IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,368,565
Granted Patent B1
US 11,368,565 · App. 17/088,564 · Granted Jun 21, 2022

VNFM assisted split-brain resolution in virtual network function components

Inventor: Keith William Melkild (Allen, TX)
Assignee: OPEN INVENTION NETWORK LLC
H04L69/40G06F9/45558H04L41/0672H04L41/0893H04L43/0811H04L43/10H04L49/557H04L67/145G06F2009/45587G06F2009/45591G06F2009/45595
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,368,565
App. No.
17/088,564
Granted
Jun 21, 2022
Kind
B1
Abstract

An example operation may include a system, comprising one or more of receiving a heartbeat message from a peer virtualization network function component interface (VFCNI) indicating a current operational state of active when a VNFCI is in an active state, sending a first heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating a current operational state as active, sending a next state request with an active state and split-brain condition to a virtual network function manager (VNFM), starting a response timer, sending a second heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating the current operational state as active and a desired operational state as active when one or more of: the VNFCI is not a preferred standby instance, the response timer expires, stopping the response timer when a next state response message is received, sending a third heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating the current operational state as active and a desired operational state as active when and an active state is contained in the next state response message, and transitioning a state of the VNFCI to a deactivating state when one or more of: the VCNFI is the preferred standby instance, and a standby state is contained in the next state response message.

Claims (54)

1. A system, configured to:

receive, by a first virtualization network function component interface (VNFCI), a heartbeat message from a peer VNFCI indicating that the peer VNFCI is active;

send, by the first VNFCI, a first heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is active;

send, by the first VNFCI, a next state request message to a virtual network function manager (VNFM), the next state request message indicating that the first VNFCI is active and that the first VNFCI is in a split-brain condition;

wherein, when the first VNFCI does not receive a next state response message from the VNFM, the first VNFCI is to:

send a second heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is active and indicating a desired operational state as active based on a determination that the first VNFCI is not a preferred standby instance and that a response timer has expired, or

send a third heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is transitioning to a deactivated state based on a determination that the first VNFCI is a preferred standby instance and that the response timer has expired.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when the first VNFCI receives a next state response message from the VNFM, the first VNFCI is to stop the response timer, and further is to:

send a fourth heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is active and indicating a desired operational state as active based on the next state response message indicating a next state of Active.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first VNFCI is to stop the response timer, and further is to:

transition to a deactivating state when the next state response message indicating a next state of Standby.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first VNFCI is configured to start the response timer when the first VNFCI sends the next state request message.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when the first VNFCI receives a next state response message, the first VNFCI further is to:

send a fifth heartbeat message is sent to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is transitioning to a deactivated state.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first VNFCI stays in active state when one or more of:

the second heartbeat message is sent or the fourth heartbeat message is sent.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first VNFCI transitions to a standby state when the fifth heartbeat message is sent.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a first virtualization network function component interface (VNFCI), a heartbeat message from a peer VNFCI indicating that the peer VNFCI is active;

sending, by the first VNFCI, a first heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is active;

sending, by the first VNFCI, a next state request message to a virtual network function manager (VNFM), the next state request message indicating that the first VNFCI is active and that the first VNFCI is in a split-brain condition;

wherein, when the first VNFCI does not receive a next state response message from the VNFM, the first VNFCI is to perform:

sending a second heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is active and indicating a desired operational state as active based on a determination that the first VNFCI is not a preferred standby instance and that a response timer has expired, or

sending a third heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is transitioning to a deactivated state based on a determination that the first VNFCI is a preferred standby instance and that the response timer has expired; and

wherein, when the first VNFCI receives a next state response message from the VNFMN, the first VNFCI is to perform stopping the response timer.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein, when the first VNFCI receives a next state response message from the VNFM, the first VNFCI is to stop the response timer, and further is to:

send a fourth heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is active and indicating a desired operational state as active based on the next state response message indicating a next state of Active.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first VNFCI is to stop the response timer, and further is to:

transition to a deactivating state when the next state response message indicating a next state of Standby.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the starting the response timer further comprises:

starting the response timer when the first VNFCI sends the next state request message.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein, when the first VNFCI receives a next state response message, the first VNFCI further is to:

send a fifth heartbeat message is sent to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is transitioning to a deactivated state.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first VNFCI stays in active state when one or more of:

the second heartbeat message is sent or the fourth heartbeat message is sent.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first VNFCI transitions to a standby state when the fifth heartbeat message is sent.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions that when executed by a processor of a first virtualization network function component interface (VNFCI) cause the processor to perform:

receiving a heartbeat message from a peer VNFCI indicating that the peer VNFCI is active;

sending a first heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is active;

sending a next state request message to a virtual network function manager (VNFM), the next state request message indicating that the first VNFCI is active and that the first VNFCI is in a split-brain condition;

wherein, when the first VNFCI does not receive a next state response message from the VNFM, the processor is to perform:

sending a second heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is active and indicating a desired operational state as active based on a determination that the first VNFCI is not a preferred standby instance and that a response timer has expired, or

sending a third heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is transitioning to a deactivated state based on a determination that the first VNFCI is a preferred standby instance and that the response timer has expired; and

wherein, when the first VNFCI receives a next state response message from the VNFM, the processor is to perform stopping the response timer.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein, when the first VNFCI receives a next state response message from the VNFM, the first VNFCI is to stop the response timer, and further is to:

send a fourth heartbeat message to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is active and indicating a desired operational state as active based on the next state response message indicating a next state of Active.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first VNFCI is to stop the response timer, and further is to:

transition to a deactivating state when the next state response message indicating a next state of Standby.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the starting the response timer further comprises:

starting the response timer when the first VNFCI sends the next state request message.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein, when the first VNFCI receives a next state response message, the instruction further cause the processor further to perform:

sending a fifth heartbeat message is sent to the peer VNFCI indicating that the first VNFCI is transitioning to a deactivated state.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first VNFCI stays in active state when one or more of:

the second heartbeat message is sent or the fourth heartbeat message is sent.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2020
From: MELKILD, KEITH WILLIAM
To: OPEN INVENTION NETWORK LLC
Reel/Frame 054750/0195 →