System, method, and computer program for preserving service continuity in a network function virtualization (NFV) based communication network
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- identifying a first virtual network function (VNF) instance associated with a first VNF in a first hardware unit in a Network Function Virtualization based (NFV-based) communication network, the first VNF instance including a process executing a first VNF program by a virtual machine;
initiating a second VNF instance on a second hardware unit, the second VNF instance having functionality matching the first VNF instance; and
verifying a compatibility between the first VNF instance and the second VNF instance by comparing an output of the second VNF instance to an output of the first VNF instance, the output including data, transmission, and timing parameters;
conditionally diverting communications directed to the first VNF instance to the second VNF instance on the second hardware unit, in response to initiating the second VNF instance on the second hardware unit and verifying the compatibility between the first VNF instance and the second VNF instance.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for preserving service continuity in a Network Function Virtualization based (NFV-based) communication network. In use, a first virtual network function (VNF) instance associated with a first VNF in a first hardware unit in a Network Function Virtualization based (NFV-based) communication network is identified. Additionally, a second VNF instance on a second hardware unit is instantiated, the second VNF instance being compatible with the first VNF instance. Further, communication directed to the first VNF instance is diverted to the second VNF instance on the second hardware unit, in response to initiating the second VNF instance on a second hardware unit.
146 Citations
12 Claims
-
1. A method, comprising:
-
identifying a first virtual network function (VNF) instance associated with a first VNF in a first hardware unit in a Network Function Virtualization based (NFV-based) communication network, the first VNF instance including a process executing a first VNF program by a virtual machine; initiating a second VNF instance on a second hardware unit, the second VNF instance having functionality matching the first VNF instance; and verifying a compatibility between the first VNF instance and the second VNF instance by comparing an output of the second VNF instance to an output of the first VNF instance, the output including data, transmission, and timing parameters; conditionally diverting communications directed to the first VNF instance to the second VNF instance on the second hardware unit, in response to initiating the second VNF instance on the second hardware unit and verifying the compatibility between the first VNF instance and the second VNF instance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising computer code for:
-
identifying a first virtual network function (VNF) instance associated with a first VNF in a first hardware unit in a Network Function Virtualization based (NFV-based) communication network, the first VNF instance including a process executing a first VNF program by a virtual machine; initiating a second VNF instance on a second hardware unit, the second VNF instance having functionality matching the first VNF instance; and verifying a compatibility between the first VNF instance and the second VNF instance by comparing an output of the second VNF instance to an output of the first VNF instance, the output including data, transmission, and timing parameters; conditionally diverting communications directed to the first VNF instance to the second VNF instance on the second hardware unit, in response to initiating the second VNF instance on the second hardware unit and verifying the compatibility between the first VNF instance and the second VNF instance. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
-
9. A system comprising:
-
a memory system; and one or more processing cores coupled to the memory system and that are each configured for; identifying a first virtual network function (VNF) instance associated with a first VNF in a first hardware unit in a Network Function Virtualization based (NFV-based) communication network, the first VNF instance including a process executing a first VNF program by a virtual machine; initiating a second VNF instance on a second hardware unit, the second VNF instance having functionality matching the first VNF instance; and verifying a compatibility between the first VNF instance and the second VNF instance by comparing an output of the second VNF instance to an output of the first VNF instance, the output including data, transmission, and timing parameters; conditionally diverting communications directed to the first VNF instance to the second VNF instance on the second hardware unit, in response to initiating the second VNF instance on the second hardware unit and verifying the compatibility between the first VNF instance and the second VNF instance. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
Specification