US 11,722,357 B2
Method to dynamically change connectivity of virtual network function (VNF) and physical network function (PNF) instances in new radio (NR) networks
Joey Chou, Scottsdale, AZ (US); and Yizhi Yao, Chandler, AZ (US)
Assigned to Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed by Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 10, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/572,440.
Application 17/572,440 is a continuation of application No. 16/509,959, filed on Jul. 12, 2019, granted, now 11,303,501.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/697,852, filed on Jul. 13, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0131739 A1, Apr. 28, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H04L 41/046 (2022.01); H04W 28/08 (2023.01); H04W 28/16 (2009.01); H04W 28/18 (2009.01); H04W 28/12 (2009.01); H04L 41/0813 (2022.01); H04W 72/20 (2023.01); H04W 72/29 (2023.01); H04W 24/02 (2009.01)
CPC H04L 41/046 (2013.01) [H04L 41/0813 (2013.01); H04W 28/0835 (2020.05); H04W 28/12 (2013.01); H04W 28/16 (2013.01); H04W 28/18 (2013.01); H04W 72/20 (2023.01); H04W 72/29 (2023.01); H04W 24/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for operating a network manager (NM), comprising:
by the NM:
sending, to a Network Function Virtualization Orchestrator (NFVO), a first update network service (NS) request message to associate a new network service descriptor (NSD) with an NS instance;
sending, to the NFVO, a second update NS request message to add or change the connectivity by associating a virtual network function (VNF) with a new or updated VNF Profile indicated by the new NSD, wherein the second update NS request message includes:
an nsInstanceID parameter that identifies the NS instance, and
an updateType parameter that indicates a type of update for the NS instance, wherein the updateType parameter value is “AssocVnfWithVnfProfile” indicates a request to associate the VNF of the NS instance with the new or updated VNF profile indicated by the new NSD.