US 2019/0199760 A1 · NETWORK FUNCTION VIRTUALIZATION

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for addressing of Virtual Network Functions, VNFs. A registration controller of a VNF instance controls a transmitter to transmit a registration request to a VNF Service Registry, VNF-SR, the registration request identifying a public address of the VNF instance. A receiver of the VNF-SR receives the registration request and a VNF address determiner determines a VNF address for the VNF instance based on the received registration request. A Database Management System, DBMS, stores the determined VNF address in a memory. An event subscriber of a Virtual Network Function Manager, VNFM, controls a transmitter to transmit a subscription request to the VNF-SR, the subscription request comprising an identifier for a VNF. A receiver of a Virtual Configuration Server, VCS, receives a notification from the VNF-SR when a change has occurred in configuration and/or address data stored in the memory of the VNF-SR and relating to one or more VNF instances. A configuration manager determines a configuration instruction for the one or more VNFs based on the received notification, and controls a transmitter to transmit the configuration instruction to the one or more VNF instances.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A Virtual Network Function Service Registry, VNF-SR, for allocating and storing Virtual Network Function, VNF, addresses and/or configurations for a plurality of VNF instances in a telecommunications system, the VNF-SR comprising:

a receiver configured to receive a registration request from a computing device for hosting one or more of the plurality of VNF instances, the registration request comprising data identifying a public address of a VNF instance;
a VNF address determiner configured to determine a VNF address for the VNF instance based on the received registration request;
a Database Management System, DBMS, configured to store the determined VNF address in a memory;
and
a VNF classification determiner configured to determine, based on the received registration request, a classification of the VNF instance as one of:
a pooled VNF where the VNF address is one of a plurality of VNF addresses in an elastic pool of VNF addresses;
a singular VNF where the VNF address is a single uniquely identifiable VNF address;
and a singular pooled VNF where the VNF address is one of a plurality of VNF addresses in a static pool of VNF addresses,
wherein the VNF address determiner is configured to determine the VNF address based on the determined classification.

6 more elements

A method for controlling a Virtual Network Function Service Registry, VNF-SR, for allocating and storing Virtual Network Function, VNF, addresses for a plurality of VNF instances in a telecommunications system, the method comprising:

receiving, by a receiver, a registration request from a computing device for hosting one or more of the plurality of VNF instances, the registration request comprising data identifying a public address of a VNF instance;
determining, by a VNF address determiner, a VNF address for the VNF instance based on the received registration request;
storing, by a Database Management System, DBMS, the determined VNF address in a memory;
and
determining, by a VNF classification determiner based on the received registration request, a classification of the VNF instance as one of:
a pooled VNF where the VNF address is one of a plurality of VNF addresses in an elastic pool of VNF addresses;
a singular VNF where the VNF address is a single uniquely identifiable VNF address;
and a singular pooled VNF where the VNF address is one of a plurality of VNF addresses in a static pool of VNF addresses,
wherein the VNF address determiner is configured to determine the VNF address based on the determined classification.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Network function virtualization

Life of this patent

Network function virtualization

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27