US 11,909,656 B1
In-network decision for end-server-based network function acceleration
Hyunseok Chang, Holmdel, NJ (US); Sarit Mukherjee, Morganville, NJ (US); and Limin Wang, Plainsboro, NJ (US)
Assigned to Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy, Espoo (FI)
Filed by Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy, Espoo (FI)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/155,416.
Int. Cl. G06F 15/16 (2006.01); H04L 47/2483 (2022.01); H04L 47/11 (2022.01); H04L 41/0895 (2022.01)
CPC H04L 47/2483 (2013.01) [H04L 41/0895 (2022.05); H04L 47/11 (2013.01)] 32 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A network comprising:
at least one software-based processor configured to implement at least one virtual network function (VNF) associated with flow processing;
at least one hardware accelerator, wherein the software-based processor is configured to offload at least some of the flow processing to the hardware accelerator; and
a module external to the software-based processor and the hardware accelerator and configured to examine a plurality of flows being processed by the network and determine which one or more flows are more suitable for offloading from the software-based processor to the hardware accelerator than one or more other flows, wherein:
the at least one software-based processor and the at least one hardware accelerator are part of an end-server in the network; and
the module is part of a network switch in the network that is external to the end-server and interconnects the end-server to one or more other end-servers in the network.