公开(公告)号：US10284434B1

公开(公告)日：2019-05-07

申请号：US15197017

申请日：2016-06-29

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Arun Rajagopal ,  Marouane Balmakhtar

IPC: G06F15/173 ,  H04L12/24 ,  H04L12/26 ,  H04L29/08 ,  H04L1/12

Abstract: A Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Software Defined Network (SDN) controls NFV resources consumed by Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) that support a data service. Multiple NFV Infrastructures (NFVIs) execute SDN application VNFs and SDN controller VNFs, and SDN virtual Switches (vSWs) to support the data service. The NFVIs responsively transfer SDN Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). An NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO) system processes the SDN KPIs to generate VNF control data to relocate one of the SDN VNFs. The NFV MANO system processes the VNF control data to generate and transfer NFV control data to relocate the SDN VNF. The first NFVI and the second NFVI relocate the one SDN VNF from the first NFVI to the second NFVI.

公开(公告)号：US20190020553A1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-17

申请号：US16117856

申请日：2018-08-30

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Arun Rajagopal ,  Marouane Balmakhtar

IPC: H04L12/24 ,  H04L12/26

Abstract: A wireless communication network delivers a wireless communication service. The wireless communication network comprises a base station computer system and a network server. The base station computer system executes a Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) virtual layer and responsively supports base station Virtual Network Functions (VNFs). The base station computer system executes base station VNFs and responsively delivers wireless communication services and generates base station Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). The network server processes the base station KPIs and responsively directs the base station computer system to modify its support of a base station VNF. The base station computer system modifies its support of the base station VNF responsive to the network server.

公开(公告)号：US10116646B2

公开(公告)日：2018-10-30

申请号：US15480059

申请日：2017-04-05

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Marouane Balmakhtar ,  Arun Rajagopal

IPC: H04L29/06 ,  H04W12/12 ,  H04L12/721 ,  H04L12/24 ,  H04L9/32 ,  G06F21/71 ,  G06F21/57 ,  G06F21/60

Abstract: A Software-Defined Network (SDN) data-plane machine stores flow data and a hardware-trust key. The SDN data-plane machine receives and processes a hardware-trust challenge based on the hardware-trust key to generate and transfer a hardware-trust response. The SDN data-plane machine receives and routes user data based on the flow data. The SDN data-plane machine receives flow modification data from SDN controllers and determines if the SDN controllers are authorized by the hardware-trust controller before modifying the flow data. The SDN data-plane machine receives and routes additional user data responsive to the modified flow data. The SDN data-plane machine reports SDN controllers that attempt to modify the flow data but that are not authorized by the hardware-trust controller to modify the flow data.

公开(公告)号：US20180302336A1

公开(公告)日：2018-10-18

申请号：US16017005

申请日：2018-06-25

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Marouane Balmakhtar ,  Arun Rajagopal

IPC: H04L12/927 ,  H04L12/26 ,  H04L12/715 ,  H04L12/24

Abstract: A Software-Defined Network (SDN) controller receives controller Application Programming Interface (API) calls from an SDN application and transfers SDN data machine API calls. SDN data machines receive the SDN data machine API calls and process user data responsive to the SDN data machine API calls. The SDN controller transfers SDN controller Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that indicate an amount of the SDN application API calls for the SDN data machine API calls. The SDN data machines transfers SDN data machine KPIs that indicate an amount of the processed user data for the SDN data machine API calls. An SDN server receives the SDN data machine KPIs and the SDN controller KPIs. The SDN server determines an SDN Quality-of-Service (QoS) score for a data communication service based on the amount of the SDN application API calls relative to the corresponding amount of the processed user data.

公开(公告)号：US10083098B1

公开(公告)日：2018-09-25

申请号：US15175231

申请日：2016-06-07

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Marouane Balmakhtar ,  Arun Rajagopal

IPC: G06F11/00 ,  G06F11/20 ,  G06F9/455

CPC classification number: G06F11/203 ,  G06F9/45533 ,  G06F11/3006 ,  G06F11/301 ,  G06F11/3055 ,  G06F2009/45595 ,  G06F2201/815

Abstract: A Network Function Virtualization (NFV) system recovers from a Virtual Network Function (NFV) crash. Initially, an NFV Infrastructure (NFVI) executes the VNF, and the VNF transfers VNF state data to a VNF database. An NFV orchestrator detects a VNF crash and retrieves the VNF state data for the crashed VNF from the VNF state database. The NFV orchestrator directs the NFVI to install a new VNF to replace the crashed VNF based on the VNF state data. The NFVI installs the new VNF based on the VNF state data.

公开(公告)号：US10719601B2

公开(公告)日：2020-07-21

申请号：US16397909

申请日：2019-04-29

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Lyle Walter Paczkowski ,  Marouane Balmakhtar

IPC: G06F21/00 ,  G06F21/44 ,  G06F15/78 ,  G06F9/54 ,  G06F21/62 ,  G06F21/73 ,  G06F21/57 ,  G06F9/455

Abstract: A Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Central Processing Unit (CPU) comprises a network core and a system core. The network core receives and validating hardware trust certificates from external circuitry that obtains the hardware trust certificates using a read-only hardware trust identifier that is physically-embedded in the external circuitry. The system core executing an NFV Virtual Network Function Component (VNFC) and generating VNFC data for the external circuitry. The system core calls an Application Programming Interface (API) for a hardware trusted communication with the external circuitry and transfers the VNFC data to the network core. In response to the API call, the network core transfers the VNFC data to the external circuitry when the network core successfully validates the hardware trust certificates from the external circuitry. The network core blocks the user data when the network core did not successfully validate the hardware trust certificates from the external circuitry.

公开(公告)号：US10686725B2

公开(公告)日：2020-06-16

申请号：US16017005

申请日：2018-06-25

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Marouane Balmakhtar ,  Arun Rajagopal

IPC: H04L12/927 ,  H04L12/26 ,  H04L12/715 ,  H04L12/24

Abstract: A Software-Defined Network (SDN) controller receives controller Application Programming Interface (API) calls from an SDN application and transfers SDN data machine API calls. SDN data machines receive the SDN data machine API calls and process user data responsive to the SDN data machine API calls. The SDN controller transfers SDN controller Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that indicate an amount of the SDN application API calls for the SDN data machine API calls. The SDN data machines transfers SDN data machine KPIs that indicate an amount of the processed user data for the SDN data machine API calls. An SDN server receives the SDN data machine KPIs and the SDN controller KPIs. The SDN server determines an SDN Quality-of-Service (QoS) score for a data communication service based on the amount of the SDN application API calls relative to the corresponding amount of the processed user data.

公开(公告)号：US20190342089A1

公开(公告)日：2019-11-07

申请号：US16514656

申请日：2019-07-17

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Lyle Walter Paczkowski ,  Arun Rajagopal ,  Marouane Balmakhtar

IPC: H04L9/08 ,  H04L29/06 ,  H04L9/32 ,  H04L12/24

Abstract: A Network Function Virtualization (NFV) system implements hardware trusted Management and Orchestration (MANO). A Hardware (HW) trust server issues a HW trust challenge to a first MANO system. The first MANO system hashes its physically-embedded read-only hardware trust key to generate a HW trust result and transfers the HW trust result to the HW trust server. The HW trust server validates the hardware trust result and transfers a HW trust certificate to the first MANO system. The first MANO system transfers the HW trust certificate and NFV MANO data to a second MANO system. The second MANO system validates the HW trust certificate. The second MANO system exchanges NFVI control data with NFVI circuitry responsive to the NFV MANO data when the HW trust certificate is valid. The second MANO system isolates the NFV MANO data when the HW trust certificate is not valid.

公开(公告)号：US10172063B1

公开(公告)日：2019-01-01

申请号：US15386283

申请日：2016-12-21

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Marouane Balmakhtar ,  Aaron Paul Hinkle

IPC: G01R31/08 ,  H04W36/22 ,  H04W36/00

Abstract: A wireless network backhaul node serves eNodeBs. The backhaul node exchanges user data and network signaling between the eNodeBs and a Long Term Evolution (LTE) core. The backhaul node receives loading information from the eNodeBs and determines overloaded eNodeBs and underloaded eNodeBs. The backhaul node selects handover thresholds for the eNodeBs to inhibit handovers from the underloaded eNodeBs to the overloaded eNodeBs and to encourage handovers from the overloaded eNodeBs to the underloaded eNodeBs. The backhaul node transfers the selected handover thresholds to the eNodeBs. The backhaul node also performs X2 and/or S1 handover assistance for the eNodeBs.

公开(公告)号：US10164914B2

公开(公告)日：2018-12-25

申请号：US15352969

申请日：2016-11-16

Applicant: Sprint Communications Company L.P.

Inventor： Arun Rajagopal ,  Marouane Balmakhtar ,  Lyle Walter Paczkowski

IPC: H04L12/931 ,  H04L12/24

Abstract: A Network Function Virtualization (NFV) Software-Defined Network (SDN) communicates across network boundaries with other NFV SDNs to support a data communication service. An NFV orchestrator transfers forwarding graphs for service, NFV, and SDN Network-to-Network Interfaces (NNIs) to an SDN controller. The SDN controller converts the forwarding graphs into forwarding instructions and transfers the forwarding instructions for the service, NFV, and SDN NNIs to an NFV SDN switching system. The NFV orchestrator uses the NFV NNI to transfer its forwarding graphs over the NFV SDN switching system across the network boundary to another NFV orchestrator. The SDN controller uses the SDN NNI to transfer its forwarding instructions over the NFV SDN switching system across the network boundary to another SDN controller. The NFV SDN switching system uses the service NNI to transfer user data across the network boundary to another NFV SDN switching system.