System, method, and computer program for automatically instructing a virtual network function (VNF) to operate in accordance with one of a plurality of function definitions

A computer program product embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising:

• computer code for identifying a virtual service in a Network Function Virtualization (NFV-based) communication network, the virtual service including:
• a plurality of virtual network functions (VNFs), and
• a plurality of functions, at least one function of the plurality of functions specifying two or more VNFs of the plurality of VNFs adapted be interchangeably used for performing the function;
• computer code for receiving information associated with a current operation of the virtual service;
• computer code for identifying a plurality of policies configured for the virtual service;
• computer code for for each function of the at least one function specifying two or more VNFs of the plurality of VNFs adapted be interchangeably used for performing the function:
• selecting, based on the identified policies and the received information, one VNF of the VNFs specified by the function, and
• automatically instructing the selected VNF to perform the function, and
• performing, by the selected VNF, the function for providing at least a portion of the virtual service.

A system comprising:

• a memory system;
• and
• one or more processing cores coupled to the memory system and that are each configured to:
• identify a virtual service in a Network Function Virtualization (NFV-based) communication network, the virtual service including:
• a plurality of virtual network functions (VNFs), and
• a plurality of functions, at least one function of the plurality of functions specifying two or more VNFs of the plurality of VNFs adapted be interchangeably used for performing the function;
• receive information associated with a current operation of the virtual service;
• identify a plurality of policies configured for the virtual service;
• for each function of the at least one function specifying two or more VNFs of the plurality of VNFs adapted be interchangeably used for performing the function:
• select, based on the identified policies and the received information, one VNF of the VNFs specified by the function, and
• automatically instruct the selected VNF to perform the function, and
• perform, by the selected VNF, the function for providing at least a portion of the virtual service.