# US 12,003,366 B2 · System and method for SDN orchestration validation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,003,366 B2 - Document ID: US12003366B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/939,072 - Filed: 2022-09-07 - Published: 2023-01-05 - Granted: 2024-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2019-08-15 - Assignees: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Applicants: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P. - Inventors: Dylan Reid; Joseph Soryal - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12003366B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/0806: for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play - G06F 9/455: Emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or operating system execution engines - H04L 41/06: Management of faults, events, alarms or notifications - H04L 41/0893: Assignment of logical groups to network elements - H04L 41/0894: Policy-based network configuration management - H04L 41/0895: Configuration of virtualised networks or elements, e.g. virtualised network function or OpenFlow elements - H04L 41/0897: by horizontal or vertical scaling of resources, or by migrating entities, e.g. virtual resources or entities - H04L 41/20: {Network management software packages} - H04L 41/342: between virtual entities, e.g. orchestrators, SDN or NFV entities - H04L 43/20: the monitoring system or the monitored elements being virtualised, abstracted or software-defined entities, e.g. SDN or NFV - H04L 43/50: Testing arrangements - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A system includes an orchestrator for a software-defined network and configured to receive a request for operation of the software-defined network, a software-defined network controller in communication with the orchestrator through a northbound application programming interface, at least one network element in communication with the software defined network controller though a southbound application programming interface, and a mutable network element configured to receive the request and instantiate a virtual function within the mutable network element to test the at least one network element in accordance with the request. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: a processing system including a processor; and a memory that stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processing system, facilitate performance of operations comprising: instantiating a first network element in a communication network, the communication network comprising a plurality of operational elements; and configuring a mutable network element in the communication network to simulate a second network element in the communication network resulting in a simulated network element, wherein the mutable network element comprises a dedicated network element separate from the plurality of operational elements, wherein the mutable network element comprises a server, a router, or a combination thereof with a configurable structure, wherein the simulated network element is configured as a temporary node in the communication network, wherein in accordance with the configuring, the mutable network element assumes an identity of the second network element to perform a test of the first network element in the communication network prior to the first network element becoming operational in the communication network, wherein the first network element is isolated from the plurality of operational elements until a configuration of the first network element is verified. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a request to instantiate the first network element in the communication network, wherein the mutable network element is configured in accordance with the request. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the operations further comprise receiving, responsive to test results indicating a successful test, a confirmation that the first network element is configured in accordance with the request. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving an alert responsive to test results indicating a failed test. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the mutable network element hosts a database for at least one security policy that lists at least one prohibited protocol associated with the first network element. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise enabling the first network element to become operational. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the test is an off-line operational test. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the mutable network element is further configured to communicate with the first network element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the mutable network element is configured to instantiate a plurality of replicated virtual functions on the communication network to mimic an operation of one or more network element functions. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the test of the first network element comprises interaction with the plurality of replicated virtual functions. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: instantiating, by a processing system including a processor, a first network element in a communication network, the communication network comprising a plurality of operational elements; and configuring, by the processing system, a mutable network element in the communication network to simulate a second network element in the communication network resulting in a simulated network element, wherein the mutable network element comprises a dedicated network element separate from the plurality of operational elements, wherein the simulated network element is configured as a temporary node in the communication network, wherein in accordance with the configuring, the mutable network element assumes an identity of the second network element to perform a test of the first network element in isolation from the plurality of operational elements prior to the first network element becoming operational in the communication network, wherein the mutable network element hosts a database for at least one security policy that lists at least one prohibited protocol associated with the first network element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the first network element is isolated from the plurality of operational elements until a configuration of the first network element is verified. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, by the processing system, a request to instantiate the first network element in the communication network, wherein the mutable network element is configured in accordance with the request. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising receiving, by the processing system responsive to test results indicating a successful test, a confirmation that the first network element is configured in accordance with the request. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving, by the processing system, an alert responsive to test results indicating a failed test. ### Claim 16 A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processing system including a processor, facilitate performance of operations comprising: instantiating a first network element in a network comprising a plurality of operational elements; and configuring a mutable network element in the network to simulate a second network element in the network resulting in a simulated network element, wherein the mutable network element comprises a dedicated network element separate from the plurality of operational elements, wherein the simulated network element is configured as a temporary node in the network, wherein in accordance with the configuring, the mutable network element assumes an identity of the second network element to perform a test of the first network element in the network prior to the first network element becoming operational in the network, wherein the first network element is isolated from the plurality of operational elements until a configuration of the first network element is verified, wherein the mutable network element hosts a database for at least one security policy that lists at least one prohibited protocol associated with the first network element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the network comprises a communication network, and wherein the mutable network element is further configured to communicate with the first network element. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise receiving a request to instantiate the first network element in the network, wherein the mutable network element is configured in accordance with the request. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise enabling the first network element to become operational. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the mutable network element comprises a server, a router, or a combination thereof with a configurable structure.