US 2017/0250902 A1 · CONTROL OF COMMUNICATION USING SERVICE FUNCTION CHAINING

Abstract

An apparatus including at least one processing circuitry, and at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least: to acquire data indicating at least one available external service function or at least one external service function chain via a predetermined interface, to decide whether at least one of the indicated at least one external service function or at least one external service function chain is usable in a communication of a service data flow in the communication network, to select at least one from the indicated at least one external service function or at least one external service function chain for use on the basis of the decision whether at least one of the advertised at least one external service function or external service function chain is usable in a communication of a service data flow, and to provide, to an external service function providing side, information related to an intended usage of at least one external service function or at least one external service function chain in a service data flow communicated in a communication network. Implements service function chaining and cloud bursting.

Claims17

Dependent claims

-42. (canceled)

An apparatus including

at least one processing circuitry, and
at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein
the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least:
to receive and process service policy rules to be used for routing a service data flow to and within at least one external service function or at least one external service function chain;
to receive a data packet in at least one of uplink and downlink direction;
to determine whether for the received data packet any service policy rules to be used for routing a service data flow to and within at least one external service function or at least one external service function chain are present;
in case service policy rules to be used for routing a service data flow to and within at least one external service function or at least one external service function chain are present, to apply the service policy rules to introducing routing information including a marking in the data packet, wherein the marking indicates service functions or service function chains to be used for the data packet;
and
to route the data packet including the routing information via relevant external service functions or external service function chains.

6 more elements

A method including

receiving and processing service policy rules to be used for routing a service data flow to and within at least one external service function or at least one external service function chain;
receiving a data packet in at least one of uplink and downlink direction;
determining whether for the received data packet any service policy rules to be used for routing a service data flow to and within at least one external service function or at least one external service function chain are present;
in case service policy rules to be used for routing a service data flow to and within at least one external service function or at least one external service function chain are present, applying the service policy rules to introducing routing information including a marking in the data packet, wherein the marking indicates service functions or service function chains to be used for the data packet;
and
routing the data packet including the routing information via relevant external service functions or external service function chains.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Control of communication using service function chaining

Life of this patent

Control of communication using service function chaining

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17