Virtual network pre-configuration in support of service-based traffic forwarding
First Claim
1. A method for configuring a network of physical network nodes to support delivery of a service to an end point accessing the network, the method comprising:
- configuring a virtual network (VN) on the network by;
configuring a plurality of VN nodes to define the VN, each VN node of the plurality of VN nodes associated with a respective one of the physical network nodes;
configuring logical tunnels to communicatively interconnect the VN nodes;
instantiating VN virtual routers (v-routers) for routing packets between the VN nodes via the logical tunnels, each v-router of the instantiated v-routers associated with a corresponding one of the VN nodes and operative to receive a data packet addressed to the VN and intended for a destination end point, and to direct the received data packet through a configured interconnecting logical tunnel that connects the VN node of that v-router to a next VN node on a virtual path between that v-router and the destination end point; and
determining Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for one of the logical tunnels based on an estimate of a number of end points which will be serviced by said one of the logical tunnels and an estimated integrated rate requirement for said one of the logical tunnels which is based on per-end point traffic requirements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for pre-configuring a communication network to support delivery of a service to an end point associated with the service is provided. A virtual network (VN) having a plurality of VN nodes is provided and associated with a respective plurality of physical network nodes of the communication network. Logical tunnels communicatively interconnect the VN nodes. VN virtual routers (v-routers) associated with the VN nodes are provided and configured to route packets between the VN nodes via the logical tunnels. Edge nodes of the communication network are configured to monitor for a packet associated with the service, and to submit the packet to the VN for handling thereby.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for configuring a network of physical network nodes to support delivery of a service to an end point accessing the network, the method comprising:
configuring a virtual network (VN) on the network by; configuring a plurality of VN nodes to define the VN, each VN node of the plurality of VN nodes associated with a respective one of the physical network nodes; configuring logical tunnels to communicatively interconnect the VN nodes; instantiating VN virtual routers (v-routers) for routing packets between the VN nodes via the logical tunnels, each v-router of the instantiated v-routers associated with a corresponding one of the VN nodes and operative to receive a data packet addressed to the VN and intended for a destination end point, and to direct the received data packet through a configured interconnecting logical tunnel that connects the VN node of that v-router to a next VN node on a virtual path between that v-router and the destination end point; and determining Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for one of the logical tunnels based on an estimate of a number of end points which will be serviced by said one of the logical tunnels and an estimated integrated rate requirement for said one of the logical tunnels which is based on per-end point traffic requirements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for configuring a communication network to support delivery of a service to an end point associated with the service, the apparatus comprising a processor, a memory and a communication interface and configured, prior to receipt of a request for access to the service by the end point to:
provide instructions to underlying resources to configure a virtual network (VN) having a plurality of VN nodes associated with a respective plurality of physical network nodes of the communication network, the configuring including; providing logical tunnels communicatively interconnecting the plurality of VN nodes; and instantiating VN virtual routers (v-routers) associated with the plurality of VN nodes, wherein the v-routers are configured to route packets between the plurality of VN nodes via the logical tunnels; determining Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for one of the logical tunnels based on an estimate of a number of end points which will be serviced by said one of the logical tunnels and an estimated integrated rate requirement for said one of the logical tunnels based on per-end point traffic requirements; and providing instructions to the underlying resources to configure one or more edge nodes of the communication network to monitor for a packet associated with the service, and to submit the packet to the VN for handling thereby, the one or more edge nodes being configured to communicate with the end point using a dedicated radio access link in accordance with the QoS parameters. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system comprising:
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a network function configured to configure a virtual network (VN) by; configuring a plurality of VN nodes to define the VN, each VN node of the plurality of VN nodes associated with a respective one of the physical network nodes; configuring logical tunnels to communicatively interconnect the plurality of VN nodes; instantiating VN virtual routers (v-routers) for routing packets between the plurality of VN nodes via the logical tunnels, each v-router of the instantiated v-routers associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of VN nodes and operative to receive a data packet addressed to the VN and intended for a destination end point, and to direct the received data packet through a configured interconnecting logical tunnel that connects the VN node of that v-router to a next VN node on a virtual path between that v-router and the destination end point; and determining Quality of Service (QoS) parameters for one of the logical tunnels based on an estimate of a number of end points which will be serviced by said one of the logical tunnels and an estimated integrated rate requirement for said one of the logical tunnels which is based on per-end point traffic requirements; and one or more destination end points, each of the one or more destination end points being configured to issue a request for access to service by one or more of the logical tunnels. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification