IP Library Granted Patent US 11,831,501
Granted Patent B2
US 11,831,501 · App. 18/146,858 · Granted Nov 28, 2023

Virtual network function descriptor generator

Inventors: Andrew Lee (Enfield, GB); James Duncan Parsons (Enfield, GB); Andrew Munro Caldwell (Enfield, GB); David Charles Hotham (Enfield, GB); Michael André Duppré (London, GB); Philip Joel Davies (Southwold, GB); Joseph Ellis Darracott Powell (London, GB)
Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
H04L41/0816G06F9/45558H04L41/04H04L41/0853G06F2009/45595H04L12/4675
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,831,501
App. No.
18/146,858
Granted
Nov 28, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

Techniques are described for generating a virtualized network function (VNF) descriptor (VNFD) indicative of resources for managing VNF components (VNFCs) across a plurality of virtualized infrastructure managers (VIMs) implemented in a virtualized computing environment configured in a user-specific configuration. A VNFD generator receives a solution description file (SDF) encoding user input pertaining to the user-specific configuration, and a VNFC descriptor encoding VNFC specific information. The SDF and VNFC descriptor are validated and translated to generate an abstracted VNFD that is independent of renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment. The abstracted VNFD is translated to a VNFD that is specific to the renderers and VIM and VNFD-specific information at the virtualized computing environment.

Claims (34)

1. A method for upgrading a virtualized network function (VNF) implemented in a virtualized computing environment configured in a user-specific configuration, the VNF implemented by a plurality of VNF components (VNFCs) executing in a plurality of virtual machines managed by a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM), the method comprising:

receiving a configuration file that identifies an upgrade to the VNF and a set of upgrade instructions;

generating, based on the configuration file, an abstracted VNF descriptor (VNFD) that is independent of renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment configured in the user-specific configuration, the abstracted VNFD usable for mapping information in the configuration file to the renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment in lieu of a separate VNFD for each of the renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment; and

based on the abstracted VNFD, causing execution of a series of operations to effect the upgrade in the virtualized computing environment.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the abstracted VNFD is generated by a VNFD generator executing on a computing device, the abstracted VNFD generated based on a solution description file (SDF) encoding user input pertaining to the user-specific configuration, and a VNFC descriptor encoding VNFC specific information.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the SDF is indicative of a security rule, virtual network configuration, network interface configuration, or whether to deploy a product in its paired or standalone variant.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the renderers include one or more of terraform, Heat, Cloudify, or Ansible.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the VNFC descriptor includes a product schema and a product data file.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the VNFD generator is extendable to new VNFCs.

7. The method of claim 2 , wherein the VNFD generator is extendable to new VIMs or new VNFD-types.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein the SDF is a declarative YAML file that encapsulates information for configuring a specific deployment.

9. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory in communication with the one or more processors, the memory having computer-readable instructions stored thereupon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to execute operations comprising:

receiving a configuration file that identifies an upgrade to a virtualized network function (VNF) and a set of upgrade instructions, the VNF implemented in a virtualized computing environment configured in a user-specific configuration, the VNF implemented by a plurality of VNF components (VNFCs) executing in a plurality of virtual machines managed by a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM);

generating, based on the configuration file, an abstracted VNF descriptor (VNFD) that is independent of renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment configured in the user-specific configuration, the abstracted VNFD usable for mapping information in the configuration file to the renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment in lieu of a separate VNFD for each of the renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment; and

based on the abstracted VNFD, causing execution of a series of operations to effect the upgrade in the virtualized computing environment.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the abstracted VNFD is generated by a VNFD generator executing on a computing device, the abstracted VNFD generated based on a solution description file (SDF) encoding user input pertaining to the user-specific configuration, and a VNFC descriptor encoding VNFC specific information.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the VNFC descriptor includes a product schema.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the VNFC descriptor includes a product data file.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the SDF is indicative of a security rule, virtual network configuration, network interface configuration, or whether to deploy a product in its paired or standalone variant.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the renderers include one or more of terraform, Heat, Cloudify, or Ansible.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein the VNFD generator is extendable to new VNFCs.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the VNFD generator is extendable to new VIMs or new VNFD-types.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the SDF is a declarative YAML file that encapsulates information for configuring a specific deployment.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by one or more processors of a system, cause the system to perform operations comprising:

receiving a configuration file that identifies an upgrade to a virtualized network function (VNF) and a set of upgrade instructions, the VNF implemented in a 5G network configured in a user-specific configuration, the VNF implemented by a plurality of VNF components (VNFCs) executing in a plurality of virtual machines managed by a virtualized infrastructure manager (VIM);

generating, based on the configuration file, an abstracted VNF descriptor (VNFD) that is independent of renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment configured in the user-specific configuration, the abstracted VNFD usable for mapping information in the configuration file to the renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment in lieu of a separate VNFD for each of the renderers implemented at the virtualized computing environment; and

based on the abstracted VNFD, causing execution of a series of operations to effect the upgrade in the virtualized computing environment.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the abstracted VNFD is generated by a VNFD generator executing on a computing device, the abstracted VNFD generated based on a solution description file (SDF) encoding user input pertaining to the user-specific configuration, and a VNFC descriptor encoding VNFC specific information.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein:

the SDF and VNFC descriptor are abstracted from underlying details of the user-specific configuration of the 5G network;

the VNFC descriptor includes a product schema and a product data file; and

the VNFD generator is extendable to new VNFCs, new VIMs, or new VNFD-types.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded May 13, 2026
From: ALIANZA, INC.
To: ALIANZA, LLC
Reel/Frame 075646/0037 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 27, 2022
From: LEE, ANDREW; PARSONS, JAMES DUNCAN; CALDWELL, ANDREW MUNRO; HOTHAM, DAVID CHARLES; DUPPRÉ, MICHAEL ANDRÉ; DAVIES, PHILIP JOEL; POWELL, JOSEPH ELLIS DARRACOTT
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 062214/0482 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17244924 · Apr 29, 2021
Related Publication 20230139160A1 · May 4, 2023