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US-12621210-B2 - Network service deployment method and system

US12621210B2US 12621210 B2US12621210 B2US 12621210B2US-12621210-B2

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes generating initial features of a network service template (NST), integrating a cloud-native network function (CNF) of the NST with an internet protocol (IP) address manager, integrating the CNF with a unique host name (UHN) manager, defining details of each role of a plurality of roles of the CNF, and storing the NST in a storage device.

Inventors

  • Satyanarayan SINGH
  • Adesh MITTAL

Assignees

  • Rakuten Mobile, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20220729

Claims (17)

  1. 1 . A method executed by a processor, the method comprising: generating initial features of a network service template (NST); integrating a cloud-native network function (CNF) of the NST with an internet protocol (IP) address manager; integrating the CNF with a unique host name (UHN) manager wherein integrating comprises receiving user information identifying the UHN manager; defining details of each role of a plurality of roles of the CNF; and storing the NST in a storage device.
  2. 2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the initial features of the NST comprises generating at least one initial feature from a network service descriptor (NSD).
  3. 3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the generating the initial features of the NST comprises identifying a virtual network function manager.
  4. 4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising linking the CNF to one or both of a server cluster or a container image.
  5. 5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the CNF is a first CNF of a plurality of CNFs of the NST, and the method further comprises, for each CNF of the plurality of CNFs, repeating each of the integrating the CNF with the IP address manager, the integrating the CNF with the UHN manager, and the defining the details of each role of the plurality of roles of the CNF.
  6. 6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising deploying an application using the stored NST.
  7. 7 . An apparatus, comprising: a user interface; a memory having non-transitory instructions stored therein; and a processor coupled to the memory, and being configured to execute the instructions, thereby causing the apparatus to: receive user instructions through the user interface; and in response to the user instructions: generate initial features of a network service template (NST); integrate a cloud-native network function (CNF) of the NST with an internet protocol (IP) address manager; integrate the CNF with a unique host name (UHN) manager wherein integrating comprises receiving user information identifying the UHN manager; define details of each role of a plurality of roles of the CNF; and store the NST in a storage device.
  8. 8 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to, in response to the user instructions: generate at least one of the initial features from a network service descriptor (NSD).
  9. 9 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to generate the initial features of the NST comprising an identifier of a virtual network function manager.
  10. 10 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to, in response to the user instructions: link the CNF to one or both of a server cluster or a container image.
  11. 11 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the CNF is a first CNF of a plurality of CNFs of the NST, and the instructions further cause the apparatus to, in response to the user instructions: for each CNF of the plurality of CNFs, repeat each of integrating the CNF with the IP address manager, integrating the CNF with the UHN manager, and defining the details of each role of the plurality of roles of the CNF.
  12. 12 . The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the instructions further cause the apparatus to, in response to the user instructions: deploy an application using the stored NST.
  13. 13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions executable by a controller of an orchestrator device to cause the controller to perform operations comprising: generating initial features of a network service template (NST); integrating a cloud-native network function (CNF) of the NST with an internet protocol (IP) address manager; integrating the CNF with a unique host name (UHN) manager wherein integrating comprises receiving user information identifying the UHN manager; defining details of each role of a plurality of roles of the CNF; and storing the NST in a storage device.
  14. 14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are executable by the controller of the orchestrator device to cause the controller to generate at least one of the initial features from a network service descriptor (NSD).
  15. 15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are executable by the controller of the orchestrator device to cause the controller to generate the initial features of the NST by identifying a virtual network function manager.
  16. 16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the instructions are executable by the controller of the orchestrator device to cause the controller to link the CNF to one or both of a server cluster or a container image.
  17. 17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13 , wherein the CNF is a first CNF of a plurality of CNFs of the NST, and the instructions are executable by the controller of the orchestrator device to cause the controller to, for each CNF of the plurality of CNFs, repeat each of the integrating the CNF with the IP address manager, the integrating the CNF with the UHN manager, and the defining the details of each role of the plurality of roles of the CNF.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS The present application is a National Phase of International Application No. PCT/US2022/038806, filed Jul. 29, 2022. BACKGROUND Network functions virtualization (NFV) is a network architecture concept that leverages virtualization technologies to virtualize entire classes of network node functions into building blocks that connect, or chain together, to create and deliver communication services. NFV is based upon traditional server-virtualization techniques such as those used in enterprise information technology (IT). A virtualized network function (VNF) is typically implemented within one or more virtual machines (VMs) or containers running different software and processes, on top of commercially available off-the-shelf (COTS) high-volume servers, switches, and storage devices, or even cloud computing infrastructure, instead of having custom hardware appliances for each network function. The decoupling of the network function software from the customized hardware platform realizes a flexible network architecture that enables agile network management. A cloud-native network function (CNF) is a software-implementation of a network function traditionally performed by a physical device and typically runs inside a container, e.g., a Linux container. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Aspects of the present disclosure are best understood from the following detailed description when read with the accompanying figures. In accordance with the standard practice in the industry, various features are not drawn to scale. In fact, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily increased or reduced for clarity of discussion. FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of a communication system, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a network service deployment method, in accordance with some embodiments. FIGS. 3A-3F are non-limiting examples of graphical user interfaces, in accordance with some embodiments. FIG. 4 is a diagram of a network configuration system, in accordance with some embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION The following disclosure provides many different embodiments, or examples, for implementing different features of the provided subject matter. Specific examples of components and arrangements are described below to simplify the present disclosure. These are, of course, merely examples and are not intended to be limiting. For example, the formation or position of a first feature over or on a second feature in the description that follows include embodiments in which the first and second features are formed or positioned in direct contact and include embodiments in which additional features are formed or positioned between the first and second features, such that the first and second features are in indirect contact. In addition, the present disclosure repeats reference numerals and/or letters in the various examples. This repetition is for the purpose of simplicity and clarity and does not in itself dictate a relationship between the various embodiments and/or configurations discussed. Further, spatially relative terms, such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, are used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. The spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of a system or object in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. The system is otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein likewise are interpreted accordingly. In various embodiments, a method, apparatus, and computer readable medium are directed to automatically generating initial features of a network service template (NST), integrating a cloud-native network function (CNF) of the NST with an internet protocol (IP) address manager, integrating the CNF with a unique host name (UHN) manager, defining details of each role of a plurality of roles of the CNF, and storing the NST in a storage device. In some embodiments, the CNF is one CNF of multiple CNFs of the NST, each CNF is integrated with the IP address manager and UHN, and the details of the plurality of roles of each CNF are defined. In some embodiments, a given CNF is linked to one or both of a server cluster or a container image and/or the CNF role details include IP pool and domain name system (DNS) information. In some embodiments, the stored NST is used to deploy an application. FIGS. 1A and 1B are block diagrams of a communication system 100 (hereinafter referred to as “system 100”), in accordance with some embodiments. System 100 includes a plurality of devices 102 coupled to a network 104 by a plurality of links 106. Network 104 is coupled to a device 102A of plurality of devices 102 by a link 106A of plurality of links 106. Plurality of devices 102 including device 102A are coupled to each