TWI722145B - Network function virtualization - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe methods and apparatuses for a network function virtualization architecture and operation.

Description

Network function virtualization

The embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to the field of networking, and more specifically relate to devices and methods for virtualizing network functions in a cellular network.

Network orchestration is the management of physical and virtual devices to meet the requirements of network deployment and operation. European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), network function virtualization (NFV), management and orchestration (MANO) describe a framework that provides virtualized network functions and related operations , Such as configuring virtualized network functions and corresponding infrastructure.

100‧‧‧Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Architecture

104‧‧‧Network Function Virtualization-Management and Coordination (NFV-MANO) System

108‧‧‧Core Network (CN) Service System

112‧‧‧Network Function Virtualization Scheduler (NFVO)

116‧‧‧Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM)

118‧‧‧Global Monitor

120‧‧‧Virtualization Infrastructure Manager (VIM)

122‧‧‧Network Service (NS) Directory

124‧‧‧Virtual Network Function (VNF) Directory

128‧‧‧Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Instance Repository

132‧‧‧NFV Infrastructure (NFVI) Repository

136‧‧‧Operation Support System/Business Support System (OSS/BSS)

140‧‧‧Component Manager (EM)

144‧‧‧Virtual Network Function (VNF)

148‧‧‧NFV Infrastructure (NFVI)

204‧‧‧NS Record (NSR) Manager

208‧‧‧Prediction Engine

212‧‧‧Strategy Directory

216‧‧‧Monitoring Module

220‧‧‧Profile Engine

300‧‧‧Deployment template descriptor data model

304‧‧‧Network Service Descriptor (NSD)

308‧‧‧VNF Descriptor (VNFD)

312‧‧‧VNF Descriptor (VNFD)

316‧‧‧VNF Descriptor (VNFD)

320‧‧‧Virtual Link Descriptor (VLD)

324‧‧‧Virtual Link Descriptor (VLD)

328‧‧‧VNF Transfer Picture Descriptor (VNFFGD)

332‧‧‧VNF Transfer Picture Descriptor (VNFFGD)

336‧‧‧Virtualization Deployment Unit (VDU)

340‧‧‧Virtualization Deployment Unit (VDU)

344‧‧‧Virtualization Deployment Unit (VDU)

348‧‧‧Virtualization Deployment Unit (VDU)

352‧‧‧Virtualization Deployment Unit (VDU)

356‧‧‧Virtualization Deployment Unit (VDU)

360‧‧‧Virtualization Deployment Unit (VDU)

364‧‧‧computing resources

368‧‧‧Network Resources

372‧‧‧Storage/Memory Resources

376‧‧‧computing resources

380‧‧‧Network Resources

384‧‧‧Storage/Memory Resources

388‧‧‧computing resources

392‧‧‧Network Resources

396‧‧‧Storage/Memory Resources

400‧‧‧Host device

404‧‧‧Platform hardware

408‧‧‧Calculating circuit

412‧‧‧Storage/Memory Circuit

416‧‧‧Network Circuit

420‧‧‧Hypermanager

424‧‧‧ Operating System (OS)

428‧‧‧controller domain 0

432‧‧‧Open Virtual Switch (OVS)

436‧‧‧Layer 2 (L2) Agent

440‧‧‧VNF application

444‧‧‧VNF application

448‧‧‧Virtual Network Function Component (VNFC)

452‧‧‧Virtual Network Function Component (VNFC)

456‧‧‧Virtual Network Function Component (VNFC)

460‧‧‧Virtual Network Function Component (VNFC)

464‧‧‧Virtual Network Function Component (VNFC)

468‧‧‧Virtual Network Function Component (VNFC)

472‧‧‧Virtual Machine (VM)

474‧‧‧Virtual Machine (VM)

476‧‧‧Virtual Machine (VM)

478‧‧‧Virtual Machine (VM)

480‧‧‧Virtual Machine (VM)

482‧‧‧Virtual Machine (VM)

484‧‧‧Local Monitor

486‧‧‧Local Monitor

488‧‧‧Virtual Machine (VM)

490‧‧‧Virtual Machine (VM)

1000‧‧‧Internet

1004‧‧‧Operation Support System/Business Support System (OSS/BSS)

1008‧‧‧Network Manager (NM)

1012‧‧‧Component Manager (EM)

1016‧‧‧Component Manager (EM)

1020‧‧‧Physical network infrastructure

1024‧‧‧Network Components (NE)

1028‧‧‧Network Components (NE)

1032‧‧‧Network Components (NE)

1036‧‧‧Network Function Virtualization Scheduler (NFVO)

1040‧‧‧Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM)

1044‧‧‧Virtualization Infrastructure Manager (VIM)

1048‧‧‧NFV Infrastructure (NFVI)

1052‧‧‧Platform hardware

1056‧‧‧Virtualization layer

1060‧‧‧Virtual Network Function (VNF)

1064‧‧‧Virtual Network Function (VNF)

1100‧‧‧Computer system

1104‧‧‧Processor circuit

1108‧‧‧System memory

1112‧‧‧NVM/Storage

1116‧‧‧Communication circuit

1120‧‧‧Interface circuit

1200‧‧‧Ethernet Controller

1212‧‧‧Host Interface

1216‧‧‧Queue Management and Scheduling (QMS) Circuit

1220‧‧‧Protocol Acceleration/Offload (A/O) Circuit

1224‧‧‧Traffic Classifier

1228‧‧‧Media Access Controller

1232‧‧‧PHY

1236‧‧‧Intra-frequency management circuit

1904‧‧‧Computer readable media

1908‧‧‧Program command

The embodiments will be easily understood through the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For ease of description, the same reference numerals denote the same structural elements. The embodiments are illustrated in the drawings by way of example rather than limitation.

Figure 1 shows the NFV architecture and reference points according to some embodiments.

Figure 2 shows a portion of the NFV architecture of Figure 1 in accordance with some embodiments.

Figure 3 shows a deployment template descriptor data model for web service descriptors according to some embodiments.

Figure 4 shows the architecture of a host device according to some embodiments.

Figure 5 shows the flow of passive monitoring in the NFV management plane according to some embodiments.

Figure 6 shows the first level of performance monitoring and management operation flow/algorithm structure according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates the over-utilization process of performance monitoring and management operation flow/algorithm structure according to some embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates the underutilization process of the performance monitoring and management operation flow/algorithm structure according to some embodiments.

FIG. 9 shows a sub-process of the underutilization process of FIG. 8 in accordance with some embodiments.

Figure 10 shows a network using a coexistence deployment model according to some embodiments.

Figure 11 shows a computer system that can be used to execute various embodiments.

Figure 12 shows an Ethernet controller according to some embodiments.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure of a host device according to some embodiments.

FIG. 14 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure of a host device according to some embodiments.

Figure 15 shows a diagram of a virtual network function manager according to some embodiments Example operation flow/algorithm structure.

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure of a component manager or a network manager according to some embodiments.

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure of a network function virtualization scheduler according to some embodiments.

FIG. 18 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure of an operation support system or a business support system according to some embodiments.

Figure 19 illustrates an exemplary computer readable medium in accordance with some embodiments.

[Summary of the Invention] and [Implementation Modes]

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the drawings that form a part of this description, in which the same reference numerals denote the same parts throughout the description, and are shown through illustrative embodiments that can be implemented. It should be understood that other embodiments can be used and structural or logical changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Various operations can be described in sequence as a plurality of discrete actions or operations in a manner that is most helpful for understanding the subject matter of the scope of the patent application. However, the order of description should not be interpreted as implying that these operations must be order-dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. The described operations may be performed in a different order from the described embodiments. Various additional operations may be performed in additional embodiments or the described operations may be omitted.

For the purpose of this disclosure, the terms "A or B", "A and/or B" and "A/B" mean (A), (B), or (A and B).

The description can use either "in an embodiment" or "in an embodiment" Terminology, which can each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. In addition, the terms "include", "include", "have" and the like used in the embodiments of the present disclosure are synonyms.

Figure 1 shows an NFV architecture 100 and reference points according to some embodiments. The NFV architecture 100 can be used in a network operating in compliance with the 3rd Generation Partnership Project 3GPP specifications.

The NFV architecture 100 may include an NFV-MANO system 104, which is coupled with a core network (CN) service system 108, as shown in the figure. Each module shown in the NFV architecture 100 can represent a module designed to provide discrete operations. Discrete operations include, for example, management, coordination, and communication operations, which help the CN service system 108 to provide a network. service. The network service can be realized through any combination of the virtual network function VNF and the physical network function PNF, and the virtual network function VNF and the physical network function PNF can be linked together.

The network service can be any type of service provided by the core network components of the cellular network, such as, but not limited to, mobile management entity MME, packet data network gateway PDN-GW, service gateway S -GW, policy charging and rule function PCRF, local location register HLR, visitor location register VLR, local user server HSS, service general packet radio service support node SGSN, gateway general packet radio service support node GGSN and many more.

The modules of the NFV architecture 100 will be briefly described. However, unless otherwise described, the operation of the modules of the NFV architecture 100 can be in accordance with the European Telecommunications Standards Institute ETSI Group Specification GS NFV-Management and Coordination MAN 001 V1.1.1 (2014- The description in 12) is the same.

Generally, various computing systems may be adapted to provide the operations described with respect to the modules of the architecture 100. This article describes some particularly suitable computing systems for modules that implement the operations of various embodiments. However, the operations described with respect to other modules can be performed by similar computing systems that are adjusted according to the purpose and implementation details associated with a particular module.

The modules of the NFV architecture 100 are shown as being coupled to each other through various reference points. In some embodiments, the specific implementation of the NFV architecture 100 may cause some modules to be combined with other modules. In this case, the reference point for coupling these combination modules can be internalized.

Generally, the NFV-MANO system 104 can provide management and coordinated operations to help the CN service system 108 provide virtualized network functions. The NFV-MANO system 104 may include a network function virtualization scheduler (NFVO) 112, which is coupled with a virtual network function manager (VNFM) 116. NFVO 112 can also be combined with some data repositories, such as, but not limited to, network service (NS) directory 122, virtual network function (VNF) directory 124, network function virtualization (NFV) instance repository 128, and NFV The infrastructure (NFVI) repository 132 is coupled.

NFVO 112 can provide network service coordination by coordinating the life cycle of the VNF that jointly realizes the network service. This may include managing the association between different VNFs, the topology of the network service NS, and the VNF transfer graph descriptor VNFFG associated with the network service. The NFVO 112 may need to know all the resources available for reservation allocation in the NFVI for an NS instance.

NFVO 112 can be passed through Or-Vnfm reference point and VNF manager (VNFM) 116 coupling. The VNFM 116 may be responsible for managing the life cycle of the VNF instance. In various embodiments, the VNFM 116 may provide traditional management operations, such as, but not limited to, obstacle management, configuration management, metering management, performance management, and security management. The VNFM 116 may also provide a zoom operation to change the configuration of virtualized resources. Scaling operations may include, but are not limited to, zooming in (for example, adding a central processing unit (CPU)), zooming out (for example, removing the CPU or releasing some virtualization resources), scaling out (for example, adding a new virtual machine) (VM)) and scaling in (for example, closing and removing VM instances).

In some embodiments, the VNFM 116 may include a global monitor 118. The global monitor 118 may be a background process that collects measurements related to the performance metrics of VMs operating on the VNF, for example, the VNF 144.

The NS directory 122 may represent a repository of all on-boarded network services to support the creation and management of NS deployment templates. The NS deployment template may include, but is not limited to, Network Service Descriptor (NSD), Virtual Link Descriptor (VLD), VNF Descriptor (VNFD), and VNF Forwarding Graph Descriptor (VNFFGD).

The VNF directory 124 may represent a repository of all VNF software packages (packages) that have been online. As used herein, the VNF software package may include, for example, VNFD, software images, manifest files, etc. The information in the VNF directory 124 can support the creation and management of VNF software packages through the interface operations disclosed by the NFVO 112. The VNF directory 124 can be coupled with the NFVO 112 and the VNFM 116 through separate reference points. The NFVO 112 or the VNFM 116 can query the VNF directory 124 to find and retrieve the VNFD to support operations such as, but not limited to, verification and checking the feasibility of instantiation.

The NFV instance repository 128 can store information of all VNF and NS instances. Each VNF/NS instance can be represented by a VNF/NS record, and the VNF/NS record is updated during the life cycle of an individual instance to reflect the changes caused by the execution of the VNF/NS life cycle management operation.

The NFVI resource repository 132 can store information about available, reserved, and allocated NFVI resources abstracted by a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM) 120 coupled with the VNFM 116.

The VIM 120 can control and manage NFVI resources, such as computing, storage, and network resources used for NFV. In some embodiments, VIM 120 may only manage a subset of one or more types of NFVI resources (e.g., only computing, only storage, or only networking). In other embodiments, the VIM 120 can manage multiple types of NFVI resources.

In addition to coupling with the VNFM 116, the VIM 120 can also be coupled with the NFVO 112 through the Or-Vi reference point.

The CN service system 108 may include an operations support system/business support system (OSS/BSS) 136, which may be composed of one or more devices to provide, for example, but not limited to, network The functions of road inventory, service provision, network configuration, and obstacle management are used to manage and coordinate the old system. OSS/BSS 136 can do a complete tracking (end-to-end visibility) of the services provided by the old network system.

OSS/BSS 136 can be coupled with NFVO 112 through the Os-Ma-nfvo reference point.

The OSS/BSS 136 may also be coupled with a component manager (EM) 140, and the EM 140 may be responsible for the barrier, configuration, performance, and security FCAPS management functions of the VNF, for example, the VNF 144. In particular, the EM 140 can provide several management operations regarding the network functions provided by the VNF 144. These management operations may include, but are not limited to, configuration, obstacle management, measurement, collection of performance measurement results, and security management. In some embodiments, the EM 140 may be coupled with the VNFM 116 through the Ve-Vnfm-em reference point, so as to cooperate with the VNFM 116 to perform the function of relying on the exchange of information about the NFVI resources associated with the VNF 144.

VNF 144 can be a software implementation of network functions that can run on NFVI 148. The deployment and operation behavior of the VNF 144 can be described in the corresponding VNFD that can be stored in the VNF directory 124.

The VNF 144 can be coupled to the VNFM 116 through the Ve-Vnfm-vnf reference point. The Ve-Vnfm-vnf reference point can support the exchange of information such as VNF instantiation, query, update, scaling, verification, and configuration.

NFVI 148 can mean hardware (for example, computing, storage, and network circuits) and software (for example, hypervisor) components that jointly provide infrastructure resources for deploying VNF 144. In some embodiments, NFVI 148 may also include partially virtualized NFs. Due to, for example, physical restrictions or vendor design choices, some of the functions of these NFs are virtualized, while other parts are embodied in physical network functions (PNF) ( For example, built in silicon (built in silicon).

NFVI 148 can be coupled with VIM 120 through the Nf-Vi reference point. The Nf-Vi reference point can support the exchange of VM management messages to provide/update VM resource allocation, migrate/terminate VMs, manage connections between VMs, etc.

Figure 2 shows in more detail selected modules of the NFV-MANO system 104 according to some embodiments. In particular, it is shown that the NFVO 112 has functional units, including an NS record (NSR) manager 204, a prediction engine 208, a policy catalog 212, and a monitoring module 216. The functional unit of NFVO 112 allows the collection of metrics as part of resource and service coordination, so that it can be triggered by near-instant events in decision making. This may involve coordination performed at multiple levels. Abstractions can be created at each management layer, and a high-level rough view of system resources and service status can be propagated back to NFVO 112.

The monitoring module 216 can collect measurement and performance parameters for each VNF from the VNFM 116 and the VIM 120. In the case of mobile core network components, measurement and performance parameters can include, for example, request arrival rate, average response time, number of calls per second, etc. The collected measurements can be a combination of both system metrics and specific application metrics for each VNF/virtual link. In some embodiments, the monitoring module 216 may receive measurement and performance parameters from the policy catalog 212. Measurement and performance parameters can be referred to as "monitoring parameters". The monitoring parameter may be a combination of a system metric at the VIM level and an application metric at the VNFM level (referred to as a counter in the 3GPP network function management specification).

As will be described, monitoring can be a multi-level operation, with operations performed at NFVO 112, VNFM 116, and VIM 120. The monitoring module 216 can maintain an overview of the performance of the network service level because it can be transparent Routing through NFVO 112 is used for resource allocation decisions.

In some embodiments, the monitoring module 216 may be coupled with the VNFM 116 to instantiate the VNF and verify resource availability when requesting additional resources for the instantiated VNF.

The policy catalog 212 may be a repository that stores information about NSD, VNFD, VLD, VNFFG, NFVI resource catalogs, and NFVI instances when the network service is online. This information can be referred to as an on-board descriptor, and in some embodiments, when a web service is online, it can be loaded from an appropriate distributed repository, for example, the NS directory 120 into the policy directory 212. The online NSD can be completed through OSS/BSS 136 as part of the NS instantiation. In some embodiments, the online service descriptor can be provided to the policy directory 212 through a profile engine 220 interfaced with the OSS/BSS 136.

The policy catalog 212 may provide the online service descriptor to the VNFM 116 to help VNF instantiation and life cycle management.

The initial deployment resource request for a given NS can be obtained by analyzing various deployment test cases on the test network, although there may be other ways to obtain this data. Monitoring parameters, scaling strategies, and NS deployment characteristics can be incorporated into NSD as information elements.

Figure 3 illustrates a deployment template descriptor data model 300 for NSD 304 in accordance with some embodiments. The NSD 304 may be a descriptor archive, which describes the NS to be deployed. NS can be scheduled by NFVO 112 and can be composed of one or more VNF, PNF, VNFFG. NSD 304 may include (or include references to) VNFD, VLD, VNFFGD, and support service-level agreements for NS Discuss the monitoring parameters of SLA.

The descriptor file can be stored in a repository accessed by the module of NFV-MANO 104 according to the state of deployment. In some embodiments, NSD, VNFFGD, VLD, and lifecycle management thereof can be handled by NFVO 112, and VNFD and lifecycle management thereof can be handled by VNFM 116.

As shown in FIG. 3, NSD 304 may include (or include references) VNFD 308, VNFD 312, VNFD 316, VLD 320, VLD 324, VNFFGD 328, and VNFFGD 332.

VNFD can describe VNF in terms of deployment and operational behavior requirements. The VNFD may include or otherwise refer to initial and termination scripts and internal and external connections. In some embodiments, the VNFD may also include connectivity, interface, and key performance indicator KPI parameters, which can be used by the modules of the NFV-MANO system 104 between VNFC (Virtual Network Function Element) instances or VNF instances Establish an appropriate virtual link (VL) in the NFVI between the endpoint interface to other network functions.

VNFFGD can describe some or all of the NS topology by referring to VNF and PNF, and the VL connecting them.

VLD can describe the associated VL. The VLD can provide resource requests that may be required by the VL between the endpoints of the VNF, PNF, and NS, which can be satisfied through various link options available in the NFVI. In some embodiments, the VLD may describe the basic topology of the connectivity between one or more VNFs coupled with the VL and other desired parameters (eg, bandwidth and quality of service (QoS) categories).

Each VNFD can be associated with one or more virtualized deployment units (VDUs), and each VDU corresponds to a subset of the VNFD. VDU can be used for capital The structure in the communication module is used to support the deployment of the virtual network function component (VNFC) and the description of the operation behavior. The VNFC can be a module mapped to a single VM and is designed to perform discrete sub-functions of the VNF. The VNFC may be an internal component, providing a subset of the VNF functions defined by the VNF supplier. VDU and VNFC can be used interchangeably, because VDU is an information model representation of VNFC.

As shown in the figure, VNFD 308 may be associated with VDU 336, VDU 340, and VDU 344; VNFD 312 may be associated with VDU 348 and VDU 352; and VNFD 316 may be associated with VDU 356 and VDU 360.

Each VDU can be associated with various VM resources that are used to support the corresponding VNFC function and possibly VM metrics to be monitored. For example, VDU 336 can be associated with the following resources: computing resource 364, which can be represented by a virtual central processing unit (vCPU); network resource 368, which can be represented by virtual network bandwidth (vNBW); and storage/memory Resource 372, which can be represented by virtual memory (vMEM). Similarly, VDU 352 can be associated with computing resource 376, network resource 380, and storage/memory resource 384; and VDU 360 can be associated with computing resource 388, network resource 392, and storage/memory resource 396.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the prediction engine 208 may receive the log from the monitoring module 216. The log may include sampled values of the parameters monitored by the NFVO 112. The prediction engine 208 can use these values and other historical data to enable proactive decision making. The prediction engine 208 may provide the NSR manager 204 with forward looking actions for the NSR manager 204 to perform.

The NSR manager 204 can create, update, The NS record is deleted, and a request from the monitoring module 216 regarding the resources reserved in the NFVI for a given NS instance can be responded to.

FIG. 4 shows the architecture of the host device 400 according to some embodiments. The host device 400 may include platform hardware 404, which may generally correspond to NFVI resources. The platform hardware may include, but is not limited to, a computing circuit 408, a storage/memory circuit 412, and a network circuit 416.

As used herein, the term "circuit" can refer to the following, a part of the following, or any combination of the following: integrated circuit (for example, field programmable gate array (FPGA)), application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), etc.), Discrete circuits, combinational logic circuits, system-on-chip (SOC), system-in-package (SiP), which provide digital, analog, mixed-signal or radio frequency functions.

The calculation circuit 408 may include various processing units (shared, dedicated, or group). In some embodiments, the computing circuit 408 may include, for example, one or more single-core or multi-core central processing units (CPUs). The calculation circuit 408 may include various other processing units, such as, but not limited to, a digital signal processor, a peripheral interface, an accelerator, a memory interface, a controller, and so on.

The storage/memory circuit 412 may include any type of volatile or non-volatile storage for storing information (for example, data, computer readable instructions configured as executable code, etc.). In some embodiments, the computing circuit 408 can execute computer-readable instructions stored in the storage/memory circuit 412 to implement the modules of the host device 400 and perform various operations associated with individual modules. In some embodiments, the storage/memory circuit 412 may include flash memory, dynamic random access memory (DRAM), static random access memory (SRAM), and the like.

The network circuit 416 may include a circuit that connects the host device with one or more other devices through a wired or wireless network. The network circuit 416 may include appropriate calculation circuits and storage/memory circuits to provide the desired network connection. In various embodiments, the network circuit 416 may provide one or more interfaces for interfacing with networks such as, for example, Ethernet, Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, EUTRAN, etc. .

It will be understood that the circuits of the platform hardware 404 can be arranged in any of several architectures, many of which can provide various component combinations for individual circuits. Part of the computing circuit 408, storage/memory circuit 412, and network circuit 416 may be integrated with each other and/or dispersed in various platforms, modules, chipsets, devices, servers, and so on.

The platform hardware 404 can execute a hypervisor 420, which may be referred to as a virtual machine manager (VMM), to create and run various VMs on the host device 400.

The hypervisor 420 may be a hosted hypervisor (similar to other computer programs of the host device 400) running on the operating system (OS) 424. In some cases, this can be referred to as a Type-2 (Type-2) hypervisor. In other embodiments, the hypervisor 420 may be a local, bare metal, or Type-1 (Type-1) hypervisor that runs directly on the platform hardware 404.

The host device 400 may include several logical domains, where each domain operates independently of each other. For example, an operating system running in a logical domain can be started, stopped, and restarted independently of operating systems in other logical domains.

Each logical domain can be designed for a specific role. For example, a logical domain It can be, for example, a control domain, a service domain, an input/output (I/O) domain, a root domain, or a guest domain.

The control domain can control the logical domain environment, and can be used to configure machine resources and guest domains, and provide services used in domain operations.

As shown in FIG. 4, the host device 400 may include a controller domain 0 428. The controller domain 0 428 may include an open virtual switch (OVS) 432 and a layer 2 (L2) agent 436. OVS 432 may be an implementation of a distributed virtual multilayer switch, which is used to provide a switching stack for a hardware virtualization environment. OVS 432 can support several management interfaces and protocols, and can support transparent distribution across multiple physical servers.

Although OVS 432 is shown as an example of a virtual multilayer switch, other embodiments may include other virtual multilayer switches.

The L2 agent 436 can create L2 connections of resource nodes, such as computing nodes, storage/memory nodes, and network nodes. The resource node may be a virtual resource provided by the host device 400 and/or circuits on other devices. For example, the computing node may include a part of the computing circuit 408 and a part of the computing circuit allocated to another device used by one or more VMs.

The L2 proxy 436 can create an L2 connection by configuring a local virtual switch or bridge. In some embodiments, the L2 agent 436 can be configured with two software bridges, an integration bridge br-int, and a tunneling bridge br-tun. The integrated bridge can be used to mark and unmark traffic directed to or received from the VM. The traffic can be assigned to the VLAN by tagging the traffic with a local virtual area network (VLAN) identifier (ID). Tunnel bridge can be used to translate VLAN ID It is segmentation, which can be used for tunneling through, for example, General Routing Encapsulation (GRE) tunnels.

The controller domain 0 428 may be coupled with a plurality of VNF applications that provide corresponding VNFs. As shown in the figure, the host device 400 may include a VNF application 440 and a VNF application 444.

Each VNF application may include one or more VNFCs to provide discrete sub-functions associated with the VNF. In particular, VNF applications 440 may include VNFC 448, VNFC 452, and VNFC 456. VNF applications 444 may include VNFC 460, VNFC 464, and VNFC 468.

Each VNFC can be associated with a corresponding VM. As shown in the figure, VNFC 448 can be associated with VM 472, VNFC 452 can be associated with VM 474, VNFC 456 can be associated with VM 476, VNFC 460 can be associated with VM 478, VNFC 464 can be associated with VM 480, And VNFC 468 can be associated with VM 482.

Although FIG. 4 shows that each VNFC is associated with a corresponding VM, in some embodiments, each VNFC may be additionally/alternatively associated with a virtual container.

Each VNF application may also have a local monitor running on it. As shown, the VNF application 440 may include a local monitor 484 and the VNF application 444 may include a local monitor 486. The local monitor 484 may be associated with the VM 488, and the local monitor 486 may be associated with the VM 490.

The local monitor can measure the effectiveness of VMs that work interactively to implement VNF functions. Each local monitor can measure and report metrics related to various system parameters back to the global monitor in the measurement report, for example, in the VNFM The global monitor 118 or monitor module that 116 runs, for example, the monitor module 216 of NFVO 112.

In some embodiments, the local monitor may be responsible for monitoring the values of various system parameters of the VM during the sampling interval S. These system parameters, which can also be called performance metrics, can include, but are not limited to, calculation utilization, memory utilization, network bandwidth, queue time, service time, and response time. In various embodiments, the local monitor may generate a measurement report after one or more sampling intervals to be sent to the global monitor.

In some embodiments, the local monitor may additionally/alternatively be responsible for running decision algorithms regarding the lifecycle management of individual VMs supporting a given VNF. The decision algorithm can help determine whether to instantiate a new VM (for example, expand), close the VM (for example, shrink), or enlarge based on virtual CPU, virtual memory (vMemories), virtual links (vLinks), etc. /Shrink the decision of a given VM.

In some embodiments, whenever a new resource needs to be allocated to the VNF, the local monitor can directly or through the VNFM 116 to verify the availability with the NFVO 112.

Various embodiments describe the measurement of workload characteristics and system parameters (eg, CPU cycles, network bandwidth, page exchange rate, etc.) of each VDU for a given deployment characteristic of the VNF, and trigger alarms or triggers based on the obtained measurements. action. In some embodiments, profiling can be used to provide an initial configuration diagram of the target under investigation. The system parameters can be analyzed by sampling the state of the system parameters at regular intervals. These samples can be the basis for providing thresholds for system parameters. The threshold can also be referred to as the "initial value".

In some embodiments, sandbox analysis can be used to obtain thresholds of system parameters that are expected to support the specific deployment characteristics of the VNF/VNFC. When the VNF/VNFC operates as an independent entity, the sandbox analysis can capture the measurement of the system parameters of the VNF/VNFC. For example, consider the network attachment sub-function of the MME executed by VNFC 448. The computing, network, and storage/memory resources required for the user equipment UE connection can be determined as { C1, N1, M1 } through sandbox analysis. Therefore, for ' X ' UE connections, the total system resources required by VNFC 448 can be given by { C1, N1, M1 } * X.

In a similar manner, all the VNFC system parameters of the VNFC used to perform the sub-functions of the VNF can be obtained and included in the corresponding NSD computing resources, network resources, and storage/memory resource information elements. For example, referring to FIG. 3 again, if the VNFD 308 is used to describe the VNF provided by the VNF application 440, the VDU 336 can be used to describe the deployment and operational behavior requirements of the VNFC 448. Therefore, the network attachment sub-functions performed by the VNFC 448 may have thresholds of system parameters defined in the computing resource 364, the network resource 368, and the storage/memory resource 372.

The threshold determined from the sandbox analysis of the VNF may be included in the corresponding VNF descriptor. The VNFM 116 may provide the threshold to the local monitor when the corresponding VNF is instantiated by the VNFM 116.

In some embodiments, for each VNFC, in addition to determining the thresholds of {C, N, M} system parameters, the thresholds of queue time, service time, and response time may also be determined. Therefore, in some embodiments, for each VNFC, the sandbox analysis can provide five system parameters for monitoring. In some embodiments, the monitoring of these system parameters can be used as performance decision-making exercises. A set of inputs to the algorithm.

During the deployment of VNFC, the first set of five system parameters obtained through sandbox analysis can be expressed as Ini_QT (initial value of queue time), Ini_ST (initial value of service time), Ini_CC (initial value of calculation period) , Ini_NB (initial value of network bandwidth), and Ini_VU (initial value of virtual memory). These initial values represent the threshold values of these parameters for a given deployment characteristic. For example, in one embodiment, the MME VNF may have a deployment feature set to support several UE connections at 1000 calls per second.

In some embodiments, when the VM to be monitored is instantiated as a part of the network service, the threshold value of the system parameter may be received by the profile engine 220.

In some embodiments, as part of the monitoring responsibility of the local monitor, the local monitor may calculate the real-time values of the queue time and the service time. The calculation of the queue time and service time parameters performed by the local monitor can be described as follows.

Let 'S' represents a monitored parameter sampling interval. For example, several incoming requests of the VDU are sampled every second (or every minute, every 10 minutes, every 10 hours, etc.). For a given interval, the average queue length Q _{L of the} VDU can be given by the following formula: Q _L = [0,(number of messages to be processed/average size of each message)] .

The corresponding average queue time Q _T can be given by the following formula: Q _T = Q _L /t , where t is the inter-arrival time of the message during the sampling interval.

The average total response time R can be given by:

Where Req _t is the request arrival time, and Resp _t is the response delivery time.

S _T may represent the average service time, which is a request for a VDU service time spent. The service time can indicate the processing time of processing the request in the VM, excluding the network delay. The service time can be the time between the arrival of the last fragment of the request and the departure of the first fragment of the response, and can be expressed as follows: S _T = RQ _T.

The average queue time, average total response time, and average service time can be calculated by the local monitor at intervals S to determine new values.

The parameters used in the performance decision algorithm can be described as follows.

When VNFC is activated, the local monitor can measure the system parameters at a given sampling interval S to determine the real-time value or "new value" of the system parameter. The new value can be expressed as New_QT (the new value of the queue time), Ini_ST (the new value of the service time), New_CC (the new value of the calculation period), New_NB (the new value of the network bandwidth), and New_VU (the virtual memory New value).

FIG. 5 shows a processing flow 500 of reactive monitoring in the NFV management plane according to some embodiments. The processing flow 500 may include, at 504, the monitoring module 216 of the NFVO 112 sends a request to the global monitor 118 of the VNFM 116 to instantiate the VNF to provide the function of a network service instance. Although 504 shows that the monitoring module 216 sends a request to the global monitor 118, in other embodiments, other parts of the NFVO 112 may send the request Seek to other parts of VNFM 116.

The VNFM 116 can provide instructions to one or more host devices, for example, the host device 400 to instantiate the VNF to execute the associated VNF application, such as the VNF application 440.

The global monitor 118 can verify that all VNFs to be instantiated have been posted in the VNF directory 124. If the verification is passed, then at 508, the global monitor 118 may instantiate the VNF. In some embodiments, the global monitor 118 may instantiate the VNF by sending signaling on the Ve-Vnfm-vnf reference point. If the global monitor 118 fails to verify that all VNFs to be instantiated have been posted in the VNF directory 124, the global monitor 118 may send an error report to the monitoring module 216.

The processing flow 500 may further include that, at 512, the global monitor 118 sends the threshold value of the system parameter to be monitored to the local monitor of the VNF application. For example, the global monitor 118 may send the threshold value to the local monitor 484 of the VNF application 440.

The processing flow 500 may also include, at 516, the local monitor obtains the new value of the system parameter from the VM executing the VNFC of the given VNF application. For example, the local monitor 484 can obtain new values of system parameters from VM 472, VM 474, and VM 476. The local monitor 484 can obtain these new values instantly when the VNFC executes individual sub-functions of the VNF. In some embodiments, the local monitor 484 may obtain a new value every time interval.

The processing flow 500 may also include that, at 520, the local monitor 484 participates in performance monitoring and management. In some embodiments, the threshold value received from the global monitor 118 at 512 and from the VMs 472, 474, and The new value obtained by 476 is used to perform performance monitoring and management operation process/algorithm structure, and provide performance monitoring and management. The performance monitoring and management operation flow/algorithm structure, which can be described in further detail in association with Figures 6-9, can identify overutilization or underutilization of resources associated with VNFC, and can The VM management action is further determined, which is used to at least partially resolve the identified over-utilization or under-utilization. In various embodiments, VM management actions may include zooming in/out VMs, instantiating new VMs, shutting down VMs in execution, and so on.

Although the embodiment describes that a local monitor, for example, the local monitor 484, performs performance monitoring and management at 520, other embodiments may include other components to perform some or all of the operations associated with performance monitoring and management. For example, in some embodiments, the local monitor 484 may perform monitoring and report the monitored value to the VNFM 116. Then the VNFM 116 can participate in the performance monitoring and management operation process/algorithm structure shown in Figs. 6-9 to determine whether a VM management action should be taken.

The processing flow 500 may also include, at 524, the local monitor 484 sending a request for a VM management action to be taken. In some embodiments, the request may be sent to the global monitor 118 in the VNFM 116.

The global monitor 118 can check the resource availability of the VM management action to be taken on the VNF by sending a resource availability request to the monitoring module 216 of the NFVO 112 at 528.

The processing flow 500 may also include that, at 532, the monitoring module 216 checks the NS record to ensure that the requested resource is available to be reserved by the NS instance. NS records can be created using NS instantiated from NSD. NS records can include off Information about the value of the maximum resource that can be allocated to a specific instance of NS. The monitoring module 216 can confirm at 532 that the currently allocated resources plus the requested resources are still at or below the maximum resource indication.

If the monitoring module 216 determines that the requested resource is available, the processing flow 500 may include, at 536, the monitoring module 216 sends a notification of resource availability to the global monitor 118.

The processing flow 500 may further include that, at 540, the global monitor 118 sends a request for allocating resources according to the requested action to the VIM 120. The VIM 120 may allocate infrastructure resources for completing the requested actions. At 544, the VIM 120 may send a notification to the global monitor 118 notifying that the requested resource has been allocated.

The global monitor 118 may, at 548, forward the notification to the local monitor 484 to notify that the requested action has been completed.

In some embodiments, the local monitor 484 may repeatedly obtain a new value every time interval S , and use the threshold provided at 512 or an updated version of the threshold to continuously run the performance algorithm.

FIG. 6 shows the first stage 600 of the performance monitoring and management operation flow/algorithm structure that can be provided by the host device 400 according to some embodiments. The first level 600 may include, at 604, instantiating VM 472 to run VNFC 448, and instantiating VM 488 to run local monitor 484. The VMs 472 and 488 can be instantiated by executing the code associated with the VNF application 440 by the computing circuit 408 of the platform hardware 404. The execution of the code of the VNF application 440 may be initiated based on the instruction from the VNFM 116. VMs 474 and 476 can also be instantiated and monitored in a manner similar to VM 472. However, for the sake of simplicity This description focuses on the monitoring and management of VM 472/VNFC 448.

The first stage 600 may include, at 608, obtaining initial and new values of system parameters. The initial values of the system parameters can be obtained from the global monitor 118, as described above with respect to 512 in FIG. 5. When VM 472 runs VNFC 448, the new values of system parameters can be obtained from VM 472 instantly. In some embodiments, a new value can be obtained from VM 472 every sampling interval.

The first stage 600 may include, at 612, determining whether all new system parameters are equal to the initial system parameters. If all the new system parameters are equal to the initial system parameters, the local monitor 484 can determine that an appropriate amount of resources are dedicated to the VM 472 to allow the VNFC 448 to efficiently perform its associated sub-functions.

If, at 612, the local monitor 484 determines that all the new system parameters are not equal to the initial system parameters, the first stage 600 may include, at 616, the local monitor 484 determines whether any new system parameters are greater than the initial system parameters.

If, at 616, it is determined that the new system parameters are greater than the initial system parameters, then at 620, the local monitor 484 can identify the over-utilization of the resources associated with the VNFC 448.

If, at 612, it is determined that the new system parameters are not greater than the initial system parameters, then at 624, the local monitor 484 can recognize that the resources associated with the VNFC 448 are under-utilized.

FIG. 7 illustrates an over-utilization process 700 of performance monitoring and management operation flow/algorithm structure that can be provided by the host device 400 according to some embodiments. The over-utilization process 700 may start, as described in relation to FIG. 6, at 620 The ground monitor 484 identifies over-utilization of resources associated with VNFC 448.

Following the identification of over-utilization, the over-utilization process 700 may include, at 704, the local monitor 484 detects whether the initial value of the queue time parameter (Init_QT ) is greater than the new value of the queue time parameter ( New_QT ), and the initial value of the service time parameter Whether the value ( Init_ST ) is less than the new value ( New_ST ) of the service time parameter.

When it is detected that the condition in 704 is satisfied, the local monitor can determine whether the initial value of the calculation period parameter ( Ini_CC ) is less than the new value ( New_CC ) of the calculation period parameter. If, in 708, it is determined that the initial value of the calculation period parameter is less than the new value of the calculation period parameter, then in 712, the local monitor 484 may perform an over-utilization management action to add a virtual central processing unit to the VDU. The over-utilization management actions performed by the local monitor 484 may include, for example, sending a request to the VNFM 116 to add a vCPU.

Therefore, when the first set of conditions including both conditions in 704 and 708 are detected, the local monitor 484 may perform an over-utilization management action to add the vCPU to the VDU.

If the local monitor 484 determines that the condition at 704 is not met, for example, the new value of the queue time is greater than the initial value of the queue time, or the initial value of the service time is greater than the new value of the service time, the over-utilization process 700 may proceed to 716.

At 716, the local monitor 484 can determine whether the initial value of the queue time is less than the new value of the queue time and whether the initial value of the service time is greater than the new value of the service time. If the condition at 716 is met, then at 720, the local monitor 484 can perform an over-utilization management action to instantiate a new VDU. example For example, in this embodiment, the local monitor 484 can determine that the first VDU (corresponding to VNFC 448 and VM 472) is overutilized, and therefore can instantiate a new VDU, for example, VNFC 452 and VM 474. VNFC 452 can perform the same sub-functions as VNFC 448. The incoming tasks associated with sub-functions can be distributed between VNFC 452 and VNFC 448. In various embodiments, the newly instantiated VDU may be in another VNF application, on another host platform, and so on.

If, in 708, it is determined that the initial value of the calculation period is not less than the new value of the calculation period, then in 724, the local monitor 484 can determine whether the initial value of the network bandwidth is less than the new value of the network bandwidth. The over-utilization process 700 may also continue with the action performed with respect to block 712 to make the determination 724.

If, at 724, the local monitor 484 determines that the initial value of the network bandwidth is less than the new value of the network bandwidth, then at 728, the local monitor 484 can perform over-utilization management actions to increase the throughput of the virtual link A certain value x . In some embodiments, the throughput of the virtual link can be increased by adding an additional virtual network interface controller vNIC to the VM on which the VNF is instantiated.

Continue to 728, or if it is determined that the initial value of the network bandwidth is not less than the new value of the network bandwidth, the over-utilization process can proceed to 732. At this point, the local monitor 484 can determine whether the initial value of the virtual memory is less than The new value of the virtual memory. If it is determined that the initial value of the virtual memory is less than the new value of the virtual memory, then at 736, the local monitor 484 may perform an over-utilization management action to add a certain number of x memory blocks to the VDU. In some embodiments, x memory blocks (for example, random access memory (RAM)) can be hot-added to the VM 472 by the hypervisor 420/OS 424 without restarting the host device 400.

If, at 732, it is determined that the initial value of the virtual memory is not less than the new value of the virtual memory, the over-utilization process may proceed to the determination of block 716.

If, at block 716, it is determined that the initial value of the queue time is not less than the new value of the queue time, or the initial value of the service time is not greater than the new value of the service time, the over-utilization process 700 may end at 740.

FIG. 8 illustrates an underutilization process 800 of performance monitoring and management operation flow/algorithm structure that can be provided by the host device 400 according to some embodiments. The underutilization process 800 may start, as described in relation to FIG. 6, at 624 the local monitor 484 identifies underutilization of the resources associated with the VNFC 448.

Following the identification of underutilization at 624, the underutilization process 800 may include, at 804, the local monitor 484 determines whether the initial value of the queue time is greater than the new value of the queue time, and whether the initial value of the service time is greater than the service time. The new value is both.

If at least one condition is not met at 804, the underutilization process 800 may proceed to 824.

If both conditions are met at 804, then at 808, the local monitor 484 can determine whether the new value of the queue time is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the queue time (Thresh(Min)_QT ) and whether the new value of the service time is less than The predetermined minimum threshold of the service time ( Thresh(Min)_ST ).

If both conditions are met at 808, then at 812, the local monitor 484 can perform an underutilization management action to shut down the VDU. The VDU can be shut down by shutting down the VM 472 and releasing any resources allocated to it.

If at least one condition is not met at 808, then at 900, the underutilization process 800 may proceed to sub-process D. The sub-process D is shown in FIG. 9 according to some embodiments.

At 904, the local monitor 484 may determine whether another VDU hosts the same sub-function as the target VDU. If not, then at 912, sub-process D may return to the calling process, for example, under-utilization process 800.

If, at 904, it is determined that another VDU is hosting the same sub-function as the target VDU, then at 908, the local monitor 484 can obtain monitoring parameters for the other VDU, which may be referred to as the selected VDU ( VDU_N ), and then At 912, the call process is returned. In some embodiments, the local monitor 484 may obtain the monitoring parameters for the selected VDU from the global monitor 118 or directly from the local monitor of another VNF (either on the host device or on another host device).

Referring again to FIG. 8, following the sub-process D at 900, at 816, the local monitor 484 can determine whether the initial value of the queue time is greater than the new value of the queue time plus the new value of the selected VDU queue time ( New_QT_N ) (If any), and whether the initial value of the service time is greater than the new value of the service time plus the new value of the service time of the selected VDU ( New_ST_N ) (if any).

If both conditions are met at 816, then at 820, the local monitor can perform an underutilization action to migrate the sub-functions provided by the VDU to the selected VDU and close the VDU. In some embodiments, the sub-functions provided by the VDU can be migrated to the selected VDU by updating the routing table or other call routines associated with the VNF.

If at least one condition is not met at 816, then at 824, the local monitor 484 can determine whether the new value of the virtual memory is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the virtual memory. If so, then at 828, the local monitor 484 can perform an underutilization action to remove a certain number of x memory blocks from the VDU. Following 828, the underutilization process can proceed to 832.

If at 824, it is determined that the new value of the virtual memory is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the virtual memory, then the underutilization process 800 may proceed to 832.

At 832, the local monitor 484 may determine whether the new value of the calculation period is less than a predetermined minimum threshold of the calculation period. If so, at 836, the local monitor can perform an underutilization action to remove a certain number of x vCPUs from the VDU. Continuing with 836, the underutilization process can proceed to 840.

If the condition is not met at 832, the underutilization process can proceed to 840.

At 840, the local monitor 484 can determine whether the new value of the network bandwidth is less than a predetermined minimum threshold of the network bandwidth. If so, at 844, the local monitor 484 can perform an underutilization action to reduce the throughput of the virtual link associated with the VDU by a certain value x . Continuing with 844, the underutilization process can proceed to 848.

If the condition is not met at 840, the underutilization process can end at 848.

In some embodiments, some networks may rely solely on physical network infrastructure, solely rely on NFV infrastructure, or use a combination of physical network infrastructure and NFV infrastructure.

In the non-coexisting deployment model, the deployment of network services may be based on the metropolitan area to be served and the capacity requirements of the metropolitan area. Based on the capacity requirements and traffic changes in the area, it is possible to determine the infrastructure needed to support the area. For example, in some cases, a fully vertically integrated model (similar to The existing model in today's telecommunications network) is determined to be the appropriate network model. This may not have an impact on the 3GPP management framework defined for telecommunications networks.

Some embodiments may include a co-deployment model, where network service coordination is based on complete end-to-end infrastructure information, for example, both vertically integrated PNF and virtualized infrastructure-based VNF. In these embodiments, the scheduler may be responsible for the deployment and life cycle management of network services across physical and virtual network functions.

Figure 10 shows a network 1000 using a coexistence deployment model according to some embodiments. The network 1000 may include the OSS/BSS 1004, which is used to provide high-level operations and enterprise service management similar to the above-mentioned OSS/BSS 136.

On the physical deployment side, the network 1000 may include various layers that provide FCAPS operations. In some embodiments, the physical deployment side may include a network manager 1008, which is coupled with one or more element managers (EM), such as EM 1012 and EM 1016. EM 1012 and 1016 can be coupled with physical network infrastructure 1020 in turn. In particular, the EM 1012 can be coupled with network elements (NE) 1024 and 1028, and the EM 1016 can be coupled with the NE 1032. NE 1024, 1028, and 1032 can each be a distributed telecommunication entity, which can be managed through a specific interface, for example, a radio network controller (RNC) interface. NE 1024, 1028 and 1032 can each provide individual PNF.

In some embodiments, the network manager (NM) 1008 can mainly handle network configuration (for example, configuring the network routing table), testing, and traffic analysis. NM 1008 can provide packets of end-user functions, and has the responsibility of managing networks supported by EM 1012 and 1016, for example.

EM 1012 and 1016 can be responsible for the recording, backup and maintenance of the hardware and software of the physical network infrastructure 1020. EM 1012 and 1016 can also be responsible for obstacle handling in some cases. EM 1012 and 1016 can provide end-user functional packets to manage a group of closely related network components. These functions may include component management functions for managing individual network components, and subnet management functions related to the network model of the first set of network components including the subnet.

NE 1024, 1028, and 1032 may be physical network infrastructure 1020 embodied in devices specifically constructed to perform functions associated with specific network devices.

In some embodiments, EMs 1012 and 1016 can monitor the performance of PNF provided by NE 1024, 1028, and 1032 through counters that track performance measurements related to PNF. Performance measurement may be related to the functions provided by the associated PNF, and may include, but is not limited to, device measurement, mobility management (MM) measurement, General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol (GTP) measurement, Internet Protocol (IP) ) Management measurement, Inter-Radio Access Technology Handover (IRATH) measurement, service quality measurement, security measurement, session management (SM) measurement, subscriber management measurement, etc.

MM measurements may include measurements related to MME procedures, such as, but not limited to, Evolved Packet System (EPS), registration (attach) procedures (for example, several attempted, successful and failed registration procedures), UE-initiated EPS cancellation Registration (detach) procedures (for example, attempted and successful), MME initiated EPS deregistration procedures (for example, attempted and successful), HSS initiated EPS deregistration procedures (for example, attempted and successful), yes Or no service gateway Changed tracking area update procedures (e.g., attempted, successful, and failed), EPS paging procedures (e.g., attempted, successful, and failed), MME control for EPC overload-related measurements (e.g., , Attempted overload start/stop procedures), EPS mobility management EMM registered users (e.g. average/maximum number of users), handover (e.g. entry/exit attempted and successful radio access technology (RAT) room Handover), routing area update with MME interaction and with/without S-GW change (attempted and successful), combined tracking/location area update procedure (for example, attempted, successful, and failed).

MM measurement may also include measurement related to PDN-GW based on the S5/S8 interface of GTP, such as, but not limited to, dedicated bearer creation initiated by PDN-GW (for example, attempted, successful, and failed) ; Dedicated bearer deletion initiated by PDN-GW (for example, attempted, successful, and failed); dedicated bearer modification initiated by PDN-GW with or without QoS update procedure (for example, attempted, successful, and failed); For EPC active EPS bearer-related measurements (for example, the average/maximum number of active EPS bearers); for EPC UE requested bearer resource modification related measurements (for example, attempted, successful, and failed); for EPC Measurements related to PDN connections (for example, the average/maximum number of PDN connections per access point name (APN)); and the number of EPS bearers (for example, the average/maximum number of EPS bearers).

SM measurement may include measurements related to MME procedures, such as, but not limited to, the average/maximum number of dedicated EPS bearers in active mode, dedicated bearer establishment time; dedicated bearer activation initiated by MME (for example, attempted, successful And failed); the dedicated bearer initiated by the MME stops Deactivation (e.g., attempted and successful); MME initiated EPS bearer modification (e.g., attempted, successful, and failed); total EPS service request (e.g., attempted, successful, and failed). SM measurement may also include measurement related to S-GW procedures, for example, S4/S11 interface measurement includes, for example, EPS preset/dedicated bearer creation-related measurement (for example, tried and successful); S5/S8 interface measurement Including, for example, EPS default/dedicated bearer creation (for example, tried and successful) and EPS default/dedicated bearer modification (for example, tried and successful); EPS bearer deletion related measurements (for example, tried, Success and failure); and measurement related to bearer resource utilization (for example, the maximum/average number of active EPS bearers). SM measurements may also include measurements related to multimedia broadcast/multicast services (MBMS), GW procedures, such as measurements related to MBMS session creation (for example, attempted, successful, and failed). SM measurements may also include measurements related to PCRF procedures, such as, but not limited to, measurements related to gateway control session establishment (eg, attempted, successful, and failed gateway control session establishment).

User management measurements may include measurements related to other MME programs, such as, but not limited to, attempts to insert user profile requests received from HSS; attempts to delete user profile requests received from HSS; the number of users in the ECM-IDLE state; and ECM -The number of users in the CONNECTED state.

IP management measurements may include measurements related to other MME procedures, such as, but not limited to, measurements related to S1-MME data volume, including, for example, the number of incoming IP data packets from eNB to MME on the S1-MME interface, Number of outgoing IP data packets from MME to eNB on S1-MME interface; octet of incoming IP data packets from eNB to MME on S1-MME interface And the number of octets of outgoing IP data packets from the MME to the eNB on the S1-MME interface.

IP management measurements may also include measurements related to PDN-GW based on the GTP S5/S8 interface program, such as, but not limited to, SGi related measurements (for example, SGi in/out link usage). IP management measurements may also include measurements related to PCRF procedures, such as those related to the establishment/modification of IP-CAN session establishment/modification of the IP connection access network (for example, attempted, successful, and failed) and IP-CAN session termination related Measurements (for example, tried and successful IP-CAN session termination).

Device measurements may include, for example, MME processor usage (e.g., average/peak processor usage).

IRATH measurements may include, for example, S6a-related measurements, such as, but not limited to, update location-related measurements (e.g., attempted, successful, and failed) and authentication-related measurements (e.g., attempted, successful, and failed) ).

GTP measurements may include measurements related to S-GW procedures, such as, but not limited to, GTP S5/S8, S4, S12, and S1-U interface measurements. The GTP S5/S8 interface measurement can include, but is not limited to, the number of outgoing/incoming GTP data packets on the S5/S8 interface, and the octet of the outgoing/incoming GTP data packets on the S5/S8 interface Number, the number of outgoing/transmitting GTP signaling packets on the S5/S8 interface, and the octet number of outgoing/transmitting GTP signaling packets on the S5/S8 interface. GTP S4 interface measurement may include data volume related measurements, such as, but not limited to, the number of octets of outgoing/incoming GTP packets on the S4 interface. GTP S12 interface measurement can include data volume related measurement, such as, But not limited to the number of octets of outgoing/incoming GTP data packets on the S12 interface. S1-U interface measurement can include data volume-related measurements, such as, but not limited to, the number of outgoing/incoming GTP data packets on the S1-U interface and the outgoing/incoming GTP data on the S1-U interface The number of octets in the packet. GTP measurement may also include measurement related to the MBMS GW program, such as measurement related to M1 data volume (for example, the number of octets of outgoing/incoming GTP data packets on the M1 interface).

QoS measurement may include measurement related to PCRF procedures, such as, but not limited to, measurement related to authorization of QoS resources (for example, attempted/successful resource authorization procedures and failed resource authorization procedures during session establishment/modification).

User management measurements may include measurements related to PCRF procedures, such as, but not limited to, measurements related to credit reauthorization procedures (attempted, successful, and failed).

EM 1012 and 1016 can report the value of performance measurement to NM 1008. The NM 1008 can then provide the OSS/BSS 1004 with a report including performance measurements. In the non-coexisting model, the performance measurement values are not monitored in real time; instead, they are registered in a report that can be evaluated by the network operator later.

On the virtualization deployment side, the network 1000 may include the NFVO 1036, which is coupled to the VNFM 1040 through the Or-Vnfm reference point, and is also coupled to the VIM 1044 through the Or-Vi reference point. The VNFM 1040 can be coupled to the VIM 1044 through the Vi-Vnfm reference point. Both VNFM 1040 and VIM 1044 can be coupled with NFVI 1048. NFVI 1048 includes platform hardware 1052 (for example, Computing, storage/memory, and network resources) to provide a virtualization layer 1056 to execute VNFs such as VNF 1060 and VNF 1064. It is shown that the VNFM 1040 is coupled to the VNF 1064 through the Ve-Vnfm reference point, and it is shown that the VIM 1044 is coupled to the platform hardware 1052 through the Nf-Vi reference point. Unless otherwise described, the elements on the virtualization deployment side can be similar to the elements with similar names in Figures 1, 2 and 4 and operate in a similar manner.

In a coexistence deployment model such as that shown in Figure 10, network service coordination can be based on a complete end-to-end entity and virtualization deployment side. NFVO 1036 can be responsible for the deployment and lifecycle management of network services across both physical and virtual network functions. Therefore, using the coexistence deployment model, the monitoring of the values of the system parameters associated with the PNF of NE 1024, 1028, and 1032 can be completed in real time, or near real time, so as to allow the virtualization deployment side to provide network services with the overall system expectations and Adjust resources in an efficient delivery method. This can be done by providing an interface between EM 1012 and 1016 and VNFM 1040; between NM 1008 and NFVO 1036; or between OSS/BSS 1004 and NFVO 1036. The interface is configured to be provided by NE 1024, The exchange of operation-related performance management data provided by the PNF of 1028 and 1032. The operation details of these embodiments will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS. 13-15.

The embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented as a system that uses any suitable hardware and/or software to configure as needed. Figure 11 schematically illustrates an exemplary computer system 1100 that can be used to implement the various embodiments described herein. FIG. 11 shows that, for one embodiment, an exemplary computer system 1100 has a processor circuit 1104, a system memory 1108, a non-volatile memory (NVM)/storage 1112, and a communication circuit 1116. System 1100 also It may include an interface circuit 1120, which is coupled to the processor circuit 1104, the system memory 1108, the NVM/storage 1112, and the communication circuit 1116, as shown in the figure.

In some embodiments, the system 1100 can function as NFVO, VNFM, VIM, host device, OSS/BSS, or other devices that implement the embodiments described herein. The system 1100 may be implemented as a server or a device that cooperates with a server in a 3GPP network. For example, in some embodiments, the system 1100 may be a server in the core network of the 3GPP network (or Evolved Packet Core (EPC) in System Architecture Evolution (SAE)).

The interface circuit 1120 for an embodiment may include any suitable interface controllers and connectors to interconnect with one or more of the processor circuit 1104, the system memory 1108, the NVM/storage 1112, and the communication circuit 1116. The interface controller may include, but is not limited to, a memory controller, a storage controller (for example, a redundant array of independent disks (RAID) controller, a baseboard management controller (BMC), an input/output controller, and so on. The connector may include, for example, a bus (for example, a high-speed peripheral component interconnect (PCIe) bus), ports, slots, jumpers, interconnect modules, etc.).

The processor circuit 1104 may include any type or combination of configurable or non-configurable circuits, which are designed to perform basic operations, logic, control, or input/output operations specified by instructions of a computer program. The processor circuit 1104 may include one or more single-core or multi-core processors, which act as a timing-driven, programmable register type electronic device that accepts digital data as input and stores it in the system memory 1108 And/or the instructions in the NVM/storage 1112 process the digital data to provide the enabling book The output of the operations described in each part of the manual. The processor circuit 1104 can be coupled to the system memory 1108 and/or the NVM/storage 1112, and is configured to execute the instructions stored therein, so as to be able to run various applications on the system 1100 (for example, VNF applications 440 and 444). ), operating system (for example, OS 424), hypervisor (for example, hypervisor 420).

The processor circuit 1104 may include any combination of a general-purpose processor and a special-purpose processor. In some embodiments, the processor circuit 1104 may include a central processing unit, an application processor, a communication processor, a microprocessor, an ASIC, a reduced instruction set computer (RISC), a digital signal processor DSP, a co-processor, and a combinational logic Circuits, controllers (for example, memory, bridges, buses, etc.), etc.

For one embodiment, at least some of the processor circuits 1104 may be packaged with logic for one or more controllers of the interface circuit. For one embodiment, at least one of the processors of the processor circuit 1104 may be packaged with logic for one or more controllers of the interface circuit 1120 to form a system-in-package (SiP). For one embodiment, at least one of the processors of the processor circuit 1104 may be integrated with logic used for one or more controllers of the interface circuit 1120 on the same chip to form a system-on-a-chip.

The system memory 1108 can be used to load and store, for example, data and/or commands for the system 1100. For example, the system memory 1108 for one embodiment may include any suitable volatile memory, such as suitable DRAM or SRAM. In some embodiments, the system memory 1108 may include fourth-generation double data rate synchronous dynamic random access memory (DDR4 SDRAM).

The NVM/storage 1112 can be used, for example, to store data and/or instructions. The NVM/storage 1112 may include, for example, any suitable non-volatile memory, such as flash memory, and/or, for example, may include any suitable non-volatile storage device, such as one or more hard disks HDD, one or more optical disc CD drives, RAID, and/or one or more digital versatile optical disc DVD drives.

The NVM/storage 1112 may include storage/memory resources, which are physically part of the device on which the system 1100 is installed, or it may be accessed by a part of the device but not necessarily a part of the device. For example, the NVM/storage 1112 can be accessed through the network via the communication circuit 1116.

The communication circuit 1116 can provide an interface for the system 1100 to communicate with one or more networks and/or with any other suitable devices. The system 1100 can communicate with one or more components of the network according to any one of one or more network standards and/or protocols. In some embodiments, the communication circuit 1116 can provide signal processing according to an appropriate communication network protocol. For example, the communication circuit 1116 may include an Ethernet controller, which executes, for example, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, 1000BASE-T, 100BASE-TX, or 10BASE-T standard Ethernet agreement. This embodiment is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 12.

In an embodiment where the computer system 1100 is used as a host device, such as the host device 400, the processor circuit 1104 may correspond to the calculation circuit 408, and the system memory 1108 and NVM/storage 1112 may correspond to the storage/memory circuit 412 , And the communication circuit 1116 can correspond to the network circuit 416.

Figure 12 shows an Ethernet controller 1200 according to some embodiments. B The Ethernet controller 1200 can be implemented in the system 1100 to provide a wired connection. For example, the Ethernet controller 1200 can be implemented in the communication circuit 1116. In some embodiments, the Ethernet controller 1200 may be particularly suitable for embodiments that utilize virtualized resources such as, for example, the host device 400.

The Ethernet controller 1200 may include a host interface 1212 for coupling the Ethernet controller 1200 with, for example, the interface circuit 1120 and the host platform. In some embodiments, the host interface 1212 may be a bus interface for coupling with a serial expansion bus such as a PCIe bus. In some embodiments, the host interface 1212 may be a PCIe endpoint using single root input-output virtualization (SR-IOV) to allow isolation of PCIe resources for management and performance reasons. This allows different virtual machines in the virtual environment to share a single PCIe hardware interface. In other embodiments, the host interface 1212 may be a PCIe endpoint using multiple root input/output virtualization, which allows the PCIe bus to share resources between different virtual machines on different physical machines.

The Ethernet controller 1200 may include a queue management and scheduling (QMS) circuit 1216. The QMS circuit 1216, which can also be called a network or packet scheduler, can use a queuing/scheduling algorithm to control the Ethernet controller 1200 to send and receive packets. The QMS circuit 1216 can manage a series of network packets in the transmission and reception queues of the Ethernet controller 1200. In some embodiments, the QMS circuit 1216 may include several different queues, and each queue holds a packet of one flow according to a configured packet classification rule. For example, packets can be divided into traffic based on their source and destination IP addresses, service quality requirements, and so on.

In some embodiments, the QMS circuit 1216 can be used by the Ethernet controller 1200 to perform receive-side scaling adjustments to propagate incoming packets across the available processing cores of the host platform. The QMS circuit 1216 can also provide a flow direction function, which includes smart offloading to directly place the incoming packet to the correct core to prevent the packet from being directed to an available processing core, even if another core is running as the packet target. Applications, for example, VNF applications.

The Ethernet controller 1200 may also include an agreement acceleration/offload (A/O) circuit 1220. The protocol A/O circuit 1220 can offload processing of a specific protocol or a function of a specific protocol from the main processor. For example, in some embodiments, the protocol A/O circuit 1220 may include a transmission control protocol TCP offload engine to offload the processing of TCP/IP stacking from the host platform to the Ethernet controller 1200. This is particularly useful in high-speed network interfaces such as Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. The offloading process may include actions associated with the connection-oriented nature of TCP, such as, but not limited to, transport layer connection establishment, response to received packets, checksum and sequence number calculation, sliding window calculation, and transmission The layer connection is terminated.

The Ethernet controller 1200 may also include a traffic classifier 1224. The traffic classifier 1224 can perform a process of classifying traffic into several traffic categories based on various parameters (for example, the number of ports, protocols, etc.). Each traffic category can be treated differently to distinguish the services provided by the Ethernet controller 1200.

The Ethernet controller 1200 may also include a media access controller 1228, for using, for example, the Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA/CD) protocol with collision detection to execute the Ethernet controller 1200 MAC layer operation Made. The media access controller 1228 can include several full-duplex Ethernet MAC ports, which can be configured to operate at different speeds, for example, 40Gb/s, 10Gb/s, and 1Gb/s.

The Ethernet controller 1200 may also include a PHY 1232 for performing Ethernet PHY layer operations. In some embodiments, the PHY 1232 may include an interface directly connected to a communication medium (for example, a backplane or a direct-connected biaxial copper cable assembly) or through an Ethernet interface. In some cases, it may be regarded as an external interface. PHY. The PHY 1232 can interface between the analog domain of Ethernet line modulation and the digital domain of link layer packet transmission performed by the media access controller 1228. In some embodiments, the PHY circuit may include a multi-rate media attachment unit interface (MAUI), which can be used for operation and several different link speeds, for example, 40Gb/s, 10Gb/s, 1Gb/s, or 100Mb /s.

The Ethernet controller 1200 may also include an in-band management circuit 1236, which has a controller or processor that performs various on-chip management functions. The in-band management circuit 1236 can interface with an off-chip management controller through: system management bus SMBus; network controller sideband interface NC-SI; or using, for example, management component transmission protocol MCTP Connect with the host interface 1212 to communicate on PCIe.

The in-band management circuit 1236 may include a baseboard management controller or an embedded management processor unit, which processes management tasks executed by the Ethernet controller but not by other circuits, for example, the device driver of the Ethernet controller. In some embodiments, these tasks may include performing partial power-on procedures, processing AQ commands, initializing ports, participating in various fabric configuration protocols, such as data center bridging capacity exchange (DCBX) and other link layers Discovery Protocol (LLDP), and handle the configuration request received by the management interface.

FIG. 13 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure of the host device 400 according to some embodiments. In particular, the operation flow/algorithm structure 1300 may be performed by a local monitor, such as the local monitor 484 of the host device 400.

The operation flow/algorithm structure 1300 may include, at 1304, instantiating the first VM to run the VNFC to perform the sub-functions of the network function. For example, the hypervisor 420 of the host device 400 may instantiate the VM 472 to run the VNFC 448, as described above.

The operation flow/algorithm structure 1300 may further include, in 1308, instantiating a second VM to run a local monitor to monitor the performance of the first VM, for example, the performance of the VM 472, and determining VM management actions according to the monitoring performance. For example, the hypervisor 420 of the host device 400 may instantiate the VM 488 to run the local monitor 484. The local monitor 484 can participate in the performance monitoring and management operation process/algorithm structure as described herein to provide the monitoring and determination of the block 1308.

In some embodiments, the performance monitoring of the VM can be completed within a predetermined sampling interval, and over-utilization or under-utilization of resources associated with VNFC 448 can be identified. In these embodiments, VM management actions can at least partially solve the over-utilization or under-utilization of resources by, for example, instantiating a new VM, shutting down the VM 472, or zooming in/out the VM 472.

FIG. 14 illustrates an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure 1400 of the host device 400 according to some embodiments. In particular, the operation flow/algorithm structure 1400 may be a local monitor, such as the local monitor 484 of the host device 400 get on.

The operation flow/algorithm structure 1400 may include, at 1404, determining the first value of the system parameter, which corresponds to the operation of the VDU that provides the virtualized network function. For the purpose of this description, VDU may correspond to VM 472/VNFC 448. The first value, which may also be referred to as the initial value or threshold value, may be included in the NSD descriptor, and may be obtained at least originally from sandbox analysis.

At 1408, the operational flow/algorithm structure 1400 may include receiving the second value of the system parameter. The second value, which can also be referred to as the new value, can represent real-time or near-real-time operation statistics of the VDU.

At 1412, the operational flow/algorithm structure 1400 may include comparing the second value to the first value. According to some embodiments, the comparison of the first/second value may be similar to the process described above with respect to FIGS. 6-8.

At 1416, the operational flow/algorithm structure 1400 may include performing underutilization or overutilization management actions based on the comparison performed at 1412. In some embodiments, these management actions may include transmitting the request to the global monitor, for example, the global monitor 118 of the VNFM 116. The request may be to perform at least some operations of over-utilization management actions to add vCPUs to the VDU, increase the throughput of the virtual link, add one or more memory blocks to the VDU, or instantiate another VDU to uninstall the VDU. request.

FIG. 15 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure 1500 of a VNFM according to some embodiments. In particular, the operation process/algorithm structure 1500 can be performed by, for example, the global monitor of the VNFM 1040.

The operational flow/algorithm structure 1500 may include, at 1504, receiving a report including performance measurements. The performance measurement can be combined with the coexistence network model by The operations provided by PNF are related, as shown in Figure 10. The global monitor of the VNFM 1040 can receive reports from the component managers 1012 and 1016 through the VeEn-Vnfm reference point.

The report may include an NS identifier, a PNF identifier, and one or more values of the performance measurement. The signal structure corresponding to the report may include an NS identifier field, a PNF identifier field, and one or more measurement fields for one or more values of the performance measurement. The signal structure can comply with the VeEn-Vnfm reference point agreement.

The global monitor can make a decision based on the value of the performance measurement for the life cycle management of the network function of the system. Next, at 1508, the operational flow/algorithm structure 1500 may include one or more requests for the global monitor to transmit management actions. For example, the global monitor can determine whether system resources are overutilized or underutilized according to the value of the performance measurement, and can determine whether to perform corresponding overutilization or underutilization management actions. Similar to the description of Figures 6-9 above, overutilization/underutilization management actions can include instantiating a new VNF, removing an existing VNF, or scaling up/down an existing VNF (by increasing/decreasing the number of VMs allocated to the VNF). Resources). In some embodiments, the transmitted request may include a request from VNFM 1040 to NFVO 1036 to verify the availability of resources to instantiate a new VNF or to amplify an existing VNF when supporting the physical deployment side of the network 1000.

FIG. 16 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure 1600 of EM or NM according to some embodiments. In particular, the operation flow/algorithm structure 1600 can be performed by, for example, EM 1016 or NM 1008.

The operational flow/algorithm structure 1600 may include, at 1604, receiving and Process metrics for performance measurement. For example, the performance measurement may be related to the service provided by the PNF of NE 1032. This indicator can be received by the NM 1008 in the report received from the EM 1016 through the Os-Nfvo reference point. Alternatively, the EM 1016 may receive the indicator from the PNF of the NE 1032.

The operational flow/algorithm structure 1600 may also include, at 1608, updating one or more counters. These counters can be logical OR circuits on NM 1008 or EM 1016, which are configured to temporarily store information related to performance measurement.

The operational flow/algorithm structure 1600 may also include, at 1612, detecting the occurrence of a predetermined report event. In some embodiments, NM 1008 or EM 1016 can monitor these counters to determine whether a predetermined report event has occurred. In various embodiments, the predetermined report event may be that at least one counter has a value greater than the threshold report value. In other embodiments, the report may be a periodic report, where the predetermined report event is the expiration of a timer. In other embodiments, the predetermined report event may be a request received from another entity, for example, from VNFM 1040 or NFVO 1036.

The operational flow/algorithm structure 1600 may also include, at 1616, transmitting reports. In some embodiments, the report can be transmitted from the EM 1016 through the VeEn-Vnfm reference point to the VNFM 1040, or from the NM 1008 through the Os-Nfvo reference point to the NFVO 1036.

FIG. 17 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure 1700 of NFVO according to some embodiments. In particular, the operation flow/algorithm structure 1700 can be performed by, for example, NFVO 1036.

The operational flow/algorithm structure 1700 may include, at 1704, receiving a packet Including performance measurement reports. For example, the performance measurement may be related to the service provided by PNF 1032. In some embodiments, the NFVO 1036 can receive the report from the NM 1008 through the Os-Nfvo reference point. Alternatively, NFVO 1036 can receive reports from OSS/BSS 1004.

The operational flow/algorithm structure 1700 may also include, at 1708, performing management actions on the VDU. The management action may include instructing the VNFM 1040 to initiate an over-utilization or under-utilization VM management action on the virtualization deployment side, so as to at least partially solve the over-utilization or under-utilization of system resources on the physical deployment side. In some embodiments, the management actions performed by the NFVO 1036 may include determining the availability of resources and sending a request to a global monitor, for example, the global monitor 118 of the VNFM 116. The request may be to perform an over-utilization management action to add vCPUs to the VDU, increase the throughput of the virtual link, add one or more memory blocks to the VDU, or instantiate another VDU to unload at least some operations of the VDU Request.

FIG. 18 shows an exemplary operation flow/algorithm structure 1800 of OSS/BSS according to some embodiments. In particular, the operation flow/algorithm structure 1800 can be performed by, for example, OSS/BSS 1004.

The operational flow/algorithm structure 1800 may include, at 1804, receiving a report including performance measurements. For example, the performance measurement may be related to the service provided by NE 1032's PNF. In some embodiments, the report may be received by OSS/BSS 1004 from NM 1008.

The operational flow/algorithm structure 1800 may also include, at 1808, sending a report to, for example, NFVO 1036. In some embodiments, the report’s The transmission may be based on the detection of the occurrence of a predetermined report event. In some embodiments, the OSS/BSS 1004 may monitor the counter to determine whether a predetermined report event has occurred. In various embodiments, the predetermined report event may be that at least one counter has a value greater than the threshold report value. In other embodiments, the report may be a periodic report, where the predetermined report event is the expiration of a timer. In other embodiments, the predetermined report event may be a request received from another entity, for example, from NFVO 1036. In some embodiments, OSS/BSS 1004 may forward the report to NFVO 1036 when it receives the report from NM 1008.

Figure 19 shows an exemplary computer readable medium 1904 that may be suitable for storing instructions that, in response to the device executing instructions, cause the device to perform selected aspects of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, the computer-readable medium 1904 may be non-transitory. As shown in the figure, the computer-readable storage medium 1904 may include program instructions 1908. The program command 1908 can be configured to enable a device in response to the execution of the program command 1908, for example, NFVO, VNFM, global monitor, host device, OSS/BSS, NM, EM or similar computing devices to execute the present disclosure Any method or element (aspect) of VM monitoring and management described in. In some embodiments, the program instructions 1908 can be configured to enable the device in response to the execution of the program instructions 1908 to perform the life cycle management operations performed by PNF, VNF, VNFC, and VM described in this disclosure, and Perform any method or element (in the form of) that instantiates a new VM/VNFC (VDU), closes an existing VM/VNFC (VDU), or enlarges or reduces the VM/VNFC (VDU). In some embodiments, the program instructions 1908 can be set in the essential The above is temporary, such as the signal, on the computer readable medium 1904.

Any combination of one or more computer-available or computer-readable media can be used. The computer-usable or computer-readable medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, equipment, device, or propagation medium. More specific examples of computer-readable media (non-exhaustive list) would include the following: electrical connections with one or more wires, portable computer disks, hard drives, RAM, ROM, erasable and programmable Read-only memory (for example, EPROM, EEPROM, or flash memory), optical fiber, portable CD-ROM (CD-ROM), optical storage devices, such as transmission media that support the Internet or Intranet , Or magnetic storage device. It should be noted that the computer-usable or computer-readable media can even be paper or other suitable media on which the program is printed, because it can pass through, for example, optically scanning the paper or other media, and then compiling, translating, Or, if necessary, process it in other suitable ways, and then store it in computer memory to capture the program electronically. In the context of this document, a computer-usable or computer-readable medium can be any medium that can contain, store, communicate, propagate, or transmit a program for use by an instruction execution system, equipment, or device, or use with an instruction execution system , Equipment, or device connection. The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal in the base frequency or as a part of a carrier wave, which embodies the computer-usable program code. Any suitable media can be used, including, but not limited to, wireless, wired, fiber optic cable, radio frequency, etc., to transmit computer-usable program codes.

The computer program code used to perform the operations of the present disclosure can be written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including object-oriented programming languages, such as Java, Smalltalk, C++, etc., as well as traditional programming languages, such as "C" programming language or similar programming languages. The code can be executed entirely on the user’s computer, partly on the user’s computer as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user’s computer and partly on the remote computer or completely on the remote computer Or execute on the server. In the latter case, the remote computer can be connected to the user’s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or it can be connected to an external computer (for example, by using Internet service provider’s Internet).

The present disclosure is described with reference to flowchart illustrations or block diagrams of methods, devices (systems) and computer program products according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart description or block diagram and the combination of the blocks in the flowchart description or block diagram can be realized through computer program instructions. These computer program instructions can be provided to the processor of a general-purpose computer, a dedicated computer, or other programmable data processing equipment to generate a machine, so that the instructions executed by the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment are created to implement the flowchart Or the mechanism of the function/action specified in the block of the block diagram.

These computer program instructions can also be stored in a computer-readable medium, which can instruct a computer or other programmable data processing device to work in a specific manner, so that the instructions stored in the computer-readable medium produce a manufactured article, including An instruction means that implements the functions/actions specified in one or more blocks in the flowchart or block diagram.

It can also load computer program instructions to the computer or other programmable data On the processing device, so that a series of operation steps executed on the computer or other programmable device will generate a computer-implemented program, so that the instructions executed on the computer or other programmable device are provided for the realization of a flowchart or block diagram The processing of functions/actions specified in one or more blocks in.

Some non-limiting examples are provided below.

Example 1 includes a device, including: a mechanism for instantiation, instantiating a first virtual machine VM to run a virtual network function element VNFC, the VNFC is used to perform the sub-network function provided by the virtual network function VNF application Function, and instantiate a second VM to run a local monitor, the local monitor being used to monitor the performance of the first VM within a predetermined sampling interval to identify over-utilization or under-utilization of resources associated with the VNFC; And, according to the monitoring performance, determine the VM management action to at least partially solve the over-utilization or under-utilization of the resources associated with the VNFC; and the communication mechanism communicates with one or more components of the network for execution The VM management action.

Example 2 includes the device of Example 1, wherein the VM management action is used to instantiate a third VM to help the first VM to at least partially resolve the over-utilization of the resources or shut down the first VM to at least partially resolve The underutilization of these resources.

Example 3 includes the device of any one of Examples 1-2, wherein the VM management action is used to scale the operating resources provided to the first VM.

Example 4 includes the device of Example 3, wherein the adjusting operation resource includes changing a number of virtual central processing units vCPUs, virtual memory, or virtual links available for the first VM.

Example 5 includes the device of any one of Examples 1-4, wherein the local monitor is used to send a request to the global monitor in the virtual network function manager VNFM through the mechanism for communication to verify the VM Resource availability for management actions.

Example 6 includes the device of any one of Examples 1-5, wherein the local monitor is used to: generate a measurement report according to the monitoring performance; and after the predetermined sampling interval, send the measurement report to the network function Virtualized scheduler NFVO.

Example 7 includes the device of any one of Examples 1-6, wherein the local monitor is used to: determine the first value of the system parameter; determine the second value of the system parameter according to the monitoring performance; and according to the second value The comparison of the value with the first value determines the VM management action.

Example 8 includes the device of Example 7, wherein the system parameter is queue time, service time, number of calculation cycles, network bandwidth, or virtual memory.

Example 9 includes the device of Example 7 or 8, wherein the first value is determined by sampling the state of the system parameter at regular intervals.

Example 10 includes the device of any one of Examples 7-9, wherein the first value is determined through sandbox analysis.

Example 11 includes the device of Example 7 or 8, wherein the local monitor is used to determine the first value based on a message received from the global monitor of the virtual network function manager VNFM.

Example 12 includes a device including: a mechanism for providing, providing a local monitor to: determine one or more first values of one or more system parameters, which correspond to a virtual data unit VDU that provides a virtualized network function of Operation; receiving one or more second values of the one or more system parameters from the VDU; a second value among the one or more second values and a first value among the one or more first values A value is compared, the first value and the second value correspond to the first system parameter of the one or more system parameters; and based on the comparison between the second value and the first value, an underutilization or overutilization management action is performed ; And an organization used for communication to communicate with one or more components of the network to perform the under-utilization or over-utilization management action.

Example 13 includes the device of Example 12, wherein the local monitor is used to: send a request to the global monitor of the virtual network function manager VNFM through a mechanism for communication through the execution of the under-utilization or over-utilization management action .

Example 14 includes the device of example 12 or 13, wherein the local monitor is used to perform over-utilization management actions to add a virtual central processing unit to the VDU, increase the throughput of a virtual link, and transfer one or more memory The block is added to the VDU, or another VDU is instantiated.

Example 15 includes the device of any one of Examples 12-14, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, and calculation period parameters, and the local monitor is also used to: detect the first group Condition, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the second value of the service time parameter; and the calculation The first value of the cycle parameter is smaller than the second value of the calculation cycle parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to add the virtual central processing unit to the VDU.

Example 16 includes the device of any one of Examples 12-14, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, and network bandwidth parameters, and the local monitor also uses To: detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the first value of the service time parameter Two values; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; and the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is less than the second value of the network bandwidth parameter; and according to the first The group condition is detected, and the over-utilization management action is executed to increase the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 17 includes the device of any one of Examples 12-14, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, network bandwidth parameters, and virtual memory parameters, and the The local monitor is also used to detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the first value of the queue time parameter. The second value of the service time parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is not less than the second value of the network bandwidth parameter, And the first value of the virtual memory parameter is smaller than the second value of the virtual memory parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to add one or more memory blocks to the VDU .

Example 18 includes the device of any one of Examples 12-14, wherein the VDU is the first VDU and the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, network bandwidth parameters, and Virtual note Memory parameters, and the local monitor is also used to: detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the service time parameter The first value of is less than the second value of the service time parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is not less than the network bandwidth The second value of the parameter; the first value of the virtual memory parameter is not less than the second value of the virtual memory parameter; and the first value of the queue time parameter is less than the second value of the queue time parameter and The first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to instantiate the second VDU.

Example 19 includes the device of any one of Examples 12-14, wherein the one or more system parameters include a queue time parameter and a service time parameter, and the local monitor is further used to: detect a first set of conditions, the first The group condition includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not less than the second value of the service time parameter, and the queue time parameter The first value of is less than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, execute the excessive Use management actions to instantiate additional virtual machines for the VDU.

Example 20 includes the device of Example 12 or 13, wherein the local monitor is used to perform underutilization management actions to close the VDU, migrate the operation of the VDU to another VDU, close the VDU, and remove a VDU from the VDU. Or more One memory block, remove one or more virtual central processing unit vCPUs from the VDU, or reduce the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 21 includes the device of Example 20, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters and service time parameters, and the local monitor is further used to: detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including: the queue The first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and the second value of the queue time parameter is less than the queue List the predetermined minimum threshold of the time parameter and the second value of the service time parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the service time parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, execute the underutilization management action to close the VDU.

Example 22 includes the device of Example 20, wherein the VDU is the first VDU, the one or more system parameters are the first system parameters including the first queue time parameter and the first service time parameter, and the local monitor also uses To: detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the first queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the first queue time parameter and the first value of the first service time parameter is greater than The second value of the first service time parameter; and the second value of the first queue time parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the queue time parameter or the second value of the first service time parameter is not less than the The predetermined minimum threshold of the service time parameter; and based on the detection of the first set of conditions, it is determined whether the second VDU performs the same sub-function as the first VDU; and if it is determined that the second VDU is performing the same sub-function as the first VDU Function to obtain one or more first values of one or more second system parameters of the second VDU, the one or more second system parameters including the second queue time parameter Number and second service time parameters.

Example 23 includes the device of Example 22, wherein the local monitor is further used to: detect a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions including that the first value of the first queue time parameter is greater than the first queue time parameter Plus the second value of the second queue time parameter and the first value of the first service time parameter is greater than the second value of the first service time parameter plus the second service time The second value of the parameter; and according to the detection of the second set of conditions, perform the underutilization management action to migrate the operation of the first VDU to the second VDU and close the first VDU.

Example 24 includes the device of example 22, wherein the one or more first system parameters include a first virtual memory parameter, and the local monitor is further used to: detect a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions including: the first set of conditions The first value of a queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the first queue time parameter plus the second value of the second queue time parameter or the first value of the first service time parameter Not greater than the second value of the first service time parameter plus the second value of the second service time parameter; the second value of the first virtual memory parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the first virtual memory parameter ; And according to the second set of condition detection, perform the underutilization management action to remove one or more memory blocks from the first VDU.

Example 25 includes the device of Example 20, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, and virtual memory parameters, and the local monitor is also used to: detect a first set of conditions, the first The group condition includes that the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not greater than the service The second value of the time parameter and the second value of the virtual memory parameter are less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the virtual memory parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the underutilization management action is executed to move from the VDU In addition to one or more memory blocks.

Example 26 includes the device of Example 20, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, virtual memory parameters, and calculation cycle parameters, and the local monitor is also used to: detect the first set of conditions, The first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not greater than the second value of the service time parameter; the virtual memory The second value of the volume parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the virtual memory parameter; and the second value of the calculation period parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the calculation period parameter; and the utilization is performed according to the detection of the first set of conditions The insufficient management action removes one or more virtual central processing units from the VDU.

Example 27 includes the device of Example 20, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, virtual memory parameters, calculation cycle parameters, and network bandwidth parameters, and the local monitor is also used to : Detect the first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not greater than the value of the service time parameter Second value; the second value of the virtual memory parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the virtual memory parameter; the second value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the calculation period parameter; and the network bandwidth The second value of the parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the network bandwidth; and the detection according to the first set of conditions is executed This underutilization management action reduces the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 28 includes a device for implementing a virtual network function manager VNFM. The device includes: a mechanism for receiving, receiving a report from the component manager, the report including the performance measurement of the physical network function PNF belonging to the network service ; The sending organization sends to the network function virtualization scheduler NFVO a request for the management action of the virtual data unit VDU that provides the virtualized network function for the network service.

Example 29 includes the device of example 28, wherein the management action is an under-utilization or over-utilization management action.

Example 30 includes the device of Example 28 or 29, wherein the management action is an over-utilization management action to add a virtual central processing unit to the VDU, increase the circulation of a virtual link, and add one or more memory blocks Go to the VDU, or instantiate additional virtual machines for the VDU.

Example 31 includes the device of example 28 or 29, wherein the management action request is an underutilization management action for closing the VDU, migrating the operation of the VDU to another VDU and closing the VDU, removing one or the other from the VDU Multiple memory blocks, remove one or more virtual central processing unit vCPUs from the VDU, or reduce the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 32 includes the device of any one of Examples 28-31, wherein the receiving mechanism receives the report through the VeEn-Vnfm interface.

Example 33 includes the device of any one of Examples 28-32, wherein the performance measurement includes mobility management measurement, General Packet Radio Service Tunneling Protocol GTP measurement, Internet Protocol IP management measurement, radio access technology handover measurement, Service quality measurement, security measurement, session management measurement, or User management measurement.

Example 34 includes the device of any one of Examples 28-33, wherein the report includes the network service identifier corresponding to the network service, the PNF identifier corresponding to the PNF, and one or more corresponding to the performance measurement Values.

Example 35 includes a component manager, including: a mechanism for communication, a network component for the physical network function PNF to perform network services, and a virtual network function manager VNFM communication; and a mechanism for updating, according to The counter is updated with the indicator of the performance measurement of the PNF, the indicator is received from the network element; and the mechanism for detection detects the occurrence of a predetermined report event, wherein the mechanism for communication is detecting the When it happens, a report based on this indicator will be sent to the virtual network function manager.

Example 36 includes the component manager of Example 35, wherein the mechanism for detecting occurrence is further used to: determine a first value of a system parameter according to the index; compare the first value of the system parameter with a predetermined threshold; and according to The first value of the system parameter is compared with the predetermined threshold to detect the occurrence of the predetermined report event.

Example 37 includes the component manager of example 35 or 36, wherein the predetermined report event is a periodic report event.

Example 38 includes the component manager of any one of Examples 35-37, wherein the mechanism for communication receives the indicator from the network component.

Example 39 includes the component manager of any one of Examples 35-38, wherein the report includes the network service identifier corresponding to the network service, the PNF identifier corresponding to the PNF, and the performance measurement corresponding to the Indicator value.

Example 40 includes a network function virtualization scheduler NFVO, including: a mechanism for receiving reports, receiving reports from the network manager of the performance measurement of the physical network function PNF including network services; and a mechanism for execution , To perform management actions on the virtual data unit VDU of the virtualized network function that provides network services.

Example 41 includes the NFVO of Example 40, where the management action is an under-utilization or over-utilization management action.

Example 42 includes the NFVO of example 40 or 41, wherein the management action is an over-utilization management action to add a virtual central processing unit to the VDU, increase the throughput of a virtual link, and add one or more memory blocks to the VDU The VDU, or instantiate additional virtual machines for the VDU.

Example 43 includes the NFVO of example 40 or 41, wherein the management action is an underutilization management action for closing the VDU, migrating the operation of the VDU to another VDU and closing the VDU, removing one or more from the VDU Memory block, remove one or more virtual central processing unit vCPUs from the VDU, or reduce the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 44 includes the NFVO of any one of Examples 40-43, wherein the organization for receiving the report receives the report through the Os-Nfvo interface.

Example 45 includes the NFVO of any one of Examples 40-44, wherein the report includes the network service identifier corresponding to the network service, the PNF identifier corresponding to the PNF, and the value of the index corresponding to the performance measurement .

Example 46 includes a network manager, including: a mechanism for processing, processing the performance measurement of the physical network function PNF related to network services The indicator is received from the component manager; the institution used for updating updates the counter according to the indicator; the institution used for detection detects the occurrence of a predetermined report event; and the institution used for sending is based on the detection According to the indicator, the report is sent to the network function virtualization scheduler NFVO.

Example 47 includes the network manager of Example 46, wherein the indicator is received through the Itf-N interface between the network manager and the component manager.

Example 48 includes the network manager of example 46 or 47, wherein the network manager sends the report through the Os-Nfvo interface between the network manager and the NFVO.

Example 49 includes the network manager of any one of Examples 46-48, wherein the mechanism for detecting the occurrence is used to: determine the first value of the system parameter according to the index; Comparing the value with a predetermined threshold; and detecting the occurrence of the predetermined report event based on the comparison of the first value of the system parameter with the predetermined threshold.

Example 50 includes the network manager of any one of Examples 46-48, wherein the scheduled report event is a periodic report event.

Example 51 includes a network function virtualization scheduler NFVO, including: a receiving organization, receiving reports from the operation support system or the business support system OSS/BSS device, the report includes the physical network function PNF belonging to the network service The performance measurement of the network service; and the organization used for execution to perform the management actions of the virtual data unit VDU that provides the virtualized network function of the network service.

Example 52 includes the NFVO of Example 51, where the management action is to use Under- or over-utilization of management actions.

Example 53 includes the NFVO of Example 51 or 52, where the management action is an over-utilization management action to add a virtual central processing unit to the VDU, increase the throughput of a virtual link, and add one or more memory blocks to the VDU. The VDU, or instantiate additional virtual machines for the VDU.

Example 54 includes the NFVO of example 51 or 52, wherein the management action request is an underutilization management action for closing the VDU, migrating the operation of the VDU to another VDU and closing the VDU, removing one or the other from the VDU Multiple memory blocks, remove one or more virtual central processing unit vCPUs from the VDU, or reduce the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 55 includes the NFVO of any one of Examples 51-54, wherein the mechanism for executing the management action is to send the action request to the virtual network function manager VNFM.

Example 56 includes an operating support system OSS or business support system BSS device. The device includes: a receiving organization, receiving a message from the network manager NM, and the message includes the performance of the physical network function PNF belonging to the network service The measurement index; and the organization used for sending, according to the detected occurrence, the report is sent to the network function virtualization scheduler NFVO according to the index.

Example 57 includes the device of Example 56, and further includes: a mechanism for determining to determine a first value of a system parameter based on the index; a mechanism for comparison to compare the first value of the system parameter with a predetermined threshold; and The mechanism for identification identifies the occurrence of the detection based on the comparison between the first value of the system parameter and the predetermined threshold.

Example 58 includes the device of Example 56 or 57, wherein the detected occurrence is a periodic report event.

Example 59 includes the device of any one of Examples 56-58, wherein the report includes the network service identifier corresponding to the network service, the PNF identifier corresponding to the PNF, and the indicator corresponding to the performance measurement value.

Example 60 includes one or more computer-readable media with instructions, when the instructions are executed by one or more processors, the device: instantiates the first virtual machine VM to run the virtual network function element VNFC, the VNFC Used to perform the sub-functions of the network function to be provided by the virtual network function VNF application; instantiate a second VM to run a local monitor, the local monitor is used to: monitor the performance of the first VM within a predetermined sampling interval Identify the over-utilization or under-utilization of the resources associated with the VNFC; and, according to the monitoring performance, determine the VM management action to at least partially solve the over-utilization or under-utilization of the resources associated with the VNFC.

Example 61 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 60, wherein the VM management action is used to instantiate a third VM to help the first VM to at least partially solve the over-utilization of the resources or shut down the first VM. A VM can at least partially solve the underutilization of the resources.

Example 62 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 60-61, wherein the VM management action is used to adjust the operating resources provided to the first VM.

Example 63 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 62, wherein the adjustment operation resource includes changing a number of virtual central processing units (vCPUs), virtual memory, or virtual links available for the first VM.

Example 64 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 60-63, wherein the local monitor is used to send a request to the global monitor in the virtual network function manager VNFM to verify the VM management The resource availability of the action.

Example 65 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 60-64, wherein the local monitor is used to: generate a measurement report according to the monitoring performance; and after the predetermined sampling interval, the The measurement report is sent to the network function virtualization scheduler NFVO.

Example 66 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 60-65, wherein the local monitor is used to: determine the first value of the system parameter; determine the second value of the system parameter according to the monitoring performance Value; and the VM management action is determined based on the comparison of the second value and the first value.

Example 67 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 66, wherein the system parameter is queue time, service time, number of calculation cycles, network bandwidth, or virtual memory.

Example 68 includes one or more computer-readable media of Example 66 or 67, wherein the first value is determined by sampling the state of the system parameter at regular intervals.

Example 69 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 66-68, wherein the first value is determined through sandbox analysis.

Example 70 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 66 or 67, wherein the local monitor is used to determine the first value based on a message received from the global monitor of the virtual network function manager VNFM.

Example 71 includes a method including: instantiating a first virtual machine The VM runs the virtual network function element VNFC, which is used to perform the sub-functions of the network function to be provided by the virtual network function VNF application; and instantiates a second VM to run a local monitor, which is used to: Monitor the performance of the first VM within a predetermined sampling interval to identify over-utilization or under-utilization of resources associated with the VNFC; according to the monitoring performance, determine VM management actions to at least partially resolve the resources associated with the VNFC Of over-utilization or under-utilization.

Example 72 includes the method of Example 71, wherein the VM management action is used to instantiate a third VM to help the first VM to at least partially resolve the over-utilization of the resources or shut down the first VM to at least partially resolve The underutilization of these resources.

Example 73 includes the method of example 71 or 72, wherein the local monitor is used to send a request to the global monitor in the virtual network function manager VNFM to verify the resource availability of the VM management action.

Example 74 includes the method of any one of Examples 71-73, wherein the local monitor is used to: generate a measurement report according to the monitoring performance; and after the predetermined sampling interval, send the measurement report to the network function Virtualized scheduler NFVO.

Example 75 includes the method of any one of Examples 71-74, wherein the local monitor is used to: determine the first value of the system parameter; determine the second value of the system parameter according to the monitoring performance; and according to the second value The comparison of the value with the first value determines the VM management action.

Example 76 includes the method of Example 75, and further includes: sampling the state of the system parameter at regular intervals to determine the first value.

Example 77 includes the method of Example 75 or 76, and further includes: determining the first value through sandbox analysis.

Example 78 includes the method of example 76 or 77, wherein the local monitor is used to determine the first value based on a message received from a global monitor of the virtual network function manager VNFM.

Example 79 includes one or more computer-readable media having instructions, when the instructions are executed by one or more processors, cause the local monitor to: determine one or more first values of one or more system parameters, It corresponds to the operation of a virtual data unit VDU that provides a virtualized network function; receiving one or more second values of the one or more system parameters from the VDU; and one of the one or more second values The two values are compared with a first value in the one or more first values, and the first and the second values correspond to the first system parameter of the one or more system parameters; and the second value is compared with The comparison of this first value executes an underutilization or overutilization management action.

Example 80 includes the one or more computer readable media of Example 79, wherein the execution of the underutilization or overutilization management action, the local monitor is used to: send a request to the global monitor of the virtual network function manager VNFM .

Example 81 includes one or more computer-readable media of Example 79 or 80, where the local monitor is used to perform over-utilization management actions to add a virtual central processing unit to the VDU, increase the throughput of virtual links, Add one or more memory blocks to the VDU, or instantiate another VDU.

Example 82 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 79-81, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, server Service time parameters, and calculation cycle parameters, and when these instructions are executed, the local monitor: detects a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the queue The second value of the time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the second value of the service time parameter; and the first value of the calculation period parameter is less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; and according to the first group The condition is detected, and the over-utilization management action is executed to add the virtual central processing unit to the VDU.

Example 83 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 79-81, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, and network bandwidth parameters, And when these instructions are executed, the local monitor is also caused to detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the service The first value of the time parameter is less than the second value of the service time parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; and the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is less than the network The second value of the bandwidth parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to increase the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 84 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 79-81, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, network bandwidth parameters, and Virtual memory parameters and when the instructions are executed, the local monitor: detects a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter Value and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the second value of the service time parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter The value is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is not less than the second value of the network bandwidth parameter; and the first value of the virtual memory parameter is less than the virtual memory The second value of the parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, perform the over-utilization management action to add one or more memory blocks to the VDU.

Example 85 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 79-81, wherein the VDU is the first VDU and the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, Network bandwidth parameters, virtual memory parameters, and when these commands are executed, the local monitor: detects a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the The second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the second value of the service time parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; the network frequency The first value of the bandwidth parameter is not less than the second value of the network bandwidth parameter; the first value of the virtual memory parameter is not less than the second value of the virtual memory parameter; and the first value of the queue time parameter Value is less than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, execute the over-utilization management action to Instantiate the second VDU.

Example 86 includes the one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 79-81, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters and service time parameters, and when executed, the commands also cause the Local monitor: detects the first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the service time The first value of the parameter is not less than the second value of the service time parameter; and the first value of the queue time parameter is less than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the The second value of the service time parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, perform the over-utilization management action to instantiate additional virtual machines for the VDU.

Example 87 includes one or more computer-readable media of Example 79 or 80, where the local monitor is used to perform underutilization management actions to close the VDU, migrate the operation of the VDU to another VDU, and close the VDU , Remove one or more memory blocks from the VDU, remove one or more virtual central processing unit vCPUs from the VDU, or reduce the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 88 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 87, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters and service time parameters, and when executed, the commands also cause the local monitor to: detect the first A set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and The second value of the queue time parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the queue time parameter and the second value of the service time parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the service time parameter; and detection based on the first set of conditions, Perform the underutilization management action to close the VDU.

Example 89 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 87, wherein the VDU is the first VDU, and the one or more system parameters are the first system parameters including the first queue time parameter and the first service time parameter, And when these instructions are executed, they also make the local monitor: detect the first set of conditions, the The first set of conditions includes: the first value of the first queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the first queue time parameter and the first value of the first service time parameter is greater than the second value of the first service time parameter Value; and the second value of the first queue time parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the queue time parameter or the second value of the first service time parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the service time parameter; according to The detection of the first set of conditions determines whether the second VDU is performing the same sub-function as the first VDU; and if it is determined that the second VDU is performing the same sub-function as the first VDU, then acquiring a second VDU One or more first values of one or more second system parameters, and the one or more second system parameters include a second queue time parameter and a second service time parameter.

Example 90 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 89, wherein the commands, when executed, also cause the local monitor to: detect a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions including, the first queue time parameter The first value of is greater than the second value of the first queue time parameter plus the second value of the second queue time parameter, and the first value of the first service time parameter is greater than the first service time Add the second value of the second service time parameter to the second value of the parameter; and perform the underutilization management action to migrate the operation of the first VDU to the second VDU according to the detection of the second set of conditions And close the first VDU.

Example 91 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 89, wherein the one or more first system parameters include a first virtual memory parameter, and the commands, when executed, also cause the local monitor to: detect the first Two sets of conditions, the second set of conditions includes: the first queue time parameter and the first value are not Is greater than the second value of the first queue time parameter plus the second value of the second queue time parameter or the first value of the first service time parameter is not greater than the first value of the first service time parameter Two values plus the second value of the second service time parameter; and the second value of the first virtual memory parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the first virtual memory parameter; and the detection according to the second set of conditions Execute the underutilization management action to remove one or more memory blocks from the first VDU.

Example 92 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 87, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, and virtual memory parameters, and when executed, the commands also cause the Local monitor: detects a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes that the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not Is greater than the second value of the service time parameter, and the second value of the virtual memory parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the virtual memory parameter; and based on the detection of the first set of conditions, execute the underutilization management action to recover The VDU removes one or more memory blocks.

Example 93 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 87, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, virtual memory parameters, and calculation cycle parameters, and when these commands are executed The local monitor is also enabled to detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes that the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not Is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; the second value of the virtual memory parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the virtual memory parameter; and the second value of the calculation period parameter is less than The predetermined minimum threshold of the calculation period parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the underutilization management action is performed to remove one or more virtual central processing units from the VDU.

Example 94 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 87, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, virtual memory parameters, calculation period parameters, and network bandwidth parameters, and These instructions, when executed, also cause the local monitor to detect the first set of conditions. The first set of conditions: including the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the first queue time parameter or the second value of the first queue time parameter. The first value of the service time parameter is not greater than the second value of the first service time parameter; the second value of the virtual memory parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the virtual memory parameter; the second value of the calculation period parameter is not less than The predetermined minimum threshold of the calculation period parameter; and the second value of the network bandwidth parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the network bandwidth; and based on the detection of the first set of conditions, perform the underutilization management action to reduce virtual The throughput of the link.

Example 95 includes a method of operating a local monitor, including: determining one or more first values of one or more system parameters, which correspond to the operation of a virtual data unit VDU that provides a virtualized network function; receiving from the VDU One or more second values of the one or more system parameters; comparing a second value of the one or more second values with a first value of the one or more first values, the The first and the second values correspond to the first system parameter of the one or more system parameters; and according to the comparison of the second value and the first value, an underutilization or overutilization management action is performed.

Example 96 includes the method of Example 95 in which the underutilized or The over-utilization management action includes: sending a request to the global monitor of the virtual network function manager VNFM.

Example 97 includes the method of Example 95 or 96, and further includes: performing the over-utilization management action to add a virtual central processing unit to the VDU, increase the throughput of the virtual link, and add one or more memory blocks to the VDU. VDU, or instantiate another VDU.

Example 98 includes the method of any one of Examples 95-97, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, and calculation period parameters, and the method further includes: detecting a first set of conditions, the The first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the second value of the service time parameter; and the calculation period parameter The first value is smaller than the second value of the calculation period parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to add the virtual central processing unit to the VDU.

Example 99 includes the method of any one of Examples 95-97, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, and network bandwidth parameters, and the method further includes: detecting The first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the second value of the service time parameter; The first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; and the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is smaller than the second value of the network bandwidth parameter; and the conditions based on the first set of conditions Detect and execute the over-utilization management action to increase the traffic volume of the virtual link.

Example 100 includes the method of any one of Examples 95-97, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, network bandwidth parameters, and virtual memory parameters, and the The method further includes: detecting a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the service time parameter The second value of the calculation period parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is not less than the second value of the network bandwidth parameter; and the virtual The first value of the memory parameter is smaller than the second value of the virtual memory parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to add one or more memory blocks to the VDU.

Example 101 includes the method of any one of Examples 95-97, wherein the VDU is the first VDU and the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, network bandwidth parameters, and Virtual memory parameters, and the method further includes: detecting a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the second value of the service time parameter A value is less than the second value of the service time parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is not less than that of the network bandwidth parameter Second value; the first value of the virtual memory parameter is not less than the second value of the virtual memory parameter, and the first value of the queue time parameter is less than the second value of the queue time parameter and the service The first value of the time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to instantiate the second VDU.

Example 102 includes the method of any one of Examples 95-97, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters and service time parameters, and the method further includes: detecting a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including : The first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not less than the second value of the service time parameter; and the first value of the queue time parameter A value is less than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and the over-utilization management action is executed according to the detection of the first set of conditions To instantiate additional virtual machines for the VDU.

Example 103 includes the method of Example 95 or 96, wherein the method includes performing the underutilization management action to shut down the VDU, migrating the operation of the VDU to another VDU and shutting down the VDU, and removing one or more from the VDU Memory block, remove one or more virtual central processing unit vCPUs from the VDU, or reduce the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 104 includes the method of Example 95, wherein the one or more system parameters include a queue time parameter and a service time parameter, and the method further includes: detecting a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including: the queue time parameter The first value of is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and the second value of the queue time parameter is less than the queue time parameter And the second value of the service time parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the service time parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, execute the underutilization management action to close the VDU.

Example 105 includes the method of Example 95, wherein the VDU is the first VDU, the one or more system parameters are first system parameters including a first queue time parameter and a first service time parameter, and the method further includes: detecting The first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the first queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the first queue time parameter and the first value of the first service time parameter is greater than the first value The second value of the service time parameter; and the second value of the first queue time parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the queue time parameter or the second value of the first service time parameter is not less than the service time parameter According to the detection of the first set of conditions, determine whether the second VDU performs the same sub-function as the first VDU; and if it is determined that the second VDU is performing the same sub-function as the first VDU, obtain One or more first values of one or more second system parameters of the second VDU, and the one or more second system parameters include a second queue time parameter and a second service time parameter.

Example 106 includes the method of Example 97, wherein the method further includes: detecting a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions including, the first value of the first queue time parameter is greater than the first value of the first queue time parameter Two values plus the second value of the second queue time parameter and the first value of the first service time parameter is greater than the second value of the first service time parameter plus the second value of the second service time parameter A second value; and based on the detection of the second set of conditions, perform the underutilization management action to migrate the operation of the first VDU to the second VDU and close the first VDU.

Example 107 includes the method of example 97, wherein the one or more first system parameters include first virtual memory parameters, and the method further includes: checking Test a second set of conditions, the second set of conditions includes: the first value of the first queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the first queue time parameter plus the second queue time parameter The second value or the first value of the first service time parameter is not greater than the second value of the first service time parameter plus the second value of the second service time parameter; and the first virtual memory parameter The second value of is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the first virtual memory parameter; and the underutilization management action is executed to remove one or more memory blocks from the first VDU according to the detection of the second set of conditions.

Example 108 includes the method of Example 95, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, and virtual memory parameters, and the method further includes: detecting a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including The first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not greater than the second value of the service time parameter, and the virtual memory parameter The second value of is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the virtual memory parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the underutilization management action is executed to remove one or more memory blocks from the VDU.

Example 109 includes the method of Example 95, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, virtual memory parameters, and calculation cycle parameters, and the method further includes: detecting a first set of conditions, the first The group condition includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not greater than the second value of the service time parameter; the value of the virtual memory parameter The second value is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the virtual memory parameter; and the calculation period parameter The second value of is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the calculation period parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the underutilization management action is executed to remove one or more virtual central processing units from the VDU.

Example 110 includes the method of Example 95, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, virtual memory parameters, calculation period parameters, and network bandwidth parameters, and the method further includes: detecting the first A set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the first service time parameter is not greater than the first service time parameter The second value of the virtual memory parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the virtual memory parameter; the second value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the calculation period parameter; and the network frequency The second value of the bandwidth parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the network bandwidth; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the underutilization management action is executed to reduce the circulation of the virtual link.

Example 111 includes one or more computer-readable media with instructions. When the instructions are executed by one or more processors, the virtual network function manager VNFM: receives a report from the network manager, and the report includes The performance measurement of the physical network function PNF of the network service; and the request for the management action of the virtual data unit VDU of the virtual network function that provides the network service is sent to the network function virtualization scheduler NFVO.

Example 112 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 111, wherein the management action is an under-utilization or an over-utilization management action.

Example 113 includes one or more computer-readable media of Example 111 or 112, wherein the management action is an over-utilization management action for virtualizing The central processing unit is added to the VDU, the throughput of the virtual link is increased, one or more memory blocks are added to the VDU, or an additional virtual machine is instantiated for the VDU.

Example 114 includes one or more computer-readable media of Example 111 or 112, wherein the request for the management action is an underutilization management action for closing the VDU, migrating the operation of the VDU to another VDU and closing the VDU, Remove one or more memory blocks from the VDU, remove one or more virtual central processing unit vCPUs from the VDU, or reduce the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 115 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 111-114, wherein the VNFM receives the report through the VeEn-Vnfm interface.

Example 116 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 111-115, wherein the performance measurement includes mobility management measurement, general packet radio service tunneling protocol GTP measurement, Internet protocol IP management measurement, radio storage Take technology handover measurement, service quality measurement, security measurement, session management measurement, or user management measurement.

Example 117 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 111-116, wherein the report includes a network service identifier corresponding to a network service, a PNF identifier corresponding to a PNF, and a corresponding performance measurement One or more values of.

Example 118 includes a signal structure, including: a network service NS field, used to correspond to the NS identifier of the network service; a physical network function PNF field, used to correspond to the PNF identifier of the PNF; and one or more Measurements A field for one or more values of the performance measurement associated with the PNF.

Example 119 includes the signal structure of Example 118, where the signal structure complies with the VeEn-Vnfm or Os-Nfvo reference point agreement.

Example 120 includes one or more computer-readable media with instructions that, when executed, cause the component manager to: receive a performance measurement index related to the physical network function PNF; update the counter according to the index; check the reservation Report the occurrence of the event; and according to the detected occurrence, the report is sent to the virtual network function manager according to the indicator.

Example 121 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 120, wherein the commands, when executed, also cause the component manager to: determine the first value of the system parameter according to the index; Comparing the value with a predetermined threshold; and detecting the occurrence of the predetermined report event based on the comparison of the first value of the system parameter with the predetermined threshold.

Example 122 includes one or more computer-readable media of example 120 or 121, wherein the predetermined report event is a periodic report event.

Example 123 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 120-122, wherein the component manager is used to receive the indicator from a network component.

Example 124 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 120-123, wherein the report includes the network service identifier corresponding to the network service, the PNF identifier corresponding to the PNF, and the performance corresponding to the The measured value of the indicator.

Example 125 includes a component manager, including: an interface circuit for communicatively coupling the component manager to a physical network for executing network services The network components of the PNF of the circuit function, and are communicatively coupled to the virtual network function manager VNFM; and the control circuit coupled with the interface circuit, the control circuit is used to: receive the performance measurement index related to the PNF through the interface circuit ; Update the counter according to the index; detect the occurrence of a predetermined report event; send the report to the virtual network function manager according to the index through the interface circuit according to the detected occurrence.

Example 126 includes the component manager of Example 125, wherein the control circuit is further used to: determine a first value of a system parameter according to the index; compare the first value of the system parameter with a predetermined threshold; The first value is compared with the predetermined threshold to detect the occurrence of the predetermined report event.

Example 127 includes the component manager of example 125 or 126, wherein the predetermined report event is a periodic report event.

Example 128 includes the component manager of any one of Examples 125-127, wherein the control circuit is used to receive the indicator from the network component.

Example 129 includes the component manager of any one of Examples 125-128, wherein the report includes the network service identifier corresponding to the network service, the PNF identifier corresponding to the PNF, and the performance measurement corresponding to the The value of the indicator.

Example 130 includes one or more computer-readable media with instructions. When the instructions are executed by one or more processors, the network function virtualization scheduler NFVO: receives a report from the network manager, and the report includes The performance measurement of the physical network function PNF of the network service; the management action of the virtual data unit VDU of the virtual network function of the network service is performed.

Example 131 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 130, wherein the management action is an under-utilization or over-utilization management action.

Example 132 includes one or more computer-readable media of example 130 or 131, wherein the management action is an over-utilization management action for adding a virtual central processing unit to the VDU, increasing the circulation of a virtual link, or changing one or Multiple memory blocks are added to the VDU, or additional virtual machines are instantiated for the VDU.

Example 133 includes one or more computer-readable media of example 130 or 131, wherein the management action is an underutilization management action for closing the VDU, migrating the operation of the VDU to another VDU, and closing the VDU, from the The VDU removes one or more memory blocks, removes one or more virtual central processing unit vCPUs from the VDU, or reduces the throughput of the virtual link.

Example 134 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 130-133, wherein the NFVO receives the report through the Os-Nfvo interface.

Example 135 includes one or more computer-readable media with instructions. When the instructions are executed by one or more processors, the network manager: handles the performance measurement related to the physical network function PNF of the network service The indicator is received from the component manager; the counter is updated based on the indicator; the occurrence of a predetermined report event is detected; and based on the detected occurrence, the report is sent to the network function virtualization scheduler NFVO based on the indicator .

Example 136 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 135, wherein the indicator is received through the Itf-N interface between the network manager and the component manager.

Example 137 includes one or more computer-readable media of Example 135 or 136, wherein the network manager is used to send the report through the Os-Nfvo interface between the network manager and the NFVO.

Example 138 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 135-137, wherein the commands, when executed, also cause the network manager to: determine the first value of the system parameter according to the index; The first value of the system parameter is compared with a predetermined threshold; and the occurrence of the predetermined report event is detected based on the comparison of the first value of the system parameter with the predetermined threshold.

Example 139 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 135-137, wherein the predetermined report event is a periodic report event.

The example 140 includes one or more computer-readable media with instructions. When the instructions are executed, the network function virtualized scheduler NFVO: receives a report from the device of the operation support system or the business support system OSS/BSS, the report Including the performance measurement of the physical network function PNF belonging to the network service; and the management of the virtual data unit VDU of the virtual network function that provides the network service.

Example 141 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 140, wherein the management action is an under-utilization or over-utilization management action.

Example 142 includes one or more computer-readable media of example 140 or 141, wherein the management action is an over-utilization management action for adding a virtual central processing unit to the VDU, increasing the throughput of a virtual link, and changing one or Multiple memory blocks are added to the VDU, or additional virtual machines are instantiated for the VDU.

Example 143 includes one or more computer-readable media of Example 140 or 141 The management action is an underutilization management action for closing the VDU, migrating the operation of the VDU to another VDU and closing the VDU, removing one or more memory blocks from the VDU, and moving from the VDU Remove one or more virtual central processing unit vCPUs, or reduce the throughput of virtual links.

Example 144 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 140 or 141, wherein the NFVO is used to send the action request to the virtual network function manager VNFM when the management action is executed.

Example 145 includes one or more computer-readable media with instructions. When the instructions are executed by one or more processors, the operation support system OSS or the business support system BSS device: receive messages from the network manager NM The message includes the performance measurement index of the physical network function PNF belonging to the network service; and according to the detected occurrence, the report is sent to the network function virtualization scheduler NFVO based on the index.

Example 146 includes the one or more computer-readable media of Example 145, wherein the instructions, when executed, also cause the OSS/BSS to: determine the first value of the system parameter according to the index; The value is compared with a predetermined threshold; and the detected occurrence is identified based on the comparison of the first value of the system parameter with the predetermined threshold.

Example 147 includes one or more computer readable media of example 145 or 146, wherein the detected occurrence is a periodic report event.

Example 148 includes one or more computer-readable media of any one of Examples 145-147, wherein the report includes the network service identifier corresponding to the network service, the PNF identifier corresponding to the PNF, and the PNF identifier corresponding to The value of the indicator for the performance measurement. Description of the implementation shown in this article, including abstract The content described in is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit this disclosure to the precise form disclosed. Although specific implementations and examples are described herein for illustrative purposes, various alternative or equivalent examples or implementations can be calculated based on the above detailed description to achieve the same purpose without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, such as Those skilled in the art can understand.

100‧‧‧Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Architecture

104‧‧‧Network Function Virtualization-Management and Coordination (NFV-MANO) System

108‧‧‧Core Network (CN) Service System

112‧‧‧Network Function Virtualization Scheduler (NFVO)

116‧‧‧Virtual Network Function Manager (VNFM)

118‧‧‧Global Monitor

120‧‧‧Virtualization Infrastructure Manager (VIM)

122‧‧‧Network Service (NS) Directory

124‧‧‧Virtual Network Function (VNF) Directory

128‧‧‧Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Instance Repository

132‧‧‧NFV Infrastructure (NFVI) Repository

136‧‧‧Operation Support System/Business Support System (OSS/BSS)

140‧‧‧Component Manager (EM)

144‧‧‧Virtual Network Function (VNF)

148‧‧‧NFV Infrastructure (NFVI)

Claims (23)

A computer-readable medium with instructions. When the instructions are executed by one or more processors, the device causes the device: to instantiate a first virtual machine (VM) to run a virtual network function element (VNFC), and the VNFC uses To perform the sub-functions of the network function to be provided by the virtual network function (VNF) application; and instantiate a second VM to run a local monitor for: monitoring the first VM's function within a predetermined sampling interval Performance to identify the over-utilization or under-utilization of the resources associated with the VNFC; according to the monitoring performance, determine the VM management action to at least partially solve the over-utilization or under-utilization of the resources associated with the VNFC; and Send the request to the global monitor in the virtual network function manager (VNFM) to verify the resource availability of the VM management action. For example, the computer-readable medium of the first item in the scope of patent application, wherein the VM management action is used to instantiate a third VM to help the first VM to at least partially solve the over-utilization of the resources or shut down the first The VM can at least partially solve the underutilization of these resources. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the VM management action is used to scale the operating data provided to the first VM source. For example, the computer-readable medium of the third application, wherein the adjustment operation resource includes changing a number of virtual central processing units (vCPU), virtual memory, or virtual links that can be used for the first VM. For example, the computer-readable medium of the first item of the patent application, where the local monitor is used to: generate a measurement report according to the monitoring performance; and after the predetermined sampling interval, send the measurement report to the network function Virtualization scheduler. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 1 of the scope of patent application, wherein the local monitor is used to: determine the first value of the system parameter; determine the second value of the system parameter according to the monitoring performance; and according to the second value The comparison of the value with the first value determines the VM management action. For example, the computer-readable media of item 6 of the scope of patent application, where the system parameters are queue time, service time, number of calculation cycles, network bandwidth, or virtual memory. If the computer-readable media of item 6 of the scope of patent application is A value is determined by sampling the state of the system parameter at regular intervals. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 6 of the scope of patent application, wherein the first value is determined through sandbox profiling. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 6 of the scope of patent application, wherein the local monitor is used to determine the first value based on the message received from the global monitor of the virtual network function manager (VNFM). A computer-readable medium with instructions. When the instructions are executed by one or more processors, the local monitor is caused to determine one or more first values of one or more system parameters, which correspond to the provision of virtual Operation of the virtual data unit (VDU) of the network function; receiving one or more second values of the one or more system parameters from the VDU; and a second value among the one or more second values Compared with a first value in the one or more first values, the first and the second values correspond to the first system parameter of the one or more system parameters; according to the second value and the first value To perform the under-utilization or over-utilization management action; and send a request to the global monitor of the virtual network function manager (VNFM) to perform the under-utilization or over-utilization management action. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 11 of the scope of patent application, in which the local monitor is used to perform over-utilization management actions to add a virtual central processing unit to the VDU, increase the circulation of virtual links, and change one or Multiple memory blocks are added to the VDU, or another VDU is instantiated. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 11 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, and calculation cycle parameters, and when these commands are executed, they also enable the local monitoring Device: Detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the first value of the service time parameter Two values; and the first value of the calculation period parameter is smaller than the second value of the calculation period parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to add the virtual central processing unit to the VDU. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 11 of the scope of patent application, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation cycle parameters, and network bandwidth parameters, and these commands should be executed It also causes the local monitor to detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than The second value of the service time parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; and the network The first value of the bandwidth parameter is smaller than the second value of the network bandwidth parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to increase the circulation of the virtual link. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 11 of the scope of the patent application, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, network bandwidth parameters, and virtual memory parameters, and the These instructions, when executed, also cause the local monitor to detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions including: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the service time parameter The first value of is less than the second value of the service time parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the second value of the calculation period parameter; the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is not less than the network bandwidth The second value of the parameter; and the first value of the virtual memory parameter is less than the second value of the virtual memory parameter; and according to the detection of the first set of conditions, the over-utilization management action is executed to transfer one or more memories The volume is added to the VDU. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 11 of the scope of patent application, where the VDU is the first VDU and the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters, service time parameters, calculation period parameters, network bandwidth parameters, and Virtual memory parameters, and when these instructions are executed, the local monitor: detects a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the queue time parameter The first value of the number is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is less than the second value of the service time parameter; the first value of the calculation period parameter is not less than the first value of the calculation period parameter Two values; the first value of the network bandwidth parameter is not less than the second value of the network bandwidth parameter; the first value of the virtual memory parameter is not less than the second value of the virtual memory parameter; and the queue The first value of the queue time parameter is less than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and detection based on the first set of conditions, Perform this over-utilization management action to instantiate the second VDU. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 11 of the scope of patent application, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters and service time parameters, and when these commands are executed, they also cause the local monitor to: detect the first Group conditions, the first group of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is not greater than the second value of the queue time parameter or the first value of the service time parameter is not less than the second value of the service time parameter; And the first value of the queue time parameter is less than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and according to the first set of conditions To perform the over-utilization management action to instantiate additional virtual machines for the VDU. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 11 of the scope of patent application, where the The ground monitor is used to perform underutilization management actions to close the VDU, migrate the operation of the VDU to another VDU and close the VDU, remove one or more memory blocks from the VDU, and remove the VDU from the VDU. One or more virtual central processing units vCPUs, or reduce the throughput of virtual links. For example, the computer-readable medium of item 18 of the scope of patent application, wherein the one or more system parameters include queue time parameters and service time parameters, and when these commands are executed, they also cause the local monitor to: detect the first Set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the queue time parameter and the first value of the service time parameter is greater than the second value of the service time parameter; and the The second value of the queue time parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the queue time parameter and the second value of the service time parameter is less than the predetermined minimum threshold value of the service time parameter; and the detection according to the first set of conditions is performed This underutilization management action closes the VDU. For example, the computer readable medium of item 18 of the scope of patent application, where the VDU is the first VDU, and the one or more system parameters are the first system parameters including the first queue time parameter and the first service time parameter, and When the instructions are executed, the local monitor is also caused to detect a first set of conditions, the first set of conditions includes: the first value of the first queue time parameter is greater than the second value of the first queue time parameter And the first value of the first service time parameter is greater than the second value of the first service time parameter Value; the second value of the first queue time parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the queue time parameter or the second value of the first service time parameter is not less than the predetermined minimum threshold of the service time parameter; according to the The detection of the first set of conditions determines whether the second VDU performs the same sub-function as the first VDU; and if it is determined that the second VDU is performing the same sub-function as the first VDU, then obtain an OR of the second VDU One or more first values of a plurality of second system parameters, and the one or more second system parameters include a second queue time parameter and a second service time parameter. A component manager includes: an interface circuit for communicatively coupling the component manager to a network component of a physical network function PNF for performing network services, and a virtual network function manager VNFM And a control circuit, coupled with the interface circuit, the control circuit is used to: receive the performance measurement index related to the PNF through the interface circuit; update the counter according to the index; detect the occurrence of a predetermined report event; Through the interface circuit, the report is sent to the virtual network function manager based on the indicator. For example, the 21st component manager in the scope of patent application, in which the control circuit is also used for: According to the indicator, determine the first value of the system parameter; compare the first value of the system parameter with a predetermined threshold; and detect the predetermined report event based on the comparison of the first value of the system parameter with the predetermined threshold. occur. For example, the component manager of item 21 of the scope of patent application, wherein the control circuit is used to receive the indicator from the network component and the report includes the network service identifier corresponding to the network service and the PNF identifier corresponding to the PNF Symbol, and the value of the index corresponding to the performance measurement.

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