QUALCOMM Incorporated
SHARED NETWORK PROCESSING UNIT

Abstract:

Embodiments include methods for managing communications that may be performed by a processor of a shared network processing unit (NPU). The processor may present to each of a plurality of network controller devices an interface to a corresponding one of a plurality of virtual NPU modules each executing within a container within a virtualization platform, wherein each virtual NPU module enables one of the plurality of network controller devices to communicate with a corresponding one of a plurality of small cells. The processor may direct, via a virtual switch executing on the virtualization platform, communications between each of the plurality of network controller devices and a corresponding one of the plurality of virtual NPU modules and between each of the plurality of virtual NPU modules and a corresponding one of the plurality of small cells.