Systems and methods for performing computer network service chain analytics

Abstract

A system for performing computer network service chain analytics includes network-connected devices containing a plurality of virtual network functions having elements and a data model for storing a plurality of metrics related to the plurality of virtual network functions and a service chain intelligence engine in communication with the one or more network-connected devices and the data model. The memory device contains a set of instructions that causes a processor to analyze the plurality of virtual network functions to automatically identify one or more service chains, to automatically determine, using the data model, performance behavior characteristics of each element for each of the identified service chains and to automatically generate an alarm, in response to determining that the performance behavior characteristics of one or more elements of at least one of the identified one or more service chains does not meet a predefined set of the performance behavior characteristics.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A computer system for performing computer network service chain analytics, the system comprising:
 one or more network-connected devices containing a plurality of virtual network functions (VNFs) having one or more elements;   a data model for storing a plurality of metrics related to the plurality of VNFs; and   a service chain intelligence engine comprising a processor and a memory device coupled to the processor in communication with the one or more network-connected devices and in communication with the data model, the memory device containing a set of instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:   analyze the plurality of VNFs to automatically identify one or more service chains;   automatically determine performance behavior characteristics of each element for each of the identified service chains using the data model; and   automatically generate an alarm, in response to determining that the performance behavior characteristics of one or more elements of at least one of the identified one or more service chains does not meet a predefined set of the performance behavior characteristics.   
     
     
         2 . The computer system of  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of VNFs comprise one or more VNF service chains. 
     
     
         3 . The computer system of  claim 2 , wherein services provided in the VNF service chains comprise one or more of: Voice-over-IP (VoIP), Video-on-Demand (VOD), IP Mobility Subsystem (IMS) and Internet services to clients of a service provider network. 
     
     
         4 . The computer system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the one or more VNF service chains comprises a plurality of VNF macro elements. 
     
     
         5 . The computer system of  claim 4 , wherein each of the one or more VNF service chains comprises two or more VNF micro elements. 
     
     
         6 . The computer system of  claim 5 , wherein the instructions that cause the processor to automatically determine performance behavior characteristics of each element for each of the identified service chains using the data model further comprise instructions to automatically determine performance behavior characteristics of both macro and micro elements in the one or more VNF service chains using the data model. 
     
     
         7 . The computer system of  claim 6 , wherein the data model is configured for storing service chain element health metrics, dimensions and normal behavior metrics. 
     
     
         8 . The computer system of  claim 6 , wherein the instructions that cause the processor to automatically determine performance behavior characteristics of each element for each of the identified service chains using the data model further comprise instructions to automatically determine performance behavior characteristics of both macro and micro elements by employing active agent test data. 
     
     
         9 . The computer system of  claim 8 , wherein the active agent test data is a common piece of code inserted into each VNF element to perform pre-determined availability and latency tests within certain links of the one or more VNF service chains. 
     
     
         10 . A computer method for performing computer network service chain analytics, the method comprising steps of:
 analyzing a plurality of virtual network functions (VNFs) having one or more elements to automatically identify one or more service chains;   automatically determining performance behavior characteristics of each element for each of the identified service chains using a data model for storing a plurality of metrics related to the plurality of VNFs; and   automatically generating an alarm, in response to determining that the performance behavior characteristics of one or more elements of at least one of the identified one or more service chains does not meet a predefined set of the performance behavior characteristics.   
     
     
         11 . The computer method of  claim 10 , wherein at least some of the plurality of VNFs comprise one or more VNF service chains. 
     
     
         12 . The computer method of  claim 11 , wherein services provided in the VNF service chains comprise one or more of: Voice-over-IP (VoIP), Video-on-Demand (VOD), IP Mobility Subsystem (IMS) and Internet services to clients of a service provider network. 
     
     
         13 . The computer method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more VNF service chains comprises a plurality of VNF macro elements. 
     
     
         14 . The computer method of  claim 11 , wherein each of the one or more VNF service chains comprises two or more VNF micro elements. 
     
     
         15 . The computer method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of automatically determining performance behavior characteristics of each element for each of the identified service chains using the data model further comprises automatically determining performance behavior characteristics of both macro and micro elements in the one or more VNF service chains using the data model. 
     
     
         16 . The computer method of  claim 15 , wherein the data model is configured for storing service chain element health metrics, dimensions and normal behavior metrics. 
     
     
         17 . The computer method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of automatically determining performance behavior characteristics of each element for each of the identified service chains using the data model further comprises automatically determining performance behavior characteristics of both macro and micro elements by employing active agent test data. 
     
     
         18 . The computer system of  claim 17 , wherein the active agent test data is a common piece of code inserted into each VNF element to perform pre-determined availability and latency tests within certain links of the one or more VNF service chains. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium structured to store instructions, the instructions when executed, cause a processor in a network device in a computer network to:
 analyze a plurality of virtual network functions (VNFs) having one or more elements to automatically identify one or more service chains;   automatically determine performance behavior characteristics of each element for each of the identified service chains using a data model for storing a plurality of metrics related to the plurality of VNFs; and   automatically generate an alarm, in response to determining that the performance behavior characteristics of one or more elements of at least one of the identified one or more service chains does not meet a predefined set of the performance behavior characteristics.   
     
     
         20 . The storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein at least some of the plurality of VNFs comprise one or more VNF service chains.