FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure generally relates to networking systems and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to service enhancement discovery for connectivity traits (e.g., bandwidth, priority, etc.) and Virtual Network Functions (VNF) in network services.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Software Defined Networking (SDN), Network Functions Virtualization (NFV), and the like offer an opportunity to improve current network management practices with automated optimization processes. SDN provides an architecture that is dynamic, manageable, cost-effective, and adaptable, making it ideal for the high-bandwidth, dynamic nature of applications. This architecture decouples the network control and forwarding functions enabling the network control to become directly programmable and the underlying infrastructure to be abstracted for applications and network services. NFV is a network architecture concept that proposes, using Information Technology (IT) virtualization related technologies, to virtualize entire classes of network node functions into building blocks that may be connected, or chained, to create communication services. A Virtualized Network Function (VNF) can include one or more virtual machines running different software and processes, on top of industry standard high volume servers, switches, and storage, or even cloud computing infrastructure, instead of having custom hardware appliances for each network function.

Conventional systems and methods, including SDN, NFV, etc., do not have an ability to recommend connectivity service changes and/or VNFs to customers using the network, in an automated manner, using network analytics to make a recommendation on how and when the service can be improved. VNF deployments are currently at an early stage, and each VNF vendor provides targeted VNFs with minimal overlap in functionality with other vendors. Since virtual appliances (VNF) are as complex as their hardware counterparts, they require complex Network Management Systems (NMSs) to provision and monitor their performance. Nevertheless, each NMS only monitors one type of virtual appliance. As NMSs are used to monitor and provision, they do not provide recommendations on how to improve network performance. Even more importantly, an NMS of one vendor would not make a recommendation to use a VNF of another vendor. Thus, conventionally, there is no common system to monitor the performance of network services, especially from the point of view of VNFs that can also recommend which VNFs should be in service.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In an embodiment, a method of service enhancement in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network includes performing an evaluation of one or more services in the SDN network for service enhancements; performing a scoring of the service enhancements of the one or more services; and causing implementation of at least one of the service enhancements in the SDN network. The evaluation can be based on temporarily implementing the service enhancements and measuring a benefit thereof. The evaluation can be based on estimating the service enhancements based on historical measurements from the SDN network. The one or more services can include Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) in a service chain and the evaluation is based on temporarily implementing new VNFs in the service chain and measuring a benefit thereof. The scoring can be based on one or more of a lowest cost policy, a best Quality of Service (QoS) policy, a highest revenue enhancement policy, and a most profit enhancement policy. The method can further include providing the scoring of the service enhancements to a network operator and receiving the at least one of the service enhancements from the network operator prior to causing the implementation thereof. The method can further include periodically obtaining network measurements; performing updated evaluations for the one or more services and updated scoring based thereon; and providing the updated scoring to a network operator for a determination of the implementation of at least one of the service enhancements. The evaluation can be based on network measurements including traffic volume, packet loss, and latency. The evaluation can be based on network measurements including Deep Packet Inspection (DPI).

In another embodiment, a system configured to perform service enhancement in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network includes a network interface communicatively coupled to the SDN network; a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to perform an evaluation of one or more services in the SDN network for service enhancements, perform a scoring of the service enhancements of the one or more services, and cause implementation of at least one of the service enhancements in the SDN network. The evaluation can be based on temporarily implementing the service enhancements and measuring a benefit thereof. The evaluation can be based on estimating the service enhancements based on historical measurements from the SDN network. The one or more services can include Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) in a service chain and the evaluation is based on temporarily implementing new VNFs in the service chain and measuring a benefit thereof. The scoring can be based on one or more of a lowest cost policy, a best Quality of Service (QoS) policy, a highest revenue enhancement policy, and a most profit enhancement policy. The memory storing instructions that, when executed, can further cause the processor to provide the scoring of the service enhancements to a network operator and receive the at least one of the service enhancements from the network operator prior to causing the implementation thereof. The memory storing instructions that, when executed, can further cause the processor to periodically obtain network measurements; perform updated evaluations for the one or more services and updated scoring based thereon; and provide the updated scoring to a network operator for a determination of the implementation of at least one of the service enhancements. The evaluation can be based on network measurements including traffic volume, packet loss, and latency. The evaluation can be based on network measurements including Deep Packet Inspection (DPI).

In a further embodiment, a portal system used by a network operator for service enhancements in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network includes a network interface communicatively coupled to the SDN network; a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the processor to, responsive to an evaluation of one or more services in the SDN network for service enhancements and a scoring based thereon, provide the scoring for the one or more services to the network operator; receiving a selection of one or more service enhancements from the network operator based on the scoring; and providing the one or more service enhancements to the SDN network for implementation therein. The scoring can be based on one or more of a lowest cost policy, a best Quality of Service (QoS) policy, a highest revenue enhancement policy, and a most profit enhancement policy.

In an embodiment, a method for service enhancement discovery in a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network includes 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; determining a cost and a benefit for each of the service enhancements for the one or more candidate services; and providing the service enhancements for the one or more candidate services based on associated cost and associated benefit of each of the service enhancements. Determining the service enhancements for an active service can include 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. The service enhancements for an active service can include one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) that enhance the active service. The network measurements can include historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed on the service enhancements. The cost can be determined based on a cost of adding the service enhancement in the network and the benefit can be determined based on increments to one of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for the one or more candidate services. The increments to one of QoS and QoE can be based on one or more of lower required bandwidth, lower packet loss, higher throughput, and faster application response time. The service enhancements for an active service can include one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) which are configured to enhance the active service, and where network measurements can include historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed with the one or more VNFs on the active service. The one or more VNFs can include a plurality of VNFs with at least two of the plurality of VNFs being different types.

In another embodiment, a system configured to perform service enhancement discovery in a Software Defined Network (SDN) network includes a network interface communicatively coupled to the network; a processor communicatively coupled to the network interface; and 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, 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 associated cost and associated benefit of each of the service enhancements. The service enhancements can be determined for an active service 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. The service enhancements for an active service can include one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) that enhance the active service. The network measurements can include historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed on the service enhancements. The cost can be determined based on a cost of adding the service enhancement in the network and the benefit can be determined based on increments to one of Quality of Service (QoS) and Quality of Experience (QoE) for the one or more candidate services. The increments to one of QoS and QoE can be based on one or more of lower required bandwidth, lower packet loss, higher throughput, and faster application response time. The service enhancements for an active service can include one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) which are configured to enhance the active service, and where network measurements can include historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed with the one or more VNFs on the active service. The one or more VNFs can include a plurality of VNFs with at least two of the plurality of VNFs being different types.

In a further embodiment, a Software Defined Network (SDN) network with a discovery engine configured to perform service enhancement discovery in the network includes 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, 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 associated cost and associated benefit of each of the service enhancements. The service enhancements can be determined for an active service 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. The service enhancements for an active service can include one or more Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) that enhance the active service. The network measurements can include historical measurements and on-demand measurements, wherein the on-demand measurements are selectively performed on the service enhancements.

