Virtual network controller

Abstract

A controller receives a request for the provision of a slice of a network to a virtual network operator. The controller determines whether the slice can be provided from existing resources, whether the slice can be provided if the existing resources are re-configured, or whether the slice can only be provided if additional resources are obtained. The controller then automatically takes the action required in order to provide the requested slice. The controller can also be used to release resources that are no longer required. Additionally, the controller can be used to re-optimize the network on request.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A slice computation management element, comprising:
 a first interface with one or a plurality of virtual network operators;   a second interface with one or a plurality of infrastructure providers; and   a slice computation engine configured to allocate network resources from the one or a plurality of the infrastructure providers,   wherein the network resources comprise computing resources and network resources.   
     
     
         2 . The slice computation management element of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the computing resources comprise at least one of servers, storage devices, or processors, and   the network resources comprise at least one of access points, routing or switching elements, or transport resources.   
     
     
         3 . The slice computation management element of  claim 1 , further comprising a customer interface that receives a request for a provision of network resources. 
     
     
         4 . The slice computation management element of  claim 1 , wherein the slice computation engine is configured to carry out computations required for assigning slices of the network resources. 
     
     
         5 . A method for allocating network resources, comprising:
 providing a first interface with one or a plurality of virtual network operators,   providing a second interface with one or a plurality of infrastructure providers; and   allocating, with a slice computation engine, network resources from the one or a plurality of infrastructure providers,   wherein the network resources comprise computing resources and network resources.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the computing resources comprise at least one of servers, storage devices, or processors, and   the network resources comprise at least one of access points, routing or switching elements, or transport resources.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising carrying out computations required for assigning slices of the network resources. 
     
     
         8 . A system for allocating network resources, comprising:
 a slice computation engine configured to allocate network resources from one or a plurality of infrastructure providers;   a management and configuration element configured to trigger a setup of a slice of the network resources;   a database configured to store current resource availability in a network and calculate a new slice of the network resources according to the current resource availability; and   a customer interface configured to receive a request for the provision of the network resources,   wherein the network resources comprise computing resources and network resources.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the computing resources comprise at least one of servers, storage devices, or processors, and   the network resources comprise at least one of access points, routing or switching elements, or transport resources.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the slice computation engine is configured to carry out computations required for assigning slices of the network resources. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed in hardware, perform a process, the process comprising:
 providing a first interface with one or a plurality of virtual network operators,   providing a second interface with one or a plurality of infrastructure providers; and   allocating, with a slice computation engine, network resources from the one or a plurality of infrastructure providers,   wherein the network resources comprise computing resources and network resources.   
     
     
         12 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the computing resources comprise at least one of servers, storage devices, or processors, and   the network resources comprise at least one of access points, routing or switching elements, or transport resources.   
     
     
         13 . The non-transitory computer readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the process further comprises carrying out computations required for assigning slices of the network resources.