Patent ID: 11128705

Abstract:
A method for enabling (virtualized) application functions ((V)AFs) to associate to underlying (virtualized) network functions ((V)NFs) is provided in a Network Function Virtualization (NFV) environment in which a lifecycle management (LCM) of the (V)AFs and its associations with the underlying (V)NFs and resources are managed by the NFV Management and Orchestration (MANO) system. A service request is validated by an NFV Orchestrator (NFVO) parsing an (V)AF Descriptor ((V)AFD) file within an (V)AF catalogue. An (V)AF Record ((V)AFR) instance is created having information useable to maintain a state and one or more associations of the respective (V)AF. The NFVO, in cooperation with a Virtualized Network Function Manager (VNFM), Virtualized Infrastructure Manager (VIM) and an underlying network controller of the NFV MANO system, establishes the association between the respective (V)AF and the respective underlying (V)NF(s) using the (V)AFD.