Method and Apparatus for NFV Management and Orchestration

• US 20160212016A1
• Filed: 01/20/2016
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Rao, Jaya, Vrzic, Sophie, Zhang, Hang, Li, Xu
• Granted Patent: US 10,447,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/122 of virtualised topologies, e.g. software-defined networks [SDN] or network function virtualisation [NFV]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5051 Service on demand, e.g. definition and deployment of services in real time
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/306 Route determination based on the nature of the carried application

Abstract

Systems and methods for network functions virtualization (NFV)-management and orchestration (MANO) are provided where a virtualized network function (VNF)-forwarding graph (FG) including a plurality of VNFs is generated based on a customer request. The plurality of VNFs are instantiated at corresponding NFV infrastructure (NFVI)-points of presence (PoPs). A network service (NS) request including the generated VNF-FG may be constructed and added to a NS catalog.

Claims

1. A method for network functions virtualization (NFV)-management and orchestration (MANO) comprising:

receiving, by a processing system, a customer request for a network service; and

generating, in accordance with the received customer request, a virtualized network function (VNF)-forwarding graph (FG) comprising a plurality of VNFs and a link connecting two of the VNFs in the plurality.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a NFV infrastructure (NFVI)-point of presence (PoP) for each of the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining a NFVI-PoP for each of the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG comprises determining a NFVI-PoP for each of the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG based on a network service (NS) request, the NS request comprising the VNF-FG.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the processing system, an instruction to instantiate the plurality of VNFs using a virtual infrastructure manager (VIM) and a virtual network function manager (VNFM).

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

constructing, by the processing system, a network service (NS) request in accordance with the VNF-FG.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising adding the constructed NS request to a NS catalog.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the processing system, a command requesting determination of NFVI-PoPs for the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

receiving, in response to the command, a message indicating determination of the NFVI-PoPs for the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, in response to the customer request, an acknowledgement message indicating generation of the VNF-FG and determination of NFVI-PoPs for the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the VNF-FG comprises a VNF that is related to network performance assessment and enhancement.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming for execution by the processor, the programming including instructions for;

receiving a customer request for a network service; and

generating, in accordance with the received customer request, a virtualized network function (VNF)-forwarding graph (FG) comprising a plurality of VNFs and a link connecting two of the VNFs in the plurality.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the programming comprises further instructions for:

determining a NFV infrastructure (NFVI)-point of presence (PoP) for each of the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the programming comprises further instructions for:

transmitting an instruction to instantiate the plurality of VNFs using a virtual infrastructure manager (VIM) and a virtual network function manager (VNFM).

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the programming comprises further instructions for:

constructing a network service (NS) request in accordance with the VNF-FG; and

sending the constructed NS request for determination of a NFVI-PoP for each of the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the programming comprises further instructions for adding the NS request to a NS catalog.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the programming comprises further instructions for:

sending a command requesting for determination of NFVI-PoPs for the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the programming comprises further instructions for:

receiving, in response to the command, a message indicating determination of the NFVI-PoPs for the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the programming comprises further instructions for:

sending, in response to the customer request, an acknowledgement message indicating generation of the VNF-FG and determination of NFVI-PoPs for the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

19. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing programming, the programming including instructions to generate a virtualized network function (VNF)-forwarding graph (FG) in accordance with a customer request for a network service, the VNF-FG comprising a plurality of VNFs and at least a link connecting the plurality of VNFs.

20. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the programming comprises further instructions to determine a NFV infrastructure (NFVI)-point of presence (PoP) for each of the plurality of VNFs in the VNF-FG.

21. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the programming comprises further instructions to instantiate the VNFs using a virtual infrastructure manager (VIM) and a virtual network function manager (VNFM).

22. The computer program product of claim 19, wherein the programming comprises further instructions to construct a network service (NS) request in accordance with the VNF-FG.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the programming comprises further instructions to add the constructed NS request to a NS catalog.