Master Service Orchestration of Virtual Networking Functions

Abstract

Concepts and technologies disclosed herein are directed to master service orchestration of virtual network functions (“VNFs”). According to one aspect of the concepts and technologies disclosed herein, a network functions virtualization (“NFV”) platform includes a hardware resources layer including a plurality of hardware resources, a plurality of VNF resource pools, a plurality of service controllers corresponding to the plurality of VNF resource pools, and a master service orchestrator. The master service orchestrator can, when executed by at least a portion of the plurality of hardware resources, causes the master service orchestrator to perform operations. In particular, the master service orchestrator can receive, from a user equipment (“UE”), a service request. The master service orchestrator also can instruct a service controller of the plurality of service controllers to perform service controller-specific operations to provide, at least in part, a service included within the service request received from the UE.

1 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of hardware resources;   a plurality of virtual core network functions executable on a first portion of the plurality of hardware resources;   a plurality of service controllers executable on a second portion of the plurality of hardware resources, wherein the plurality of service controllers correspond to the plurality of virtual core network functions; and   a master service orchestrator that, when executed on a third portion of the plurality of hardware resources, causes the master service orchestrator to perform operations comprising instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle a service request received from a user equipment.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual mobility management entity;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a mobility management entity service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the mobility management entity service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual mobility management entity to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual diameter routing agent;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a diameter routing agent service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the diameter routing agent service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual diameter routing agent to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual home subscriber server;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a home subscriber server service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the home subscriber server service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual home subscriber server to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual serving gateway;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a serving gateway service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the serving gateway service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual serving gateway to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual packet data gateway;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a packet data gateway service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the packet data gateway service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual packet data gateway to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual policy and charging rules function;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a policy and charging rules function service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the policy and charging rules function service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual policy and charging rules function service controller to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         8 . A computer-readable storage medium having instructions of a master service orchestrator stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving, from a user equipment, via a first service controller of a plurality of service controllers, a service request, wherein each of the plurality of service controllers is associated with a virtual core network function of a plurality of virtual core network functions; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual mobility management entity;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a mobility management entity service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the mobility management entity service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual mobility management entity to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual diameter routing agent;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a diameter routing agent service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the diameter routing agent service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual diameter routing agent to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual home subscriber server;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a home subscriber server service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the home subscriber server service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual home subscriber server to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual serving gateway;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a serving gateway service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the serving gateway service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual serving gateway to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual packet data gateway;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a packet data gateway service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the packet data gateway service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual packet data gateway to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual policy and charging rules function;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a policy and charging rules function service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the policy and charging rules function service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual policy and charging rules function service controller to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 receiving, by a master service orchestrator executing on a first portion of a plurality of hardware resources, from a user equipment, via a first service controller of a plurality of service controllers executing on a second portion of the plurality of hardware resources, a service request, wherein each of the plurality of service controllers is associated with a virtual core network function of a plurality of virtual core network functions executing on a third portion of the plurality of hardware resources; and   instructing, by the master service orchestrator, the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual mobility management entity;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a mobility management entity service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the mobility management entity service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual mobility management entity to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual diameter routing agent;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a diameter routing agent service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the diameter routing agent service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual diameter routing agent to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual home subscriber server;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a home subscriber server service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the home subscriber server service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual home subscriber server to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual serving gateway;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a serving gateway service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the serving gateway service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual serving gateway to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the plurality of virtual core network functions comprises a virtual packet data gateway;   the plurality of service controllers comprises a packet data gateway service controller; and   instructing the plurality of service controllers to handle the service request received from the user equipment comprises instructing the packet data gateway service controller to instantiate and manage the virtual packet data gateway to handle, at least in part, the service request received from the user equipment.