Network function virtualization (nfv)

Abstract

Network function virtualization (NFV) or other cloud/remote processing of packets, signals, messaging, etc. for a home network or other network desiring remote management is contemplated. A virtual platform or other feature outside of the managed network may be configured to implement various NFVs according to NFV designs. An administrator of the managed network may interact with a portal or other relatively unsophisticated interface to formulate the NFV designs, thereby eliminating or ameliorating complexities associated with the administrator having to individually program routers or other devices of the managed network.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a plurality of non-transitory instructions operable with a virtual platform to facilitate network function virtualization (NFV) for a plurality of devices connected to a home network, the non-transitory instructions being sufficient for:
 performing a first network function virtualization (NFV) on a first plurality of packets associated with a first device of the plurality of devices, the first plurality of packets being communicated between a first server and the first device via the virtual platform; and   performing a second network function virtualization (NFV) on a second plurality of packets associated with a second device of the plurality of devices, the second plurality of packets being communicated between a second server and the second device via the virtual platform.   
     
     
         2 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for determining the first and second NFVs to include one or more of a plurality of virtualizations listed in a NFV portal for user selection, the NFV portal being hosted on a server operating independently of an edge router of the home network. 
     
     
         3 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 2  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for:
 listing the plurality of virtualizations to include at least a first virtualization, a second virtualization and a third virtualization; 
 determining based on the user input the first NFV to include the first virtualization and the second virtualization; and 
 determining based on the user input the second NFV to include the first virtualization and the third virtualization. 
 
     
     
         4 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 3  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for performing the first NFV in a first sequence whereby the first plurality of packets are processed at the virtual platform according to the first virtualization and then the second virtualization. 
     
     
         5 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 4  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for performing the second NFV in a second sequence whereby the second plurality of packets are processed at the virtual platform according to the third virtualization and then the first virtualization. 
     
     
         6 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 5  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for simultaneously performing the first and second NFV at the virtual platform such that at least a portion of the first and second plurality of packets are simultaneously communicated from the virtual platform to the home network following the corresponding first and second NFV. 
     
     
         7 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 2  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for listing the plurality of virtualizations to include:
 a Network Address Translation (NAT) virtualization; 
 a firewall virtualization; 
 a routing and forwarding virtualization; 
 a Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) virtualization; 
 a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and Domain Name Service (DNS) virtualization; 
 a Deep Packet Inspection virtualization; 
 a Denial of Service protection virtualization; and 
 a Parental Controls virtualization. 
 
     
     
         8 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for:
 configuring the first NFV to include performing at least a first virtualization and a second virtualization at the virtual platform; and 
 configuring the second NFV to include performing at least the first virtualization, the second virtualization and a third virtualization at the virtual platform. 
 
     
     
         9 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 8  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for adding a first identifier to the first plurality of packets when transmitted from the virtual platform to the home network and adding a second identifier to the second plurality of packets when transmitted from the virtual platform to the home network, the first and second identifiers being operable with an edge router of the home network to facilitate transmission of the corresponding first and second plurality of packets over the home network to the corresponding first and second devices. 
     
     
         10 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 1  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for performing the first NFV on the first plurality of packets at the virtual platform following transmission from an edge router of the home network. 
     
     
         11 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 10  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for determining the first NFV to be performed on the first plurality of packets according to a first identifier transmitted therewith from the edge router, the first identifier being different from a second identifier associated with the second NFV and being associated with a first plurality of virtualizations, the first plurality of virtualizations specifying processing to be performed at the virtual platform on the first plurality of packets in order to perform the first NFV. 
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 11  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for determining the first plurality of virtualizations from a virtualization table, the virtualization table cross-referencing at least the first identifier with the first plurality of virtualization and the second identifier with a second plurality of virtualizations. 
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 12  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for generating the virtualization table such that the second plurality of virtualizations include one or more virtualizations different from the first plurality of virtualizations. 
     
     
         14 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having a plurality of non-transitory instructions operable with a virtual platform to facilitate network function virtualization (NFV) for a home network, the non-transitory instructions being sufficient for:
 determining a first NFV design for a device connected to the home network; and   performing a first plurality of network function virtualizations (NFVs) on a first plurality of packets prior to being transmitted from outside of the home network to the device, the first plurality of NFVs being specified in the first NFV design.   
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 14  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for:
 determining a second NFV design for the device; and 
 performing a second plurality of NFVs on a second plurality of packets transmitted from the device after being transmitted from the home network, the second plurality of NFVs being specified in the second NFV design and different at least in part from the first plurality of NFVs. 
 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for determining the first and second plurality of NFVs for the first and second NFV designs as a function of user inputs to an NFV design portal, including determining one or more of the first and second plurality of NFVs as a function of a user dragging and dropping one or more NFV icons from a listing of available NFVs to a menu associated with the device. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for selecting the first NFV design from a plurality of NFV designs based on a first identifier being included within the first plurality of packets. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 17  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for selecting the second NFV design from the plurality of NFV designs based on a second identifier different from the first identifier being included within the second plurality of packets. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 15  further comprising non-transitory instructions sufficient for selecting the first and second NFV designs from a plurality of NFV designs based on an address included in each of the first and second plurality of packets. 
     
     
         20 . A system for facilitating network function virtualization's (NFVs) for a home network comprising:
 a portal including a listing of devices connected to the home network and a listing of available NFVs, the portal enabling a user to create NFV designs for each of the devices according to user inputs thereto; and   a virtual platform having a plurality of servers configured to implement each of the NFVs associated with the listing of available NFVs, the virtual platform being configured to process packets communicated to/from the devices according to the NFVs specified in the NFV design for the corresponding device.