Control mechanism for reliability and availability setting in virtual networks

A system for providing resources from a physical network, provided by at least one physical network provider, to a virtual network provider, the virtual network provider assembling the resources to compose at least one virtual network for providing telecommunication services, the system comprising:

• a) a virtual network provider controller configured to
• a1) identify a need for certain resources at the virtual network provider and an availability and reliability level to be achieved;
• and
• a2) request resources matching the identified need from the at least one physical network provider, wherein an indication concerning the availability and reliability level to be achieved is provided with the request;
• b) a physical network provider controller configured to
• b1) conduct virtualization for creating the virtual network by:
• b1a) identifying and selecting by the at least one physical network provider resources in the physical network based on the requested resources and the indication concerning the availability and reliability level to be achieved;
• b1b) isolating the selected resources from other resources of the physical network and reserving them for exclusive use in the virtual network;
• b1c) determining an availability and reliability level of the selected resources and generating an indication for the achieved availability and reliability level;
• and
• b1d) attaching unique identification, address and access information to the isolated and reserved resources in order to enable exclusive accessibility in the virtual network;
• and
• c) report a result of the virtualization with information concerning identification, addressability and accessibility of the selected resources and the indication concerning the achieved availability and reliability level to the virtual network provider controller;
• wherein control of the resources reserved for exclusive use in the virtual network is handed over to the virtual network provider controller.

A method of providing resources from a physical network, provided by at least one physical network provider, to a virtual network provider, the virtual network provider assembling these resources to compose at least one virtual network for providing telecommunication services, the method which comprises the steps of:

• a) identifying a need for certain resources at the virtual network provider and an availability and reliability level to be achieved;
• b) requesting resources matching the identified need from the at least one physical network provider, wherein an indication concerning the availability and reliability level to be achieved is provided with the request;
• c) conducting virtualization for creating the virtual network by:
• c1) identifying and selecting by the at least one physical network provider resources in the physical network based on the requested resources and the indication concerning the availability and reliability level to be achieved;
• c2) isolating the selected resources from other resources of the physical network and reserving them for exclusive use in the virtual network;
• c3) determining an availability and reliability level of the selected resources and generating an indication for the achieved availability and reliability level;
• and
• c4) attaching unique identification, address and access information to the isolated and reserved re-sources in order to enable exclusive accessibility in the virtual network;
• d) reporting a result of the virtualization with information concerning identification, addressability and accessibility of the selected resources and the indication concerning the achieved availability and reliability level;
• and
• e) handing over control of the resources reserved for exclusive use in the virtual network.

In a communication system, a method comprising:

• receiving a request for providing resources for a virtual network from a virtual network provider level or a virtual network operator level at a lower provider level including either virtual network provider level or an infrastructure provider level, the request comprising:
• an indication regarding required availability and reliability level to be achieved by the resources of the virtual network;
• and
• checking whether the required availability and reliability level is achievable for the resources to be provided for the virtual network.

In a communication system, a method comprising:

• identifying at a virtual network provider a need for certain resources for a virtual network and determining an availability and reliability level to be achieved therefor;
• and
• requesting resources matching the identified need from at least one physical network provider, wherein the request contains:
• an indication regarding a required availability and reliability level to be achieved by the resources of the virtual network.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive a request for providing resources for a virtual network from a virtual network provider level or a virtual network operator level at a lower provider level including either a virtual network provider level or an infrastructure provider level and to process the request;
• the request containing an indication regarding a required availability and a reliability level to be achieved by the resources of the virtual network;
• and
• check whether the required availability and reliability level is achievable for the resources to be provided for the virtual network.

An apparatus, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• identify at a virtual network provider a need for certain resources for a virtual network and to determine an availability and reliability level to be achieved therefor;
• and
• request resources matching the identified need from at least one physical network provider, by sending a request containing:
• an indication regarding required availability and reliability level to be achieved by the resources of the virtual network.