# US 2020/0401432 A1 · Management method and management apparatus in network system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2020/0401432 A1 - Document ID: US20200401432A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/088,190 - Filed: 2016-03-27 - Published: 2020-12-24 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-27 - Assignees: NEC Corporation - Applicants: NEC Corporation - Inventors: Shintaro NAKANO; Hideo HASEGAWA; Satoru ISHII; Seiya SHIBATA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20200401432A1 ## CPC - G06F 9/45558: {Hypervisor-specific management and integration aspects} - G06F 9/5044: {considering hardware capabilities} - H04L 12/4641: {Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] (LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272)} - G06F 2009/45595: {Network integration; Enabling network access in virtual machine instances} - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract A management method, a management apparatus, and a network system, for efficiently managing a network including programmable logic circuits as a VNF infrastructure, are provided. A management apparatus (10) for a network including servers on which virtual network functions operate stores at least one virtual network function (VNF-1 to VNF-5) operating on a server (A, B, C, D), and server attribute information indicating whether or not the server supports a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the virtual network function, wherein the at least one virtual network function and the server attribute information are associated with each other. The management apparatus, at least, manages the server that includes the programmable logic circuit based on the associated information, wherein the virtual network function operations on the server. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A management apparatus for a network including servers on which virtual network functions operate, the management apparatus comprising: a database configured to store at least one virtual network function operating on a server and server attribute information of the server, which are associated with each other, the server attribute information indicating whether or not the server includes a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the virtual network function; and a processor configured to manage the servers based on associated information stored in the database, wherein the servers includes at least one server that includes the programmable logic circuit. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, when starting one virtual network function, select a server or a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the one virtual network function, based on the associated information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to select a server or a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the one virtual network function, further based on an instruction from outside or on a characteristic of virtual network function. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to select a server or a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the one virtual network function, further based on a type of the programmable logic circuit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, when performing migration of the virtual network function from a first server to a second server, select the second server having an attribute matched to an attribute of the first server. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to select a server or a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the virtual network function in accordance with preset priority. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to, when switching a path passing through a first server configured to implement a certain virtual network function to a path passing through a second server, select the second server having an attribute matched to an attribute of the first server. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one server that includes the programmable logic circuit includes: a first processing unit for implementing a desired virtual network function by software control; and a second processing unit including the programmable logic circuit for implementing the desired virtual network function by configuration data, and the processor is further configured to select the first processing unit or the second processing unit as an operation subject of the desired virtual network function. ### Claim 9 A management method for a network including servers on which virtual network functions operate, the management method comprising: by a database, storing at least one virtual network function operating on a server and server attribute information of the server, which are associated with each other, the server attribute information indicating whether or not the server includes a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the virtual network function; and by a processor, managing the servers based on associated information stored in the database, wherein the servers includes at least one server that includes the programmable logic circuit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The management method according to claim 9, wherein when starting one virtual network function, the processor selects a server or a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the one virtual network function, based on the associated information. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The management method according to claim 9, wherein the processor selects a server or a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the virtual network function, further based on an instruction from outside or on a characteristic of virtual network function. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The management method according to claim 9, wherein the processor selects a server or a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the virtual network function, further based on a type of the programmable logic circuit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The management method according to claim 9, wherein when performing migration of the virtual network function from a first server to a second server, the processor selects the second server having an attribute matched to an attribute of the first server. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The management method according to claim 9, wherein the processor selects a server or a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the virtual network function in accordance with preset priority. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The management method according to claim 9, wherein when switching a path passing through a first server configured to implement a certain virtual network function to a path passing through a second server, the processor selects the second server having an attribute matched to an attribute of the first server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The management method according to claim 9, wherein the at least one server that includes the programmable logic circuit includes: a first processing unit for implementing a desired virtual network function by software control; and a second processing unit including the programmable logic circuit for implementing the desired virtual network function by configuration data, wherein the processor selects the first processing unit or the second processing unit as an operation subject of the desired virtual network function. ### Claim 17 (canceled) ### Claim 18 A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a program for causing a computer to function as a management apparatus for a network including servers on which virtual network functions operate, the program comprising a set of instructions to: store, in a database, at least one virtual network function operating on a server and server attribute information, which are associated with each other, the server attribute information indicating whether or not the server includes a programmable logic circuit as an operation subject of the virtual network function; and manage the servers based on associated information stored in the database, wherein the servers include at least one server that includes the programmable logic circuit.