System and method to facilitate the assignment of service functions for service chains in a network environment
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- instantiating a plurality of service function instances for each of one or more hosts, wherein each service function instance corresponds to a particular service function type;
grouping each of the plurality of service function instances into one or more service function groups, wherein at least one service function instance is a member of at least two service function groups established across one or more hosts;
establishing a service function path for each of a plurality of service function chain types associated with the one or more service function groups, wherein each service function chain type comprises an ordered combination of one or more of the service function instances within each service function group and wherein at least one service function chain type associated with at least one service function group can comprise a number of service function instances that is less than a total number of service function instances associated with the at least one service function group; and
maintaining loading information for each of the plurality of service function groups based, at least in part, on a number of subscriber Internet protocol (IP) flows assigned to each service function group.
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Abstract
A method is provided in one example embodiment and may include receiving a first Internet protocol (IP) flow for an IP session for a subscriber; selecting a first service function group from a plurality of service function groups to perform one or more services for the IP session for the subscriber, wherein each of the plurality of service function groups comprises a plurality of service function chain types and wherein each service function chain type comprises an ordered combination of one or more service functions; assigning the IP session for the subscriber to the first service function group; and forwarding the first IP flow for the IP session of the subscriber across a first service function chain type for the first service function group based, at least in part, on a service policy for the subscriber.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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instantiating a plurality of service function instances for each of one or more hosts, wherein each service function instance corresponds to a particular service function type; grouping each of the plurality of service function instances into one or more service function groups, wherein at least one service function instance is a member of at least two service function groups established across one or more hosts; establishing a service function path for each of a plurality of service function chain types associated with the one or more service function groups, wherein each service function chain type comprises an ordered combination of one or more of the service function instances within each service function group and wherein at least one service function chain type associated with at least one service function group can comprise a number of service function instances that is less than a total number of service function instances associated with the at least one service function group; and maintaining loading information for each of the plurality of service function groups based, at least in part, on a number of subscriber Internet protocol (IP) flows assigned to each service function group. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. One or more non-transitory tangible media encoding logic that includes instructions for execution by a processor, wherein the execution causes the processor to perform operations, comprising:
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instantiating a plurality of service function instances for each of one or more hosts, wherein each service function instance corresponds to a particular service function type; grouping each of the plurality of service function instances into one or more service function groups, wherein at least one service function instance is a member of at least two service function groups established across one or more hosts; establishing a service function path for each of a plurality of service function chain types associated with the one or more service function groups, wherein each service function chain type comprises an ordered combination of one or more of the service function instances within each service function group and wherein at least one service function chain type associated with at least one service function group can comprise a number of service function instances that is less than a total number of service function instances associated with the at least one service function group; and maintaining loading information for each of the plurality of service function groups based, at least in part, on a number of subscriber Internet protocol (IP) flows assigned to each service function group. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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at one memory element for storing data; and at least one processor for executing instructions associated with the data, wherein the executing causes the apparatus to perform operations, comprising; instantiating a plurality of service function instances for each of one or more hosts, wherein each service function instance corresponds to a particular service function type; grouping each of the plurality of service function instances into one or more service function groups, wherein at least one service function instance is a member of at least two service function groups established across one or more hosts; establishing a service function path for each of a plurality of service function chain types associated with the one or more service function groups, wherein each service function chain type comprises an ordered combination of one or more of the service function instances within each service function group and wherein at least one service function chain type associated with at least one service function group can comprise a number of service function instances that is less than a total number of service function instances associated with the at least one service function group; and maintaining loading information for each of the plurality of service function groups based, at least in part, on a number of subscriber Internet protocol (IP) flows assigned to each service function group. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification