accelerator functions in succession at the coprocessor on a given data. In one suitable arrangement, intermediate data output by each of the accelerator functions may be fed back to the host processor. In another suitable arrangement, the successive function calls may be chained together so that only the final resulting data is fed back to the host processor.
13 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. An integrated circuit die in a network functions virtualization (NFV) platform, comprising:
-
a first virtual function hardware accelerator module n the integrated circuit die that performs a first function; a second virtual function hardware accelerator module in the integrated circuit die that performs a second function; and data switching circuitry in the integrated circuit die that receives data output from the first virtual function hardware accelerator module, that checks the data output from the first virtual function hardware accelerator module to determine whether the data satisfies an accelerator condition associated with the second virtual function hardware accelerator, and that routes the data output from the first virtual function hardware accelerator module directly back to the second virtual function hardware accelerator module in response to determining that the data satisfies the accelerator condition. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. An integrated circuit, comprising:
-
a first virtual function hardware accelerator on the integrated circuit a second virtual function hardware accelerator on the integrated circuit; and data switching circuitry on the integrated circuit that receives data output from the first virtual function hardware accelerator, that analyzes the data to determine whether the data needs to be chained at the second virtual function hardware accelerator, that routes the data directly to the second virtual function hardware accelerator in response to determining that the data needs to be chained, and that routes the data directly to an external host in response to determining that the data does not need to be chained. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
Specification