Patent Publication Number: US-2018034709-A1

Title: Method and Device for Asset Information Management

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to the field of communications, and in particular to a method and device for asset information management. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In current network architecture, there is a super strong coupling relationship between network functions and network devices, and all network functions are realized by means of specifically designed and proprietary devices of manufactures, which brings a lot of inconvenience. For example, an improvement of performance of these devices is limited to a development of hardware which satisfies specific or customized needs as well as keeping carrier-level reliability. For another example, when an operator needs to deploy a new service, it is necessary to deploy newly designed devices with related dedicated functions in advance, which increases the cost of service deployment of the operator. On the other hand, with a rapid improvement of performance of a Central Processing Unit (CPU) and a memory, running network functions on a general server in a form of software has a certain basic condition, and a Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technology emerges at the right moment, which aims to run the network function on a general hardware device, thereby reducing a Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) through an extensive deployment. “Virtualization” enables network functions to be deployed and updated as needed, and greatly facilitates remote management and maintenance, thereby reducing an Operation Expenditure (OPEX). 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an architecture and reference point of NFV Management and Orchestration (NFV-MANO) according to the related art. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO) takes charge of statement period management of network services, Network Function Visualization Infrastructure (NFVI) resources scheduling cross a Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) and other functions. A VNF manager takes charge of statement period management of a VNF instance, and it is assumed that each VNF instance has a VNFM associated with this VNF. The VIM takes charge of controlling and managing NFVI computation, storage and network resources. 
     In a traditional Network Management System (NMS), the NMS acquires asset information of each of at least one network element through an Element Management System (EMS). After network function visualization, the EMS takes charge of managing a VNF application layer, and software and hardware resources are managed through the VIM. However, for enabling the operator to fully know asset after network function visualization for topology presentation, the NMS or an Operation Support System (OSS) is also able to acquire the asset information. 
     To sum up, in the related art, the asset information of network infrastructure is not acquired effectively after network function visualization. 
     SUMMARY 
     At least some embodiments of present disclosure provide a method and device for asset information management, so as at least to partially solve a problem in the related art that asset information of network infrastructure is not acquired effectively after network function visualization. 
     In an embodiment of the present disclosure, a method for asset information management is provided, which includes that: receiving, by a Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM), a request message from a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO), and the request message is used for acquiring Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) asset information, and the NFVI asset information includes at least one of an NFVI hardware asset and an NFVI software asset; acquiring, by the VIM, the NFVI asset information according to the request message; and sending, by the VIM, the NFVI asset information to the NFVO. 
     In one embodiment, before receiving, by the VIM, the request message from the NFVO, further including: establishing, by the VIM, an asset information base according to NFVI information. 
     In one embodiment, acquiring, by the VIM, the NFVI asset information according to the request message includes: acquiring, by the VIM, the NFVI asset information from the asset information base according to the request message. 
     In one embodiment, establishing, by the VIM, the asset information base includes: creating, by the VIM, a managed object instance representing an NFVI access point; creating, by the VIM, a managed object instance representing a resource pool; creating, by the VIM, at least one managed object instance representing an NFVI hardware asset, and/or creating at least one managed object instance representing an NFVI software asset; and, the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes the managed object instance representing the resource pool, and the managed object instance representing the resource pool includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In one embodiment, establishing, by the VIM, the asset information base includes: creating, by the VIM, the managed object instance representing an NFVI access point; creating, by the VIM, at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or creating at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset; and, the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, another method for asset information management is provided, which includes that: receiving, by a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO), a request message from a Network Management System (NMS) or Operation Support System (OSS), and the request message is used for acquiring Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) asset information, and the NFVI asset information includes at least one of an NFVI hardware asset and an NFVI software asset; acquiring, by the NFVO, the NFVI asset information according to the request message; and sending, by the NFVO, the NFVI asset information to the NMS or OSS. 
     In one embodiment, acquiring, by the NFVO, the NFVI asset information according to the request message includes: sending, by the NFVO, the request message to a Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM); and receiving, by the NFVO, the NFVI asset information from the VIM, and the NFVI asset information is determined according to an asset information base established by the VIM. 
     In one embodiment, before receiving, by the NFVO, the request message from the NMS or OSS, further including: establishing, by the NFVO, an asset information base according to the NFVI information acquired from the VIM. 
     In one embodiment, acquiring, by the NFVO, the NFVI asset information according to the request message includes: acquiring, by the NFVO, the NFVI asset information from the asset information base according to the request message. 
     In one embodiment, establishing, by the NFVO, the asset information base according to the NFVI information includes: creating, by the NFVO, a managed object instance representing an NFVI access point; creating, by the NFVO, a managed object instance representing a resource pool; creating, by the NFVO, at least one managed object instance representing an NFVI hardware asset, and/or creating at least one managed object instance representing an NFVI software asset; and, the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes the managed object instance representing the resource pool, and the managed object instance representing the resource pool includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In one embodiment, establishing, by the NFVO, the asset information base according to the NFVI information includes: creating, by the NFVO, the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point; creating, by the NFVO, at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or creating at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset; and, the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, a device for asset information management is provided, which includes: a receiving component to receive a request message from a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO), and the request message is used for acquiring Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) asset information, and the NFVI asset information includes at least one of an NFVI hardware asset and an NFVI software asset; an acquiring component to acquire the NFVI asset information according to the request message; and a sending component to send the NFVI asset information to the NFVO. 
     In one embodiment, the device further includes: an establishing component to establish an asset information base according to NFVI information. 
     In one embodiment, the acquiring component is configured to acquire the NFVI asset information from the asset information base according to the request message. 
     In one embodiment, the establishing component includes: a first creating element to create a managed object instance representing an NFVI access point; a second creating element to create a managed object instance representing a resource pool; a third creating element to create at least one managed object instance representing an NFVI hardware asset, and/or create at least one managed object instance representing an NFVI software asset; and, the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes the managed object instance representing the resource pool, and the managed object instance representing the resource pool includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In one embodiment, the establishing component includes: a fourth creating element to create the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point; a fifth creating element to create at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or create at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset; and, the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In another embodiment of the present disclosure, another device for asset information management is provided, which includes: a receiving component to receive a request message from a Network Management System (NMS) or Operation Support System (OSS), and the request message is used for acquiring Network Function Virtualization Infrastructure (NFVI) asset information, and the NFVI asset information includes at least one of an NFVI hardware asset and an NFVI software asset; an acquiring component to acquire the NFVI asset information according to the request message; and a sending component to send the NFVI asset information to the NMS or OSS. 
     In one embodiment, the acquiring component includes: a sending unit to send the request message to a Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM); and a receiving unit to receive the NFVI asset information from the VIM, and the NFVI asset information is determined according to an asset information base established by the VIM. 
     In one embodiment, the device further includes: an establishing component to establish an asset information base according to the NFVI information acquired from the VIM. 
     In one embodiment, the acquiring component includes: an acquiring element to acquire the NFVI asset information from the asset information base according to the request message. 
     In one embodiment, the establishing component includes: a first creating element to create a managed object instance representing an NFVI access point; a second creating element to create a managed object instance representing a resource pool; a third creating element to create at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or create at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset; and, the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes the managed object instance representing the resource pool, and the managed object instance representing the resource pool includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In one embodiment, the establishing component includes: a fourth creating element to create the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point; a fifth creating element to create at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or create at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset; and the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     According to the at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, the VIM receives the request message from the NFVO, and the request message is used for acquiring the NFVI asset information, and the NFVI asset information includes at least one of the NFVI hardware asset and the NFVI software asset; the VIM acquires the NFVI asset information according to the request message; and the VIM sends the NFVI asset information to the NFVO. In such a manner, the problem in the related art that the asset information of the network element is not acquired effectively after network function visualization, so that an operator can fully know the asset information, including hardware asset information and software asset information, of each access point after network function virtualization, so as to facilitate topology presentation. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an architecture and reference point of NFV-MANO according to the related art. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method for asset information management according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart of another method for asset information management according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an information model according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of constructing a hardware asset information base based on the information model shown in  FIG. 4  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of constructing a hardware asset information base based on the information model shown in  FIG. 4  according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of another information model according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram that a VIM constructs, based on an extended information model and according to hardware and software information of an NFVI, an asset information base according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of building a new information model for an NFVI asset according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram that a VIM constructs, based on a new information model and according to hardware and software information of an NFVI, an asset information base according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of building a new information model based on an NFVI asset according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram that a VIM constructs, based on a new information model and according to hardware and software information of an NFVI, an asset information base according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13  is a structural block diagram of a device for asset information management according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 14  is a structural block diagram of a device for asset information management according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 15  is a structural block diagram of another device for asset information management according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 16  is a structural block diagram of another device for asset information management according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure is elaborated below with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. Note that, the embodiments of the present disclosure and the characteristics in the embodiments can be combined under the condition of no conflicts. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method for asset information management according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As show in  FIG. 2 , the method includes the following processing steps. 
     At step S 202 , a VIM receives a request message from an NFVO, and the request message is used for acquiring NFVI asset information, and the NFVI asset information includes at least one of an NFVI hardware asset and an NFVI software asset. 
     At step S 204 , the VIM acquires the NFVI asset information according to the request message. 
     At step S 206 , the VIM sends the NFVI asset information to the NFVO. 
     In the related art, the asset information of network infrastructure is not acquired effectively after network function visualization. By using the method as shown in  FIG. 2 , that is, the NFVO receives from an NMS or OOS the request message for acquiring the NFVI asset information, and forwards the request message to the VIM, and the VIM forwards the NFVI asset information to the NMS or OSS after acquiring the NFVI asset information according to the request message. The problem in the related art that the asset information of network infrastructure is not acquired effectively after network function visualization is solved, so that an operator can fully know the asset information, including hardware asset information and software asset information, of each access point after network function virtualization, so as to facilitate topology presentation. 
     In one embodiment, before the VIM receives the request message from the NFVO in S 202 , the method further includes the following steps. 
     At step S 1 , the VIM establishes an asset information base according to NFVI information. 
     In one embodiment, in S 204 , the VIM acquires the NFVI asset information according to the request message includes the following operation. 
     At step S 2 , the VIM acquires the NFVI asset information from the asset information base according to the request message. 
     In one embodiment, in S 1 , the VIM establishes the asset information base includes the following steps. 
     At step S 11 , the VIM creates a managed object instance representing an NFVI access point. 
     At step S 12 , the VIM creates a managed object instance representing a resource pool. 
     At step S 13 , the VIM creates at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or creates at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     And the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes the managed object instance representing the resource pool, and the managed object instance representing the resource pool includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the VIM establishes the asset information base in the following way: 
     1) creating the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point; 
     2) creating the managed object instance representing the resource pool; 
     3) creating one or more managed object instances representing the NFVI hardware asset, and the types of the managed object instances representing the NFVI hardware asset include, but are not limited to, pack, magnetic matrix, switch, rack, shelf and pack; 
     4) creating at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset, and the types of the managed object instances representing the NFVI software asset include, but are not limited to, a Virtual Machine Image (VMImage) file, antivirus software, and hot standby software; the mutual relationship of the above managed object instances is that: the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one managed object instance representing the resource pool, and the managed object instance representing the resource pool includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In one embodiment, in step S 1 , the VIM establishes the asset information base includes the following steps. 
     At step S 14 , the VIM creates the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point. 
     At step S 15 , the VIM creates at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or creates at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     And the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In an exemplary embodiment, the VIM establishes the asset information base in the following way: 
     1) creating the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point; 
     2) creating at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and the types of the managed object instances representing the NFVI hardware asset include, but are not limited to, pack, magnetic matrix, switch, rack, shelf, and pack; 
     3) creating at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset, and the types of the managed object instances representing the NFVI software asset include, but are not limited to, the VMImage file, antivirus software, and hot standby software; 
     the mutual relationship of the above managed object instances is that: the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
       FIG. 3  is a flowchart of another method for asset information management according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the method includes the following processing steps. 
     At step S 302 , the NFVO receives the request message from the NMS or OSS, and the request message is used for acquiring the NFVI asset information, and the NFVI asset information includes at least one of the NFVI hardware asset and the NFVI software asset. 
     At step S 304 , the NFVO acquires the NFVI asset information according to the request message. 
     At step S 306 , the NFVO sends the NFVI asset information to the NMS or OSS. 
     In one embodiment, in step S 304 , the NFVO acquires the NFVI asset information according to the request message includes the following operations. 
     At step S 3 , the NFVO sends the request message to the VIM. 
     At step S 4 , the NFVO receives the NFVI asset information from the VIM, and the NFVI asset information is determined according to the asset information base established by the VIM. 
     In one embodiment, in step S 302 , before the NFVO receives the request message from the NMS or OSS, the method further includes the following step. 
     At step S 5 , the NFVO establishes an asset information base according to the NFVI information acquired from the VIM. 
     In one embodiment, in step S 304 , the NFVO acquires the NFVI asset information according to the request message includes the following step. 
     At step S 6 , the NFVO acquires the NFVI asset information from the asset information base according to the request message. 
     In one embodiment, in step S 5 , the NFVO establishes the asset information base according to the NFVI information includes the following operations. 
     At step S 51 , the NFVO creates the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point. 
     At step S 52 , the NFVO creates the managed object instance representing the resource pool. 
     At step S 53 , the NFVO creates at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or creates at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     And the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes the managed object instance representing the resource pool, and the managed object instance representing the resource pool includes at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and/or at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In one embodiment, in step S 5 , the NFVO establishes the asset information base according to the NFVI information includes the following steps. 
     At step S 54 , the NFVO creates the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point. 
     At step S 55 , the NFVO creates at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or creates at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     And the managed object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one of at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one managed object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     The above exemplary implementation process is further described below in combination with several exemplary embodiments as follows. 
     Example Embodiment One 
     In the present embodiment, from a user&#39;s usage habit perspective, it is possible to achieve the aim of managing NFVI hardware by continuing to use and extending an information model of hardware asset in the traditional network management.  FIG. 4  is a schematic diagram of an information model according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 4 , an attribute NFVI-PoP is added under an object ManagedElement for representing the Identifier (ID) of the NFVI access point to which a managed device belongs. And an attribute ResourcePool is added under an object InventoryUnit for representing the resource pool to which the hardware belongs. 
     In this example embodiment, the VIM constructs, based on  FIG. 4 , the hardware asset information base according to the hardware information of the NFVI.  FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram of constructing a hardware asset information base based on the information model shown in  FIG. 4  and according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The specific process is as follows: 
     a) creating the instance ManagedElement 1  of the managed object ManagedElement, and setting the added attribute NEVI-PoP equal to NfviPop 1 ; the managed object instance represents the NFVI access point whose ID is NfviPop 1 ; 
     b) creating the instances InventoryUnitRack, InventoryUnitShelf, and InventoryUnitPack of the managed object InventoryUnit, and setting the values of the added attribute ResourcePool as # 1 , # 1 , and # 1 ; the managed object instances represent the rack, the shelf and the pack in turn; and, the InventoryUnitRack is included in the ManagedElement  1 , the InventoryUnitShelf is included in the InventoryUnitRack, and the InventoryUnitPack is included in the InventoryUnitShelf. 
     The NMS or OSS sends a request for acquiring the hardware asset information to the NFVO. 
     The NFVO sends a request for acquiring the hardware asset information to the VIM. 
     The VIM sends the instances InventoryUnitRack, InventoryUnitShelf, and InventoryUnitPack representing the hardware asset information and attribute information to the NFVO according to the content of the asset information base. 
     The NFVO sends the received hardware asset information to the NMS or OSS. 
     Example Embodiment Two 
     In this embodiment, the NFVO acquires the hardware information of the NFVI from the VIM and constructs the hardware asset information base based on  FIG. 4 .  FIG. 6  is a schematic diagram of constructing a hardware asset information base based on the information model shown in  FIG. 4  and according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The specific process is as follows: 
     a) creating the instance ManagedElement 2  of the managed object ManagedElement, and setting the added attribute NEVI-PoP equal to NfviPop 2 ; the managed object instance represents the NFVI access point whose ID is NfviPop 2 ; 
     b) creating the instances InventoryUnitHost and InventoryUnitAccessory of the managed object InventoryUnit, and setting the values of the added attribute ResourcePool as # 2  and # 2 ; the two managed object instances represent a host and an accessory respectively, which are included in the ManagedElement 2 . 
     The NMS or OSS sends the request for acquiring the hardware asset information to the NFVO. 
     The NFVO sends the instances InventoryUnitHost and InventoryUnitAccessory representing the hardware asset information to the NMS or OSS according to the content of the asset information base. 
     Example Embodiment Three 
     In this embodiment, it is possible to achieve an aim of managing the NFVI hardware and software assets by extending the existing information model of hardware and software assets.  FIG. 7  is a schematic diagram of another information model according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 7 , the attribute NFVI-PoP is added under the ManagedElement for representing the ID of the NFVI-PoP to which the managed device belongs, and the attribute ResourcePool is added under a hardware asset unit (InventoryUnitHw) for representing the resource pool to which the hardware belongs. 
     In this embodiment, the VIM constructs the asset information base according to the hardware and software information of the NFVI and based on the extended information model.  FIG. 8  is a schematic diagram that the VIM constructs, based on an extended information model and according to hardware and software information of the NFVI, the asset information base according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 8 , the specific process is as follows: 
     a) creating the instance ManagedElement 3  of the managed object ManagedElement, and setting the added attribute NEVI-PoP equal to NfviPop 3 ; the managed object instance represents the NFVI access point whose ID is NfviPop 3 ; 
     b) creating the instances InventoryUnitRack 1 , InventoryUnitShelf 1 , and InventoryUnitPack 1  of the managed object InventoryUnitHw, and setting the values of the added attribute ResourcePool as # 3 , # 3 , and # 3 ; the managed object instances represent the rack, the shelf and the pack in turn; and, the InventoryUnitRack 1  is included in the ManagedElement 3 , the InventoryUnitShelf 1  is included in the InventoryUnitRack 1 , and the InventoryUnitPack 1  is included in the InventoryUnitShelf 1 ; 
     c) creating the instance InventoryUnitVMImage of a software asset unit (InventoryUnitSw) of the managed object, which is included in the ManagedElement 3  and represents the VMImage file. 
     The NMS or OSS sends a request for acquiring hardware and software asset information to the NFVO. 
     The NFVO sends a request for acquiring hardware and software asset information to the VIM. 
     The VIM sends the instances InventoryUnitRack 1 , InventoryUnitShelf 1 , InventoryUnitPack 1  and InventoryUnitVMImage representing hardware asset and software asset information to the NFVO according to the content of the asset information base. 
     The NFVO sends the received hardware asset and software asset information to the NMS or OSS. 
     Example Embodiment Four 
     In this embodiment,  FIG. 9  is a schematic diagram of building a new information model for the NFVI asset according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 9 , the NFVI-PoP represents the managed object of the NFVI access point, and attributes of the NFVI-PoP includes, but is not limited to, the ID of the NFVI-PoP. The ResourcePool represents the managed object of the resource pool, and attributes of the ResourcePool includes, but is not limited to, the resource pool ID. The NFVIInventoryUnitHw represents the object of the NFVI hardware asset, and attributes of the NFVIInventoryUnitHw includes, but is not limited to, a hardware ID. The NFVIInventoryUnitSw represents the object of the NFVI software asset, and attributes of the NFVIInventoryUnitSw includes, but is not limited to, a software ID. 
     In this embodiment, the VIM constructs the asset information base according to the hardware and software information of the NFVI and based on the new information model.  FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram that the VIM constructs, based on the new information model and according to the hardware and software information of the NFVI, the asset information base according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 10 , the specific process is as follows: 
     a) creating the instance NFVI-PoP 2  of the managed object NFVI-PoP, and setting the attribute NEVI-PoP equal to NfviPop 3 ; the managed object instance represents the NFVI access point whose ID is NfviPop 4 ; 
     b) creating the instance ResourcePool 2  of the managed object ResourcePool, and setting the attribute ResourcePoolld equal to # 4 ; the managed object instance represents the resource pool whose ID is # 4 ; 
     c) creating the instances NFVIIventoryUnitHost and NFVIInventoryUnitAccessory of the managed object, which are included in the ResourcePool 2 ; the attributes Hwld are  1002  and  2002  respectively, representing the host whose ID is  1002  and the accessory whose ID is  2002 ; 
     d) creating the instance NFVIInventoryUnitVMImage of the managed object NFVIInventoryUnitSw, which is included in the NFVI-PoP 1 ; the attribute Swld is  3002 , representing the VMImage file whose ID is  3002 . 
     The NMS or OSS sends the request for acquiring the hardware and software asset information to the NFVO. 
     The NFVO sends the request for acquiring the hardware and software asset information to the VIM. 
     The VIM sends the instances NFVIInventoryUnitHost, NFVIInventoryUnitAccessory and NFVIInventoryUnitVMImage representing the hardware asset and software asset information to the NFVO according to the content of the asset information base. 
     The NFVO sends the received hardware asset and software asset information to the NMS/OSS. 
     Example Embodiment Five 
     In this embodiment,  FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of building the new information model based on the NFVI asset according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 11 , the NFVI-PoP represents the managed object of the NFVI access point, and attributes of the NFVI-PoP includes, but is not limited to, the ID of the NFVI-PoP. The NFVIInventoryUnitHw represents the object of the NFVI hardware asset, and attributes of the NFVIInventoryUnitHw includes, but is not limited to, the hardware ID and the resource pool ID. The NFVIInventoryUnitSw represents the object of the NFVI hardware asset, and attributes of the NFVIInventoryUnitSw includes, but is not limited to, the hardware ID; the NFVIInventoryUnitHw and the NFVIInventoryUnitSw continues to use the existing InventoryUnitHw and InventoryUnitSw. 
     In this embodiment, the VIM constructs the asset information base according to the hardware and software information of the NFVI and based on the new information model.  FIG. 12  is a schematic diagram that the VIM constructs, based on the new information model and according to the hardware and software information of the NFVI, the asset information base according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 12 , the specific process is as follows: 
     a) creating the instance NFVI-PoP 1  of the managed object NFVI-PoP, and setting the attribute NEVI-PoP equal to NfviPop 4 ; the managed object instance represents the NFVI access point whose ID is NfviPop 4 ; 
     b) creating the instances NFVIInventoryUnitRack, NFVIInventoryUnitShelf and NFVIInventoryUnitPack of the managed object NFVIInventoryUnitHw, and setting the attribute ResourcePoolld equal to # 4 ; the managed object instance represents the resource pool whose ID is # 4 ; the attributes Hwld are  2003 ,  2004  and  2005  respectively; the ResourcePoolId is # 5 , representing the rack whose ID is  2003 , the shelf whose ID is  2004  and the pack whose rack is  2005 ; 
     c) creating the instance NFVIInventoryUnitVMImage 1  of the managed object NFVIInventoryUnitSw, which is included in the NFVI-PoP 2 ; the attribute Swld is  4003 , representing the VMImage file whose ID is  4003 . 
     The NMS or OSS sends the request for acquiring the hardware and software asset information to the NFVO. 
     The NFVO sends the request for acquiring the hardware and software asset information to the VIM. 
     The VIM sends the instances NFVIInventoryUnitRack, NFVIInventoryUnitShelf, NFVIInventoryUnitPack and NFVIInventoryUnitVMImage 1  representing the hardware asset and software asset information and the attribute information to the NFVO according to the content of the asset information base. 
     The NFVO sends the received hardware asset and software asset information to the NMS or OSS. 
       FIG. 13  is a structural block diagram of a device for asset information management according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the device for asset information management includes: a receiving component  10  to receive the request message from the NFVO, and the request message is used for acquiring the NFVI asset information, and the NFVI asset information includes at least one of the NFVI hardware asset and the NFVI software asset; an acquiring component  20  to acquire the NFVI asset information according to the request message; and a sending component  30  to send the NFVI asset information to the NFVO. 
     By using the device as shown in  FIG. 13 , the problem in the related art that the asset information of network element is not acquired effectively after network function visualization is solved, so that an operator can fully know the asset information, including hardware asset information and software asset information, of each access point after network function virtualization, so as to facilitate topology presentation. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 14 , the device furthers include: an establishing component  40  to establish the asset information base according to the NFVI information. 
     In one embodiment, the acquiring component  20  is configured to acquire the NFVI asset information from the asset information base according to the request message. 
     In one embodiment, the establishing component  40  includes: a first creating element (not shown in the figure) to create the management object instance representing the NFVI access point; a second creating element (not shown in the figure) to create the management object instance representing the resource pool; a third creating element (not shown in the figure) to create at least one management object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or create at least one management object instance representing the NFVI software asset. The management object instance representing the NFVI access point includes the management object instance representing the resource pool, and the management object instance representing the resource pool includes at least one of at least one management object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one management object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In one embodiment, the establishing component  40  includes: a fourth creating element (not shown in the figure) to create the management object instance representing the NFVI access point; a fifth creating element (not shown in the figure) to create at least one management object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or create at least one management object instance representing the NFVI software asset. The management object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one of at least one management object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one management object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
       FIG. 15  is a structural block diagram of another device for asset information management according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in  FIG. 15 , the device for asset information management includes: a receiving component  50  to receive the request message from the NMS or OSS, and the request message is used for acquiring the NFVI asset information, and the NFVI asset information includes at least one of the NFVI hardware asset and the NFVI software asset; an acquiring component  60  to acquire the NFVI asset information according to the request message; and a sending component  70  to send the NFVI asset information to the NMS or OSS. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the acquiring component includes: a sending element  600  to send the request message to the VIM; and a receiving element  602  to receive the NFVI asset information from the VIM, and the NFVI asset information is determined according to the asset information base established by the VIM. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the device further includes: an establishing component  80  to establish an asset information base according to the NFVI information acquired from the VIM. 
     In one embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 16 , the acquiring component includes: an acquiring element  604  to acquire the NFVI asset information from the asset information base according to the request message. 
     In one embodiment, the establishing component  80  includes: a first creating element (not shown in the figure) to create the management object instance representing the NFVI access point; a second creating element (not shown in the figure) to create the management object instance representing the resource pool; a third creating element (not shown in the figure) to create at least one management object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or create at least one management object instance representing the NFVI software asset. The management object instance representing the NFVI access point includes the management object instance representing the resource pool, and the management object instance representing the resource pool includes at least one of at least one management object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one management object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     In one embodiment, the establishing component  80  includes: a fourth creating element (not shown in the figure) to create the management object instance representing the NFVI access point; a fifth creating element (not shown in the figure) to create at least one management object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset, and/or create at least one management object instance representing the NFVI software asset. The management object instance representing the NFVI access point includes at least one of at least one management object instance representing the NFVI hardware asset and at least one management object instance representing the NFVI software asset. 
     It can be seen from above description that the embodiments achieve the following technical effects (note that, these effects are achieved by some preferred embodiments): adopting the technical solution provided in the present disclosure can enable the operator to fully know the asset information, including the hardware asset information and the software asset information, of each access point after network function virtualization, so as to facilitate topology presentation. 
     Obviously, those skilled in the art should appreciate that the above components and steps of the present disclosure are implemented by a general-purpose computing device, and they are centralized in a single computing device or distributed on a network composed of multiple computing devices. Optionally, they are implemented by a program code which is capable of being executed by the computing device, so that they can be stored in a storage device and executed by the computing device. And in some situations, the presented or described steps are executed in an order different from that described here; or they are made into integrated circuit components, respectively; or multiple components and steps of them are made into a single integrated circuit component to realize. In this way, the present disclosure is not limited to any particular combination of hardware and software. 
     The above are the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and not intended to limit the present disclosure. For those skilled in the art, the present disclosure has various modifications and changes. Any modifications, equivalent replacements, improvements and the like within the scope as claimed in claims of the present disclosure shall fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure. 
     INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY 
     As mentioned above, a method and device for asset information management provided in at least some embodiments of the present disclosure have the following beneficial effects: enabling the operator to fully know the asset information, including the hardware asset information and the software asset information, of each access point after network function virtualization, so as to facilitate topology presentation.