KR102633575B1 - Network data chaining apparatus, and control method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a chaining technology that builds a network by combining virtual resource-based applications in a predetermined connection order, and a network data chaining device that can dynamically change the connection combination between applications and the resulting data flow. This relates to the operation method of a network data chaining device.

Description

Network data chaining device and operation method of the network data chaining device {NETWORK DATA CHAINING APPARATUS, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF}

The present invention relates to a chaining technology that builds a network by combining virtual resource-based applications in a predetermined connection order, and relates to a method for dynamically changing the connection combination between applications and the resulting data flow. .

Interest in network openness and virtualization is increasing, especially among service providers and telecommunications providers, and technologies that support this include software-defined networking (SDN) technology and network functions virtualization (NFV). ) Technology exists.

NFV technology is considered one of the representative application fields of SDN in that it can flexibly redeploy network service functions made up of hardware by virtualizing them in software.

In particular, service chaining technology, which builds a single network by combining multiple virtualized network components based on NFV in a given order, is attracting high interest from network operators and service providers.

In this regard, NFV technology is also applied in the Mobile-Edge Computing (MEC) environment, which is a concept that seeks to provide various IT services and technologies provided in the existing cloud environment at the edge of the mobile network, so chaining technology is used. A network can be implemented by combining virtual resource-based applications in a designated connection order.

Meanwhile, in a network where applications are combined like this, the data processed by each application is delivered to the next neighboring application according to a determined connection order. If a change in data flow between these applications is required, the existing application The inter-application connection must be terminated and a new inter-application connection must be established.

However, in order to terminate the existing connection between applications, all data waiting to be transmitted at the kernel and network levels must be transmitted, which makes it difficult to change the data flow between applications in real time, causing data transmission delays. There is a problem that the implementation logic of the application becomes complicated in order to support a series of procedures.

Accordingly, the present invention proposes a new technique that can dynamically change the combination of connections between applications and the resulting data flow in relation to chaining technology, which builds a network by combining virtual resource-based applications in a predetermined connection order.

The present invention was created in consideration of the above-described circumstances, and the purpose to be achieved by the present invention is to connect applications based on chaining technology, which builds a network by combining virtual resource-based applications in a set connection order. The goal is to propose a new technique that can dynamically change the combination of connections and the resulting data flow.

A network data chaining device according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object includes: an acquisition unit that obtains network chaining information about network resources in which each virtual resource-based application is combined in connection order from data; And a processing unit that sequentially delivers the data to each application according to the connection order between applications in the network based on the network chaining information and serially processes the data between applications, wherein the network chaining information is connected to the applications in the network. It is characterized by including label information inserted into the header field of the data received from the source in order to define the order.

Specifically, the label information includes a label added to indicate an application in each connection order according to the connection order defined between applications in the network, and the processing unit stores the data as indicated by the label. It can be delivered to a specific application within the network, and the data processed by the specific application can be transferred to another application that is next to the specific application in the connection order.

Specifically, the processing unit transmits the data to the input port of the specific application, and data processed in the specific application can be obtained from the output port of the specific application and transmitted to the input port of the other application.

A method of operating a network data chaining device according to an embodiment of the present invention to achieve the above object includes an acquisition step of obtaining network chaining information about network resources in which each virtual resource-based application is combined in connection order from data; And a processing step of sequentially delivering the data to each application according to the connection order between applications within the network based on the network chaining information so that the data is serially processed between applications, wherein the network chaining information is transmitted between applications within the network. It is characterized by including label information inserted into the header field of the data received from the source in order to define the connection order.

Specifically, the label information includes a label added to indicate the application in each connection order according to the connection order defined between applications in the network, and the processing step is to store the data according to the label. It can be delivered to a specific application within the network, and data processed by the specific application can be transferred to another application that is next in the connection order next to the specific application.

Specifically, the processing step transfers the data to the input port of the specific application, and data processed in the specific application can be obtained from the output port of the specific application and transferred to the input port of the other application.

A program according to an embodiment of the present invention for achieving the above object includes an acquisition step of acquiring network chaining information about network resources that are combined with hardware and each virtual resource-based application is combined in connection order from data; And based on the network chaining information, the data is sequentially delivered to each application according to the connection order between applications in the network to be serially processed between applications. The network chaining information is stored in a medium, It is characterized by including label information inserted into a header field of data received from the source in order to define the connection order between applications within the network.

Accordingly, according to the network data chaining device and the operating method of the network data chaining device of the present invention, the connection combination between applications and the resulting data flow can be dynamically changed without delay as data is transmitted at a network end separate from the application. Additionally, since only data processing is required at the application level, the implementation logic of the application can be simplified as much as possible.

Figure 1 is an example diagram for explaining an application chaining environment according to the prior art.
Figure 2 is an example diagram for explaining an application chaining environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a configuration diagram for explaining a network data chaining device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is an example diagram for explaining network chaining information (label information) according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 5 is an example diagram for explaining data flow according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of operating a network data chaining device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

One embodiment of the present invention deals with chaining (Service Chaining) technology that builds one network by combining a plurality of network components virtualized based on NFV in a specified order.

In this regard, NFV technology is also applied in the Mobile-Edge Computing (MEC) environment, which is a concept that seeks to provide various IT services and technologies provided in the existing cloud environment at the edge of the mobile network, so chaining technology is used. A network can be implemented by combining virtual resource-based applications (software modules) in a designated connection order.

Meanwhile, in a network where applications are combined like this, the data processed by each application is delivered to the next neighboring application according to a determined connection order. If a change in data flow between these applications is required, the existing application The inter-application connection must be terminated and a new inter-application connection must be established.

However, in order to terminate the existing connection between applications, all data waiting to be transmitted at the kernel and network levels must be transmitted, which makes it difficult to change the data flow between applications in real time, resulting in data transmission delay.

For example, as shown in Figure 1, data received from the source (External Source) is processed in the first application (App1), and data processed in the first application (App1) is processed in the second application (App2). When you want to change the existing data path that is delivered to the destination (Sinker) through a new data path that is delivered from the source (External Source) to the destination (Sinker) through the first application (App1) and the third application (App3). We can assume this.

In this case, data processing and data transmission in the first application (App1) must be stopped (①), and after waiting for all data already transmitted from the application (App1 or App2) and waiting to be transmitted at the kernel and network levels to be transmitted, (②), the existing connection for data transmission must be terminated (③), and then a new connection between the first application (App1) and the third application (App3) must be created (④), and then data processing and data transmission are performed again. A series of processes that must begin (⑤) are required.

In particular, in order to change the combination of applications and the resulting data flow in a network built by combining applications like this, the creation and change of L3 (TCP/UDP) data channels for data transmission must be supported at the application level. A problem arises where the implementation logic of the application to support becomes complicated.

Accordingly, in one embodiment of the present invention, in relation to chaining technology that builds one network by combining virtual resource-based applications in a predetermined connection order, a new technique that can dynamically change the connection combination between applications and the resulting data flow I would like to suggest this.

In relation to this, Figure 2 exemplarily shows an application chaining environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, the application chaining environment according to an embodiment of the present invention includes network data chaining that controls data flow in a network where virtual resource-based applications (App1, App2, and App3) are each combined in connection order. Device 100 may be included.

Here, the network data chaining device 100 sequentially transmits the data received from the source (External Source) according to the connection order between the applications (App1, App2, and App3) within the network and serially processes them between the applications (App1, App2, and App3). It refers to a device for delivering processed data to its destination (sinker).

For example, the network data chaining device 100 may be implemented in the form of a virtualized network component at the network level separately from the virtual resource-based applications (App1, App2, and App3).

Meanwhile, network chaining 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can be applied, for example, to process media data. In this case, each application (App1, App2, App3) in the network decodes ( Decoding, by App1), upscaling (UpScaling, by App2), and encoding (Encoding, by App3) can be processed sequentially.

In the application chaining environment according to an embodiment of the present invention, the connection combination and corresponding data flow between applications (App1, App2, App3) can be dynamically changed through the above-described configuration. Hereinafter, network data to realize this will be described. The configuration of the chaining device 100 will be described in more detail.

Figure 3 shows a schematic configuration of a network data chaining device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the network data chaining device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an acquisition unit 110 that acquires network chaining information from data received from an external source, and network chaining information. It may have a configuration including a processing unit 120 that processes data transfer based on .

The entire configuration or at least part of the network data chaining device 100 may be implemented in the form of a software module, where the software module is virtualized at the network level separately from the virtual resource-based applications (App1, App2, App3). It can be understood as being in the form of a network component.

The network data chaining device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention can dynamically change the connection combination between applications (App1, App2, and App3) and the resulting data flow, based on the above-described configuration. Hereinafter, this will be described. We will continue with a more detailed explanation of the configuration within the network data chaining device 100 for realization.

The acquisition unit 110 performs the function of acquiring network chaining information from data received from an external source.

More specifically, the acquisition unit 110 acquires network chaining information about network resources that are combined in the connection order of each virtual resource-based application application (App1, App2, App3) from data received from an external source. do.

Here, network chaining information is, for example, a header field of data received from an external source to define the connection order between applications within the network in relation to multiprotocol label switching (MPLS, Multiprotocol Label Switching) technology. It can be understood as label information, which is information inserted into .

In this way, a label may be added to the label information inserted into the header field of data received from an external source to indicate the application of each connection order according to the connection order defined between applications in the network.

For example, if you want to define the connection order from the source (External Source) to the destination (Sinker) through the first application (App1), the second application (App2), and the third application, from the source (External Source) In the header field of the received data, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), labels (App1, App2, App3) can be added respectively.

As another example, if you want to define the connection order in which the connection is delivered from the source (External Source) to the destination (Sinker) through the first application (App1) and the third application, the header field of the data received from the source (External Source) is , As shown in Figure 4 (b), labels (App1, App3) indicating the connection order of the first application (App1) and the third application (App3), respectively, may be added.

As another example, if you want to define the connection order in which the data is transmitted from the source (External Source) to the destination (Sinker) through only the second application (App2), the header field of the data received from the source (External Source) includes, As shown in Figure 4 (c), only the label (App2) indicating the second application (App2) exists.

The processing unit 120 performs the function of processing data transmission based on network chaining information.

More specifically, the processing unit 120 sequentially processes data received from the source (External Source) between each application (App1, App2, App3) according to the connection order between applications (App1, App2, App3) in the network based on network chaining information. to be processed, and when data processing is completed between applications (App1, App2, App3) within the network, the processed data is delivered to the destination (Sinker).

At this time, the processing unit 120 delivers the data received from the source (External Source) to a specific application within the network according to the network chaining information, that is, the label added to the header field of the data received from the source (External Source) indicates. And, the data processed in the specific application can be transferred to another application that is next in the connection order next to the specific application.

In particular, the processing unit 120 transfers data received from an external source to the input port of the specific application during this data transfer process, and data processed in the specific application is obtained from the output port of the specific application. It is transmitted to the input port of the other application.

For example, if the label added to the header field of the data indicates the connection order of the first application (App1), the second application (App2), and the third application (App3), as shown in Figure 5 (a) , Data received from the source (External Source) is delivered to the input port of the first application (App1), and data processed in the first application (App1) is transferred from the output port of the first application (App1) to the second application (App2). ), the data processed in the second application (App2) is transmitted from the output port of the second application (App2) to the input port of the third application (App3), and processed in the third application (App3) The data can be transferred from the output port of the third application (App3) to the destination (Sinker).

As another example, when the label added to the header field of the data indicates the connection order of the first application (App1) and the third application (App3), as shown in Figure 5 (b), from the source (External Source) The received data is delivered to the input port of the first application (App1), and the data processed in the first application (App1) is transferred from the output port of the first application (App1) to the input port of the third application (App3). , Data processed in the third application (App3) can be transmitted from the output port of the third application (App3) to the destination (Sinker).

As another example, if the label added to the header field of the data indicates only the second application (App2), the data received from the source (External Source) is sent to the second application, as shown in Figure 5 (c). It is transmitted to the input port of (App2), and the data processed in the second application (App2) can be transmitted from the output port of the second application (App2) to the destination (Sinker).

As such, in one embodiment of the present invention, it can be confirmed that data transfer between applications (App1, App2, App3) is performed on a separate network from the applications (App1, App2, App3), through which the applications (App1, The connection combination between App2, App3) and the resulting data flow can be changed dynamically without delay. Additionally, at the application (App1, App2, App3) level, the data received through the input port is processed and the processed data is exported to the output port. Since only this is required, it can be seen that the implementation logic of the application can be minimized.

Meanwhile, the processing unit 120 processes data between applications (App1, App2, App3) within the network when network chaining information, that is, the label added to the header field of data received from the source (External Source) no longer exists. is considered completed, and data that has been processed in this way can be delivered to the destination (sinker) from the output port of the application corresponding to the last connection order.

As seen above, according to the configuration of the network data chaining device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the network for network resources in which each of the virtual resource-based applications (App1, App2, and App3) is combined in connection order. Chaining information is obtained from data received from the source (External Source), and data received from the source (External Source) is based on this network chaining information according to the connection order between applications (App1, App2, App3) in the network. It is sequentially transmitted and processed between applications (App1, App2, App3), and when data processing is completed between applications (App1, App2, App3) within the network, the processed data is delivered to the destination (Sinker), and the application (App1 , App2, App3), the connection combination between applications (App1, App2, App3) and the resulting data flow can be changed dynamically without delay as data transfer is performed at a separate network level from App2, App3. , Since only data processing is required at the App3) stage, the implementation logic of the application can be simplified as much as possible.

Hereinafter, a method of operating the network data chaining device 20 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

First, the acquisition unit 110 acquires network chaining information about network resources in which each virtual resource-based application is combined in connection order from data received from an external source (S110-S120).

Here, network chaining information is, for example, a header field of data received from an external source to define the connection order between applications within the network in relation to multiprotocol label switching (MPLS, Multiprotocol Label Switching) technology. It can be understood as label information, which is information inserted into .

In this way, a label may be added to the label information inserted into the header field of data received from an external source to indicate the application of each connection order according to the connection order defined between applications in the network.

For example, if you want to define the connection order from the source (External Source) to the destination (Sinker) through the first application (App1), the second application (App2), and the third application, from the source (External Source) In the header field of the received data, as shown in FIG. 4 (a) above, a label (App1) indicating the connection order of the first application (App1), the second application (App2), and the third application (App3), respectively. , App2, App3) can be added respectively.

As another example, if you want to define the connection order in which the connection is delivered from the source (External Source) to the destination (Sinker) through the first application (App1) and the third application, the header field of the data received from the source (External Source) is , As shown in FIG. 4 (b) previously illustrated, labels (App1, App3) that indicate the connection order of the first application (App1) and the third application (App3), respectively, may be added.

As another example, if you want to define the connection order in which the data is transmitted from the source (External Source) to the destination (Sinker) through only the second application (App2), the header field of the data received from the source (External Source) includes, As shown in Figure 4 (c) illustrated above, only the label (App2) indicating the second application (App2) exists.

Then, the processing unit 120 sequentially transfers data received from the source (External Source) between each application (App1, App2, App3) according to the connection order between the applications (App1, App2, App3) in the network based on the network chaining information. Forward it so it can be processed (S130-S150).

At this time, the processing unit 120 checks the network chaining information, that is, the application indicated by the label added to the header field of the data received from the source (External Source), and as confirmed, the data received from the source (External Source) can be delivered to a specific application within the network, and data processed by the specific application can be transferred to another application that is next in the connection order next to the specific application.

In particular, the processing unit 120 transfers data received from an external source to the input port of the specific application during this data transfer process, and data processed in the specific application is obtained from the output port of the specific application. It is transmitted to the input port of the other application.

For example, if the label added to the header field of the data indicates the connection order of the first application (App1), the second application (App2), and the third application (App3), respectively, as shown in Figure 5 (a) As in, data received from the source (External Source) is delivered to the input port of the first application (App1), and data processed in the first application (App1) is transmitted from the output port of the first application (App1) to the second It is transmitted to the input port of the application (App2), and data processed in the second application (App2) can be transmitted from the output port of the second application (App2) to the input port of the third application (App3).

As another example, when the label added to the header field of the data indicates the connection order of the first application (App1) and the third application (App3), the source (External), as shown in FIG. 5 (b) above, Source) is delivered to the input port of the first application (App1), and data processed by the first application (App1) is transferred from the output port of the first application (App1) to the input port of the third application (App3). It can be conveyed by .

As another example, if the label added to the header field of the data indicates only the second application (App2), the data received from the source (External Source) is It can be transmitted to the input port of the second application (App2).

As such, in one embodiment of the present invention, it can be confirmed that data transfer between applications (App1, App2, App3) is performed on a separate network from the applications (App1, App2, App3), through which the applications (App1, The connection combination between App2, App3) and the resulting data flow can be changed dynamically without delay. Additionally, at the application (App1, App2, App3) level, the data received through the input port is processed and the processed data is exported to the output port. Since only this is required, it can be seen that the implementation logic of the application can be minimized.

Afterwards, when data processing is completed between applications (App1, App2, and App3) in the network, the processing unit 120 delivers the processed data to the destination (Sinker) (S160).

At this time, the processing unit 120 processes data between applications (App1, App2, App3) within the network when network chaining information, that is, the label added to the header field of data received from the source (External Source) no longer exists. is considered completed, and data that has been processed in this way can be delivered to the destination (sinker) from the output port of the application corresponding to the last connection order.

As discussed above, according to the operating method of the network data chaining device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, each of the virtual resource-based applications (App1, App2, and App3) relates to network resources that are combined in connection order. Network chaining information is obtained from data received from the source (External Source), and data received from the source (External Source) is based on this network chaining information according to the connection order between applications (App1, App2, App3) in the network. It is sequentially transmitted and processed between each application (App1, App2, App3), and when data processing is completed between the applications (App1, App2, App3) in the network, the processed data is delivered to the destination (Sinker), so that the application ( As data transfer is performed on a separate network from App1, App2, App3), the connection combination and resulting data flow between applications (App1, App2, App3) can be dynamically changed without delay, and also, the connection combination between applications (App1, App2, App3) and the resulting data flow can be changed dynamically without delay. Since only data processing is required at the App2, App3) stage, the implementation logic of the application can be simplified as much as possible.

Meanwhile, the operating method according to an embodiment of the present invention may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc., singly or in combination. Program instructions recorded on the medium may be specially designed and constructed for the present invention or may be known and usable by those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, and magnetic media such as floptical disks. -Includes optical media (magneto-optical media) and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions, such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, etc. Examples of program instructions include machine language code, such as that produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter, etc. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the present invention, and vice versa.

Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments so far, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and the technical field to which the present invention pertains without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the following claims. Anyone skilled in the art will recognize that the technical idea of the present invention extends to the extent that various changes or modifications can be made.

According to the network data chaining device and the operating method of the network data chaining device according to the present invention, in relation to chaining technology that builds one network by combining virtual resource-based applications in a determined connection order, connection combination between applications And in that the resulting data flow can be dynamically changed, by going beyond the limitations of existing technology, not only is there sufficient possibility to market or sell the applied device, not only the use of related technology, but it is also possible to clearly implement it in reality. It is an invention that has industrial applicability.

100: Network data chaining device
110: acquisition department 120: processing department

Claims (7)

An acquisition unit that obtains network chaining information about network resources in which each virtual resource-based application is combined in connection order from data; and
A processing unit sequentially transmits the data to each application according to the connection order between applications in the network based on the network chaining information, so that the data is serially processed between applications,
The network chaining information is,
Includes label information inserted into the header field of the data received from the source to define the connection order between applications within the network,
The processing unit,
According to the connection order between applications within the network, the data is delivered to the input port of a specific application to be processed, and the data that has completed processing in the specific application is obtained from the output port of the specific application and connected to the next neighboring application. A network data chaining device characterized in that it is transmitted to the input port of the application. According to claim 1,
The label information is,
Includes a label added to indicate the application of each connection order according to the connection order defined between applications in the network,
The processing unit,
A network data chaining device characterized in that the data is transmitted to a specific application in the network according to what the label indicates, and the data processed by the specific application is transmitted to another application that is next to the specific application and is in the next connection order. . delete An acquisition step of obtaining network chaining information about network resources in which each virtual resource-based application is combined in connection order from data; and
It includes a processing step of sequentially transmitting the data to each application based on the network chaining information in the order of connection between applications in the network so that the data is serially processed between applications,
The network chaining information is,
Includes label information inserted into the header field of the data received from the source to define the connection order between applications within the network,
The processing step is,
According to the connection order between applications within the network, the data is delivered to the input port of a specific application to be processed, and the data that has completed processing in the specific application is obtained from the output port of the specific application and connected to the next neighboring application. A method of operating a network data chaining device, characterized in that it is transmitted to the input port of the application. According to claim 4,
The label information is,
Includes a label added to indicate the application of each connection order according to the connection order defined between applications in the network,
The processing step is,
A network data chaining device characterized in that the data is transmitted to a specific application in the network according to what the label indicates, and the data processed by the specific application is transmitted to another application that is next to the specific application and is in the next connection order. How it works. delete A computer program combined with hardware and stored in a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium to execute each step of any one of claims 4 or 5.