A congestion game framework for service chain composition in NFV with function benefit

The network function virtualization (NFV) is a network paradigm that aims at softwarizing network functions that usually have been implemented on specific hardware devices. In this paper, the service chain composition problem in NFV with function benefit is investigated. Using the non-cooperative game theory, the service chain configuration is converted to the seeking for the Nash equilibrium of the formulated game. The semi-tensor product (STP) of matrices is used as the algebraic tool for the game formulation and the Nash equilibrium calculation. The results on the service chain composition of the NFV are elaborated with a numerical example.