US 2019/0097946 A1Published application

System and method for elastic scaling of virtualized network functions over a software defined network

AssigneeArgela Yazilim Ve Bilisim Teknolojileri San. Ve Tic. A.S.

InventorsERHAN LOKMAN, ONUR KOYUNCU, EROL OZCAN, SINAN TATLICIOGLU, SEYHAN CIVANLAR

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Abstract

When network function virtualization (NFV) is overlaid on top of a SDN, a convergence gateway mediates between the orchestrator and the SDN controller. The convergence gateway collects from the orchestrator the information on the location, capacity, status, and usage information of all virtualized functions that run on SDN's physical platforms, and passes that information to the controller. The controller decides to optimally route a data flow for service chaining by obeying traffic engineering and quality of service policies of that data flow, choosing from available virtualized functions along that route. An information model based approach is also presented for information sharing across the orchestrator, convergence gateway and controller.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method as implemented in a controller attached to a convergence gateway in a software-defined network (SDN), the controller controlling at least a first network switch and a second network switch that are part of the SDN, a first platform hosting a first virtual function collocated with the first network switch and a second platform hosting a second virtual function collocated with the second network switch, an orchestrator managing the first and second virtual functions, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) determining an optimal routing path for a traffic flow passing through said first network switch, with the traffic flow requiring to visit the second virtual function at the first network switch;
(b) sending a request to the convergence gateway to move the second virtual function at the second platform hosting the second virtual function at the second network switch onto the first platform hosting the first virtual function at the first switch location,
wherein the convergence gateway forwards the request to the orchestrator which moves the second virtual function at the second platform hosting the second virtual function at the second network switch onto the first platform hosting the first virtual function at the first switch location.

A system comprising:

a controller attached to a convergence gateway in a software-defined network (SDN), the controller controlling at least a first network switch and a second network switch that are part of the SDN,
a first platform hosting a first virtual function collocated with the first network switch;
a second platform hosting a second virtual function collocated with the second network switch,
an orchestrator managing the first and second virtual functions, and
wherein the controller:
(a) determines an optimal routing path for a traffic flow passing through said first network switch, with the traffic flow requiring to visit the second virtual function at the first network switch;
(b) sends a request to the convergence gateway to move the second virtual function at the second platform hosting the second virtual function at the second network switch onto the first platform hosting the first virtual function at the first switch location, and
wherein the convergence gateway forwards the request to the orchestrator which moves the second virtual function at the second platform hosting the second virtual function at the second network switch onto the first platform hosting the first virtual function at the first switch location.

5 more elements

An article of manufacture comprising non-transitory computer storage medium storing computer readable program code which, when executed by a computer, implements a method as implemented in a controller attached to a convergence gateway in a software-defined network (SDN), the controller controlling at least a first network switch and a second network switch that are part of the SDN, a first platform hosting a first virtual function collocated with the first network switch and a second platform hosting a second virtual function collocated with the second network switch, an orchestrator managing the first and second virtual functions, the medium comprising:

(a) computer readable program code determining an optimal routing path for a traffic flow passing through said first network switch, with the traffic flow requiring to visit the second virtual function at the first network switch;
(b) computer readable program code sending a request to the convergence gateway to move the second virtual function at the second platform hosting the second virtual function at the second network switch onto the first platform hosting the first virtual function at the first switch location,
wherein the convergence gateway forwards the request to the orchestrator which moves the second virtual function at the second platform hosting the second virtual function at the second network switch onto the first platform hosting the first virtual function at the first switch location.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/718,861Filed 28 Sep 2017
Published: 28 Mar 2019
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

H04L 49/25
Packet switching elements: routing or path finding in a switch fabric
G06F 9/455
Arrangements for executing specific programs: emulation; Interpretation; Software simulation, e.g. virtualisation or emulation of application or…
H04L 12/66
Data switching networks: arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
H04L 45/306
Route determination based on requested QoS: route determination based on the nature of the carried application