Method and device for estimating workload of network function

A workload estimation method for estimating a workload of a network function that sequentially performs a search from a first rule toward an N-th rule until a received flow matches one of N rules so as to processes the received flow in accordance with the rule that matches the received flow, the method comprising:

• obtaining, by a processor, information that indicate maximum throughputs of the network function respectively for the rules;
• measuring, by the processor, traffic volumes of flows that respectively match the rules;
• and
• estimating, by the processor, a workload of the network function based on a workload calculation formula below:
• WL
• =
• t
• 1
• T
• 1
• +
• t
• 2
• T
• 2
• +
• …
• +
• t
• N
• T
• N
• where Tn represents a maximum throughput of the network function for the n-th rule in the N rules, tn represents a traffic volume measured for a flow that matches the n-th rule in the N rules, and n represents an integer from 1 through N for identifying each of the N rules.

A workload estimation device that estimates a workload of a network function that processes a received flow based on a rule searched for from among a plurality of rules, the device comprising:

• a memory in which the plurality of rules are registered;
• and
• a processor configured to:
• obtain information that indicates maximum throughputs of the network function respectively for the rules registered in the memory;
• measure traffic volumes of flows that respectively match the rules registered in the memory;
• calculate ratios of the measured traffic volumes to the maximum throughputs respectively for the rules registered in the memory;
• and
• estimate a workload of the network function based on a sum of the ratios calculated respectively for the rules registered in the memory.

A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium having stored therein a program for causing a computer to execute a workload estimation process, the workload estimation process comprising:

• obtaining information that indicates maximum throughputs of the network function respectively for the rules;
• measuring traffic volumes of flows that respectively match the rules;
• calculating ratios of the measured traffic volumes to the maximum throughputs respectively for the rules;
• and
• estimating a workload of the network function based on a sum of the ratios calculated respectively for the rules.