Controlling of communication network comprising virtualized network functions

Abstract

A method comprising determining that at least one virtualized communication function or application providing services related to a communication network is instantiated, preparing an indication related to the instantiation of the at least one virtualized communication function or application, and causing transmission of the prepared indication to at least one of a network element of the communication network, a network function of the communication network, a communication function, an application and a database to which network elements, network functions, communication functions or applications in the communication network have access.

1 . A method comprising:
 determining that in virtual network operation at least one virtualized communication function or application providing services related to a communication network is instantiated,   preparing an indication related to the instantiation of the at least one virtualized communication function or application in virtual network operation, and   causing transmission of the prepared indication in virtual network operation to at least one of a network element of the communication network, a network function of the communication network, a communication function, an application and a database to which network elements, network functions, communication functions or applications in the communication network have access, wherein the at least one of a network element of the communication network, the network function of the communication network, the communication function, and the application is a potential signaling partner of the instantiated at least one virtualized communication function or application in virtual network operation in a communication conducted via the communication network.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , including at least one of
 further comprising setting up in virtual network operation at least one new virtualized communication function or application providing services related to a communication network, wherein the determination that at least one virtualized communication function or application providing services related to a communication network is instantiated is made when the setup of the new virtualized communication function or application is completed;   the indication comprising at least one of information indicating a type of the at least one virtualized communication function or application, information indicating a type of services provided by the at least one virtualized communication function or application, address information associated to the at least one virtualized communication function or application, and identification information related to a virtual network operator operating the at least one virtualized communication function or application in virtual network operation;   causing transmission of the prepared indication to a domain name server element or function;   the prepared indication is caused to be sent to at least one of a communication element comprising a terminal device or user equipment capable of communicating in the communication network, a network element or network function of a radio access network part of the communication network, a network element or network function of a fixed access network part of the communication network, a network element or network function of a core network part of the communication network, a network element or network function of an IP multimedia system part of the communication network, a communication function or application communicating in the communication network, and a database to which network elements or network functions of the communication network, communication functions or applications have access, wherein the database is comprised in at least one of a centralized database of the communication network and a local database comprised in one or more of the network elements or network functions of the communication network.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the method is executed in virtual network operation by one of a communication network control element or communication network control function acting as a global orchestrator for implementing virtualized communication functions or applications, an operation and maintenance element of the communication network, and a communication network control element or communication network control function of a communication network in which virtualized communication functions or applications are implemented, wherein the at least one virtualized communication function or application being instantiated is related to a communication network control function of the communication network. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus comprising:
 at least one processing circuitry, and   at least one memory for storing instructions to be executed by the processing circuitry, wherein   the at least one memory and the instructions are configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus at least:   to determine that in virtual network operation at least one virtualized communication function or application providing services related to a communication network is instantiated,   to prepare in virtual network operation an indication related to the instantiation of the at least one virtualized communication function or application, and   to cause transmission of the prepared indication in virtual network operation to at least one of a network element of the communication network, a network function of the communication network, a communication function, an application and a database to which network elements, network functions, communication functions or applications in the communication network have access, wherein the at least one of a network element of the communication network, the network function of the communication network, the communication function, and the application is a potential signaling partner of the instantiated at least one virtualized communication function or application in virtual network operation in a communication conducted via the communication network.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus
 in virtual network operation, to set up at least one new virtualized communication function or application providing services related to a communication network, wherein the determination that at least one virtualized communication function or application providing services related to a communication network is instantiated is made when the setup of the new virtualized communication function or application is completed.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the indication comprises at least one of
 information indicating a type of the at least virtualized communication function or application,   information indicating a type of services provided by the at least one virtualized communication function or application,   address information associated to the at least one virtualized communication function or application, and   identification information related to a virtual network operator operating the at least one virtualized communication function or application.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one memory and the instructions are further configured to, with the at least one processing circuitry, cause the apparatus
 in virtual network operation, to cause transmission of the prepared indication to a domain name server element or function.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the apparatus is comprised in one of   a communication network control element or communication network control function acting as a global orchestrator for implementing virtualized communication functions or applications,   an operation and maintenance element of the communication network, and   a communication network control element or communication network control function of a communication network in which virtualized communication functions or applications are implemented,   wherein the at least one virtualized communication function or application being instantiated is related to a communication network control function of the communication network.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the prepared indication is caused to be sent to at least one of a communication element comprising a terminal device or user equipment capable of communicating in the communication network, a network element or network function of a radio access network part of the communication network, a network element or network function of a fixed access network part of the communication network, a network element or network function of a core network part of the communication network, a network element or network function of an IP multimedia system part of the communication network, a communication function or application communicating in the communication network, and a database to which network elements or network functions of the communication network, communication functions or applications have access, wherein the database is comprised in at least one of a centralized database of the communication network and a local database comprised in one or more of the network elements or network functions of the communication network.