Ciena Corporation
Dynamic licensing for applications and plugin framework for virtual network systems

Abstract:

A Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) method integrating third-party Virtual Network Functions (VNF) through a plugin framework includes operating, via one or more servers in an NFV cloud, the plugin framework with Application Programming Interfaces (API) to one or more third-party VNFs; providing a catalog of VNF services comprising the one or more third-party VNFs to an end user; and operating the one or more third-party VNFs with the end user via the NFV cloud, wherein the one or more third-party VNFs are from a different vendor than an operator of the NFV cloud.