Service enhancement discovery for connectivity traits and virtual network functions in network services

1. A method for service enhancement discovery in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network, the method comprising:

obtaining network measurements for one or more candidate services in the network;

utilizing the network measurements to determine one or more service enhancements for the one or more candidate services, wherein the one or more service enhancements provide additional network functionality to the one or more candidate services;

determining a cost and a benefit for each of the service enhancements for the one or more candidate services;

providing the service enhancements for the one or more candidate services based on scoring using associated cost and associated benefit of each of the service enhancements,

wherein the cost is determined based on a cost of adding the service enhancement in the network and the benefit is determined based on increments to one of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for the one or more candidate services; and

implementing one or more of the provided service enhancements in the network using a control plane.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the service enhancements for an active service of the one or more candidate services comprises determining one or more future times at which the active service is enhanced by changing at least one of its bandwidth, path, and packet priority.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service enhancements for an active service of the one or more candidate services comprise one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) that enhance the active service.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network measurements comprise historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed on the service enhancements.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the increments to one of QoS and QoE is based on one or more of lower required bandwidth, lower packet loss, higher throughput, and faster application response time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the service enhancements for an active service of the one or more candidates services comprise one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) which are configured to enhance the active service, and where network measurements comprise historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed with the one or more VNFs on the active service.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more VNFs comprise a plurality of VNFs with at least two of the plurality of VNFs being different types.

8. A system configured to perform service enhancement discovery in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network, the system comprising:

a network interface communicatively coupled to the network;

a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface;

memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to

obtain network measurements from the network for one or more candidate services in the network,

utilize the network measurements to determine one or more service enhancements for the one or more candidate services, wherein the one or more service enhancements provide additional network functionality to the one or more candidate services,

determine a cost and a benefit for each of the service enhancements for the one or more candidate services, and

provide the service enhancements for the one or more candidate services based on scoring using associated cost and associated benefit of each of the service enhancements,

wherein the cost is determined based on a cost of adding the service enhancement in the network and the benefit is determined based on increments to one of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for the one or more candidate services; and

a control plane operable for implementing one or more of the provided service enhancements in the network.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the service enhancements are determined for an active service of the one or more candidate services through determining one or more future times at which the active service is enhanced by changing at least one of its bandwidth, path, and packet priority.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the service enhancements for an active service of the one or more candidate services comprise one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) that enhance the active service.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the network measurements comprise historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed on the service enhancements.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the increments to one of QoS and QoE is based on one or more of lower required bandwidth, lower packet loss, higher throughput, and faster application response time.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the service enhancements for an active service of the one or more candidates services comprise one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) which are configured to enhance the active service, and where network measurements comprise historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed with the one or more VNFs on the active service.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more VNFs comprise a plurality of VNFs with at least two of the plurality of VNFs being different types.

15. A Software Defined Networking (SDN) network with a discovery engine configured to perform service enhancement discovery in the network, the network comprising:

a plurality of interconnected network elements;

a controller configured to implement a control plane, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to one or more of the plurality of interconnected network elements; and

a server communicatively coupled to the controller and implementing a discovery engine configured to

obtain network measurements from the network for one or more candidate services in the network,

utilize the network measurements to determine one or more service enhancements for the one or more candidate services, wherein the one or more service enhancements provide additional network functionality to the one or more candidate services,

determine a cost and a benefit for each of the service enhancements for the one or more candidate services, and

provide the service enhancements for the one or more candidate services based on scoring using associated cost and associated benefit of each of the service enhancements,

wherein the cost is determined based on a cost of adding the service enhancement in the network and the benefit is determined based on increments to one of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for the one or more candidate services;

wherein the control plane is operable for implementing one or more of the provided service enhancements in the network.

16. The network of claim 15 , wherein the service enhancements are determined for an active service of the one or more candidate services through determining one or more future times at which the active service is enhanced by changing at least one of its bandwidth, path, and packet priority.

17. The network of claim 15 , wherein the service enhancements for an active service of the one or more candidate services comprise one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) that enhance the active service.

18. The network of claim 15 , wherein the network measurements comprise historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed on the service enhancements.