Determination device, determination method and determination program

Abstract

To achieve a determination device capable of determining a level at which a network failure affects a service provided on such a network.SOLUTION: A determination device includes: a detecting unit that detects a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements configuring a network designed by a designing unit so as to provide a service; and a determining unit that determines a level at which a failure affects the service with reference to network configuration information generated by the designing unit, the network configuration information representing a dependency among the plurality of elements relating to the service.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a determination device, a determination method, and a determination program.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a network monitoring system that monitors a network connecting a user terminal and a server via a router. When the network monitoring system detects a failure in the network, it identifies the users affected by the failure.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In the network monitoring system described in Patent Document 1, although the users affected by a failure on the network can be identified, there is a problem that the degree to which the failure affects the services provided on the network cannot be determined.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in view of the above problems, and an exemplary object thereof is to provide a technique for determining the degree to which a failure on a network affects the services provided on the network.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] A determination device according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a detection unit that detects a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by design means to provide a service, and a network configuration information generated by the design means, and a determination unit that determines the degree of influence of the failure on the service with reference to the network configuration information indicating the dependency relationship regarding the service among the plurality of elements.

[0007] A determination method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes a detection process in which at least one processor detects a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by a design process to provide a service, and a determination process in which the at least one processor determines the degree of influence of the failure on the service with reference to network configuration information generated by the design process and indicating the dependency relationship regarding the service among the plurality of elements.

[0008] A determination program according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure is a program that causes a computer to function as a determination device, and causes the computer to function as a detection unit that detects a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by design means to provide a service, and a determination unit that determines the degree of influence of the failure on the service with reference to network configuration information generated by the design means and indicating the dependency relationship regarding the service among the plurality of elements.

Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure, there is an exemplary effect that a technique for determining the degree to which a failure on a network affects a service provided on the network can be provided.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to the following exemplary embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope shown in the claims. For example, embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means employed in the following exemplary embodiments may also be included in the scope of the present invention. In addition, embodiments obtained by appropriately omitting some of the technical means employed in the following exemplary embodiments may also be included in the scope of the present invention. Also, the effects mentioned in the following exemplary embodiments are merely examples of the effects expected in those exemplary embodiments and do not define the scope of the present invention. That is, embodiments that do not exhibit the effects mentioned in the following exemplary embodiments may also be included in the scope of the present invention.

[0012] 〔First Exemplary Embodiment〕 A first exemplary embodiment, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. This exemplary embodiment is a basic form for each of the exemplary embodiments described later. Note that the scope of application of each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. That is, each technical means employed in this exemplary embodiment can also be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles. In addition, each technical means shown in the drawings referred to for explaining this exemplary embodiment can also be employed in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there are no particular technical obstacles.

[0013] (Configuration of the determination device) The determination device 1 is a device that determines the degree to which a failure in a network for providing a service affects the service. The configuration of the determination device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the determination device 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the determination device 1 includes a detection unit 11 and a determination unit 12. The detection unit 11 detects a failure that has occurred in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting the network designed by the design unit to provide a service. The determination unit 12 refers to the network configuration information generated by the design unit, which shows the dependency relationship related to the service among the plurality of elements, and determines the degree of influence of the failure on the service. Note that the detection unit 11 and the determination unit 12 are not limited to being physically included in one device, and may be distributed and arranged in a plurality of devices.

[0014] Here, the dependency relationship related to the service refers to a relationship in which one element functions on the premise that another element functions in the network where the data related to the service is processed. In other words, the dependency relationship related to the service refers to a relationship in which if a failure occurs in one element in the network where the data related to the service is processed, the function of another element is affected.

[0015] (Flow of the determination method) The flow of the determination method S1 will be described with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the flow of the determination method S1. As shown in FIG. 2, the determination method S1 includes a detection process S11 and a determination process S12. In the detection process S11, at least one processor (for example, the detection unit 11) detects a failure that has occurred in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by the design unit to provide a service. In the determination process S12, at least one processor (for example, the determination unit 12) refers to the network configuration information generated by the design unit, which shows the dependency relationships related to the service among the plurality of elements, and determines the degree of the impact of the failure on the service.

[0016] (Specific example of the design unit) Here, the design unit itself does not necessarily have to be included in the determination device 1. The design unit is realized by an arbitrary computer and has a function of designing a network for providing a service. Designing a network means determining a plurality of elements constituting the network and generating network configuration information indicating the dependency relationships among the plurality of elements. The network configuration information indicates the dependency relationships related to the service among the plurality of elements constituting the network. Known techniques can be applied to the design unit. The determination device 1 functions with respect to the network designed by the design unit and is configured to be able to refer to the network configuration information generated by the design unit. For example, the network configuration information may be stored in the memory provided in the determination device 1, or may be stored in an external device communicably connected to the determination device 1.

[0017] (Specific example of the network configuration information) A specific example of network configuration information will be described with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a specific example of network configuration information. As shown in FIG. 3, the network configuration information indicates the dependency relationships of the service "Service1" among a plurality of elements constituting the network. In the example of FIG. 3, the plurality of elements constituting the network include network functions NF1, NF2, NF3, and NF4 required for providing the service. Examples of network functions include, but are not limited to, routers, firewalls, etc. Further, the plurality of elements constituting the network include elements Wk1, Wk2, and Wk3 indicating virtual units on a computer that implement each network function as a virtual device. Further, the plurality of elements constituting the network may include management elements k8s1 and k8s2 that manage the virtual units. Further, the plurality of elements constituting the network may include a physical element DC on which an OS (Operating System) that realizes the virtual units and the management elements is installed. The element DC may be, for example, a data center including one or more computers.

[0018] An example of a virtual unit includes a container in which the OS is virtually divided by container-type virtualization technology. An example of container-type virtualization technology includes Kubernetes. In the example of FIG. 3, the elements Wk1, Wk2, and Wk3 are worker nodes of Kubernetes. A worker node is a node that provides an execution environment for containers. Further, the management elements k8s1 and k8s2 are master nodes of Kubernetes. Note that the virtual unit is not limited to container-type virtualization technology and may be a virtual unit generated by other virtualization technologies. Further, the plurality of elements constituting the network are not necessarily limited to elements indicating network functions that can be realized as virtual devices, and may include physical elements having network functions (for example, elements called network devices).

[0019] In the example of FIG. 3, the direction of the arrows connecting the elements indicates the dependency relationship between the elements in providing the service "Service1". Specifically, the element connected to the root of the arrow depends on the element connected to the tip of the arrow. That is, for the element connected to the root of the arrow to function, the element connected to the tip of the arrow must be functioning. For example, in order to provide the service "Service1", the network functions NF1, NF2, NF3, and NF4 must function. Also, for the network function NF1 to function, the management element k8s1 and the virtual unit Wk1 must function. Further, for the virtual unit Wk1 to function, the management element k8s1 and the physical element DC must function.

[0020] (Specific Example of Determination Processing) A specific example of the determination process S12 by the determination unit 12 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining a specific example of the determination process S12. In FIG. 4, it is assumed that a failure has occurred in the element Wk3 among the plurality of elements constituting the network. The determination unit 12 refers to the network configuration information and identifies the network functions NF3 and NF4, which are the elements dependent on the element Wk3. That is, the determination unit 12 determines that the network functions NF3 and NF4 will be affected by the failure. Also, the determination unit 12 refers to the network configuration information and identifies that the service "Service1" depends on the network functions NF3 and NF4. That is, the determination unit 12 determines that the service "Service1" will be affected by the failure. In the example of FIG. 4, the determination unit 12 determines the presence or absence of the impact on the service as the degree of the impact of the failure on the service. Note that the "degree of impact" determined by the determination unit 12 is not limited to the "presence or absence of impact", and may be, for example, the "magnitude of impact" such as the degree of speed delay or the length of service stop time. Also, when a plurality of services are provided by the network, the "degree of impact" may be the "scope of impact as to which service is affected".

[0021] (Effects of the Determination Device and the Determination Method) As described above, in the determination device 1, a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by the design department to provide a service is detected, and network configuration information generated by the design department, which indicates the dependency relationship regarding the service among the plurality of elements, is referred to, and the degree of influence of the failure on the service is determined. For this reason, according to the determination device 1, an effect that the degree of influence of the failure on the network on the service provided on the network can be determined is obtained.

[0022] Also, in the determination method S1, a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by the design department to provide a service is detected, and network configuration information generated by the design department, which indicates the dependency relationship regarding the service among the plurality of elements, is referred to, and the degree of influence of the failure on the service is determined. For this reason, according to the determination method S1, an effect that the degree of influence of the failure on the network on the service provided on the network can be determined is obtained.

[0023] 〔Second Exemplary Embodiment〕 A second exemplary embodiment, which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. For components having the same functions as the components described in the above-described exemplary embodiment, the same reference numerals are given, and the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate. Note that the application range of each technical means adopted in this exemplary embodiment is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. That is, each technical means adopted in this exemplary embodiment can also be adopted in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there is no particular technical problem. In addition, each technical means shown in each drawing referred to for explaining this exemplary embodiment can also be adopted in other exemplary embodiments included in the present disclosure as long as there is no particular technical problem.

[0024] (Overview of the Determination System) The determination system 10 is a system that determines the scope of services and users affected by a failure in a network that provides a plurality of services. That is, the network targeted for determination by the determination system 10 is used to provide a plurality of services. Specific examples of the plurality of services include multi-tenant services. For example, when a failure occurs in a network that provides a multi-tenant service, it is important to accurately and quickly determine the scope of the impact, such as which tenant's service is affected and which users who use the service in which tenant are affected, without manual intervention. Note that the specific examples of the plurality of services are not limited to the examples described above.

[0025] (Configuration of the determination system) The configuration of the determination system 10 will be described with reference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the determination system 10. As shown in FIG. 5, the determination system 10 includes a determination device 1A, a plurality of user terminals 2-1, 2-2,... and a network virtualization device 9. When there is no need to particularly distinguish and describe the user terminals 2-1, 2-2,... they are each simply referred to as the user terminal 2. FIG. 5 shows two user terminals 2, but the number of user terminals 2 included in the determination system 10 may be three or more. The determination device 1A is communicably connected to the user terminal 2 via the network NW. In addition, the determination device 1A is communicably connected to the network virtualization device 9 via the network NW. Note that the determination device 1A, the user terminal 2, and the network virtualization device 9 are not limited to being connected to the same network NW. Part or all of the network connecting the determination device 1A and the user terminal 2, the network connecting the determination device 1A and the network virtualization device 9, and the network connecting the user terminal 2 and the network virtualization device 9 may be different from each other.

[0026] (Configuration of the user terminal) The user terminal 2 is a terminal used by a user who uses any one of a plurality of services provided via a virtual network formed by the network virtualization device 9. For example, the user terminal 2 is configured by a computer including a processor and a memory. Also, for example, an input device or a display device may be built in or connected to the user terminal 2.

[0027] (Configuration of Network Virtualization Device) The network virtualization device 9 is a device that virtually forms a network designed by a design unit 14 described later. For example, the network virtualization device 9 is configured by a computer including a processor and a memory. Specifically, the network virtualization device 9 realizes a network function as a virtual device on the device. The network function may be realized, for example, on a container generated by the above-described container-type virtualization technology. In the example of FIG. 5, four virtual devices 90-1, 90-2, 90-3, 90-4,... are shown. When there is no need to distinguish and describe these virtual devices 90-1, 90-2, 90-3, 90-4,... they are each simply described as the virtual device 90. FIG. 5 shows four virtual devices 90, but the number of virtual devices 90 realized on the network virtualization device 9 is not limited to four, and may be 3 or less, or 5 or more.

[0028] (Configuration of Determination Device) The configuration of the determination device 1A will be described with reference to FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5, the determination device 1A includes a control unit 110 and a storage unit 120. The control unit 110 comprehensively controls each part of the determination device 1A. For example, the control unit 110 includes a notification unit 13, a design unit 14, an operation unit 15, and a virtual device control unit 16 in addition to the detection unit 11 and the determination unit 12 provided in the determination device 1. The storage unit 120 stores various data used by the control unit 110. For example, the storage unit 120 stores network configuration information and notification destination information.

[0029] The detection unit 11 is configured in the same manner as the detection unit 11 included in the determination device 1. The determination unit 12 is configured in the same manner as the determination unit 12 included in the determination device 1, and is further configured as follows. When a failure occurs in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting the network, the determination unit 12 refers to the network configuration information and identifies a service affected by the failure among a plurality of services provided by the network.

[0030] In addition, the plurality of elements constituting the network indicated by the network configuration information may include a first element and a second element that are redundantly configured. In this case, when a failure occurs in the first element and no failure occurs in the second element, the determination unit 12 determines the degree of influence on the service.

[0031] Here, the fact that the first element and the second element are redundantly configured means that the first element and the second element have the same function and are connected to the same other element. For example, the determination unit 12 may determine the magnitude of the influence such as a speed delay due to the non - functioning of the first element. Also, for example, the determination unit 12 may determine that there is no influence on the service because the second element is functioning even if the first element is not functioning. That is, in this case, the determination unit 12 may determine the presence or absence of influence as the degree of influence on the service.

[0032] The notification unit 13 refers to the notification destination information indicating the user who uses the service, and notifies the user of the determination result by the determination unit 12. Notifying the user may mean transmitting the determination result to the user terminal 2. Also, the notification method may be, for example, a method such as e-mail or push notification, etc., but is not limited thereto. The notification destination information may be information in which, for each of a plurality of services, information for identifying each service and information indicating the notification destination of the user who uses the service are associated. Note that, for information for identifying a certain service, information indicating the notification destinations of a plurality of users may be associated. Also, for information indicating the notification destination of a certain user, information for identifying a plurality of services may be associated. The information indicating the notification destination of the user may be information for identifying the user terminal 2, or may be information indicating the contact information of the user who uses the user terminal 2.

[0033] When information regarding the service is input, the design unit 14 generates network configuration information by designing a network for providing the service. The network configuration information generated by the design unit 14 is stored in the storage unit 120. For example, the design unit 14 acquires information indicating the intent of the service as information regarding the service, and designs a network so that the service is provided.

[0034] For example, the design department 14 may obtain information input by a user as information indicating the intent of the service. The user who inputs information indicating the intent of the service may be, for example, but not limited to, an operator of the service or the like. For example, the design department 14 may provide a GUI (Graphical User Interface) through which information indicating the intent of the service can be input. Also, for example, the design department 14 may provide a dialogue user interface that allows information indicating the intent of the service to be answered in natural language sentences. Further, for example, the design department 14 may obtain information input by the user in accordance with a predetermined data format (for example, JSON: Javascript Object Notation, etc.; Javascript is a registered trademark) as information indicating the intent of the service. However, the method of obtaining information related to the service is not limited to these.

[0035] For example, as an example of information related to the service, information indicating the intent of the service in each tenant of the multi-tenant service can be cited. For example, the intent of the service in each tenant may include the throughput of the network slice to be provided in each tenant, the number of UE (User Equipment) connections, and the number of PDU (Packet Data Unit) sessions. For example, information indicating the intent of the service in each tenant may be input through a GUI that allows numerical values of "throughput", "number of UE connections", and "number of PDU sessions" to be input for each tenant. Also, as information indicating the intent of the service in each tenant, a natural language sentence such as "Provide tenant A with a network slice having a throughput of xx, a number of UE connections of yy, and a number of PDU sessions of zz" may be input through the dialogue user interface. Note that "A" indicates the identification information of the tenant, and "xx", "yy", and "zz" indicate numerical values. However, the information related to the service and the information indicating the intent of the service are not limited to the examples described above.

[0036] Further, for example, the design unit 14 generates a plurality of patterns of network candidates by combining models of various network components. Also, the design unit 14 designs a network by adopting a network candidate that satisfies the intent of each service from among the generated plurality of patterns of network candidates. For the design unit 14, for example, intent-based network construction technology can be applied.

[0037] Also, the design unit 14 may design a plurality of networks that can be selectively used to provide services. At least a part of the plurality of elements constituting each of the selectively available networks is different from each other. In this case, the network configuration information generated by the design unit 14 is generated for each of the plurality of selectively available networks. For example, when at least some of the service intents include variable information, the design unit 14 may design a plurality of selectively available networks by adopting a plurality of network candidates corresponding to the variable information.

[0038] The operation unit 15 selects and operates any one of a plurality of networks that can be selectively used to provide services. Also, when a failure occurs in an element included in the network during operation, the operation unit 15 selects and operates another network that does not include the element in which the failure has occurred among the plurality of selectively available networks. Note that the operation unit 15 operates the selected network by realizing it using the virtual device control unit 16 described below.

[0039] The virtual device control unit 16 controls the network virtualization device 9 so that a plurality of elements constituting the network selected by the operation unit 15 are realized on the network virtualization device 9. For example, the virtual device control unit 16 generates a virtual device 90 that realizes the network functions included in the selected network, and deletes unnecessary virtual devices 90 in the selected network.

[0040] The network configuration information and notification destination information stored in the memory unit 120 will be described. The network configuration information is information generated by the design unit 14. In addition to being configured in the same manner as in the exemplary embodiment 1, the network configuration information is configured as follows. The network configuration information indicates the dependency for each service among a plurality of elements constituting the network. The notification destination information is information referred to by the notification unit 13 and is information indicating a user who uses the service provided by the network indicated by the network configuration information. The notification destination information may be, for example, information associating information for identifying a service and information for identifying a user who uses the service.

[0041] Specific examples of the network configuration information and the notification destination information will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a diagram showing specific examples of the network configuration information and the notification destination information. In FIG. 6, the elements connected to the element of "Service1" and the elements further connected to the connected elements are a plurality of elements constituting a network for providing the service "Service1". Further, the arrows connecting these plurality of elements indicate the dependency relationship related to the service "Service1". Also, the elements connected to the element of "Service2" and the elements further connected to the connected elements are a plurality of elements constituting a network for providing the service "Service2". Further, the arrows connecting these plurality of elements indicate the dependency relationship related to the service "Service2". In this way, FIG. 6 exemplifies network configuration information indicating the dependency for each of the services "Service1" and "Service2" among a plurality of elements constituting the network.

[0042] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, an element indicating the service "Service1" is connected to an element indicating the user "User1" who uses the service "Service1". Further, an element indicating the service "Service2" is connected to elements indicating the users "User2" and "User3" who use the service "Service2". In this way, FIG. 6 exemplifies notification destination information indicating users who use services. Note that FIG. 6 describes an example where one user uses one service, but one user may use a plurality of services. Also, the user may be an organization, not limited to a person.

[0043] Next, other specific examples of the network configuration information and the notification destination information will be described with reference to FIG. 7. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing other specific examples of the network configuration information and the notification destination information. The network configuration information and the notification destination information shown in FIG. 7 are configured in substantially the same manner as in FIG. 6, but differ in the following points. In FIG. 7, the thick line connecting the network functions NF1 and NF2 indicates that the network functions NF1 and NF2 are redundantly configured. The network functions NF1 and NF2 are an example of a first element and a second element that are redundantly configured. However, the number of elements that are redundantly configured is not limited to 2, and may be 3 or more.

[0044] (Flow of the determination method) The determination device 1A configured as described above executes a determination method S1A. The flow of the determination method S1A will be described with reference to FIG. 8. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the flow of the determination method S1A. The determination method S1A includes steps S21 to S28 as shown in FIG. 8.

[0045] In step S21, the design department 14 acquires information regarding each of a plurality of services to be provided using the network (for example, information indicating the intent of each service).

[0046] In step S22, the design department 14 designs a network for providing a plurality of services based on information indicating the intent of each service. Further, the design department 14 generates network configuration information indicating the service-by-service dependency relationships among a plurality of elements constituting the designed network, and stores it in the storage unit 120. Note that when the design department 14 designs a plurality of selectively available networks, it generates network configuration information corresponding to each network, and stores it in the storage unit 120.

[0047] In step S23, the operation department 15 selects a network for providing a plurality of services. If there is one network designed in step S22, that network is selected. Also, if there are a plurality of networks designed in step S22, any one of them is selected. Further, the operation department 15 notifies the virtual device control unit 16 of the network configuration information corresponding to the selected network.

[0048] In step S24, based on the network configuration information notified from the operation department 15, the virtual device control unit 16 generates necessary virtual devices 90 on the network virtualization device 9 and deletes unnecessary virtual devices 90.

[0049] In step S25, the operation department 15 starts the operation of the network realized for providing a plurality of services.

[0050] Step S26 is an example of a detection process. In step S26, the detection unit 11 determines whether a failure has occurred in each of a plurality of elements constituting the operating network. If it is determined that no failure has occurred in any of the elements (No in step S26), step S26 is repeated. If it is determined that a failure has occurred in at least one of the elements (Yes in step S26), the next step S27 is executed.

[0051] Step S27 is an example of a determination process. In step S27, the determination unit 12 refers to the network configuration information corresponding to the network in operation, and specifies the range of services affected by the failure among the plurality of services provided using the network. Further, in the network in operation, when there are other elements configured redundantly with the element where the failure has occurred, the determination unit 12 determines the degree of influence of the failure on the services.

[0052] Step S28 is an example of a notification process. In step S28, the notification unit 13 refers to the notification destination information, and specifies the range of users who use the services affected by the failure among the users who use each of the plurality of services. Further, the notification unit 13 notifies the user terminal 2 used by the specified users of the determination result by the determination unit 12.

[0053] Then, the determination device 1A repeats the process from step S23. For example, when a plurality of networks are designed in step S22, in step S23, the operation unit 15 selects another network that does not include the element where the failure has occurred among the plurality of networks. Then, the subsequent steps are repeated.

[0054] Thereby, when a failure occurs in the network, it is possible to accurately specify the range of services and users affected without manual intervention and notify the failure. Also, when the operation is switched to another network where no failure has occurred, the network configuration information corresponding to the other network is referred to. Therefore, even after the network is switched due to a failure, it is possible to accurately specify the services and users affected when a failure occurs without manual intervention and notify the failure.

[0055] (Specific examples of steps S26 to S28) Specific examples of steps S26 to S28 will be described with reference to FIG. 6. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 6, it is assumed that the detection unit 11 has detected a failure in the element Wk4 (S26). In this case, the determination unit 12 identifies that the service "Service2" is affected because the network function NF4 is affected by tracing the elements dependent on the element Wk4 (S27). Further, the notification unit 13 identifies that the user "User2" who uses the service "Service2" is affected. In FIG. 6, the elements filled with gray indicate the elements where the failure has occurred or the range affected by the failure. Further, the notification unit 13 notifies the identified user "User2" of the determination result. The determination result may be, for example, "The service 'Service2' is currently unavailable due to a network failure.", but is not limited thereto.

[0056] Also, other specific examples of steps S26 to S28 will be described with reference to FIG. 7. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 7, it is assumed that the detection unit 11 has detected a failure in the element Wk2 (S26). In this case, the determination unit 12 identifies that the network function NF2 is affected by tracing the elements dependent on the element Wk2. Here, the network function NF2 is configured redundantly with the network function NF1. Therefore, the determination unit 12 determines that even if only the network function NF2 has a failure, the service "Service2" that depends on the network functions NF1 and NF2 is not affected (S27). In this case, since there is no impact on the user, step S28 is not executed. In FIG. 7, the elements filled with gray indicate the elements where the failure has occurred or the range affected by the failure.

[0057] Note that, when a failure occurs only in the network function NF2 among the redundantly configured network functions NF1 and NF2, the determination unit 12 may determine that a speed delay has occurred in the service "Service2" that depends on the network functions NF1 and NF2 (S27). In this case, the notification unit 13 identifies that the user "User1" who uses the service "Service1" will be affected. Therefore, the notification unit 13 notifies the identified user "User1" of the determination result. The determination result may be, for example, "A speed delay is currently occurring in the service 'Service1' due to a network failure.", but is not limited to this.

[0058] (Modification example) Instead of or in addition to notifying the user terminal 2, the notification unit 13 may output the determination result to an output device built in or connected to the determination device 1A. Further, the notification destination of the determination result by the notification unit 13 is not limited to the affected user, and may be a service provider, a network operator, or the like.

[0059] Also, not all of the network functions included in the network designed to provide the service necessarily have to be realized as the virtual device 90, and a part or all of them may be physical network devices.

[0060] (Effect of the determination device) As described above, in the determination device 1A, a configuration is adopted in which a notification unit 13 that refers to notification destination information indicating a user who uses a service and notifies the user of the determination result by the determination unit 12 is further provided. Therefore, according to the determination device 1A, in addition to the effect exhibited by the determination device 1, an effect can be obtained in which the degree to which a failure on the network affects the service can be notified to the user who uses the service on the network.

[0061] Also, the determination device 1A further includes a design unit 14. When information regarding a service is input, the design unit 14 generates network configuration information by designing a network for providing the service. Therefore, according to the determination device 1A, in addition to the effects exhibited by the determination device 1, the user of the determination device 1A can accurately and quickly obtain a determination result on the degree to which a failure on the network affects the service simply by inputting information regarding the service, without the trouble of manually inputting the configuration of the network for providing the service.

[0062] Also, in the determination device 1A, network configuration information is generated for each of a plurality of networks that can be selectively used to provide a service. At least some elements of the plurality of selectively usable networks are different from each other. The determination device 1A further includes an operation unit 15 that selects and operates any one of the plurality of selectively usable networks, and when a failure occurs in an element included in the network during operation, selects and operates another network among the plurality of selectively usable networks that does not include the element in which the failure has occurred. Therefore, according to the determination device 1A, in addition to the effects exhibited by the determination device 1, the user of the determination device 1A can accurately and quickly obtain a determination result on the degree to which a failure on the network affects the service without the trouble of manually updating the network configuration information when there is a change in the configuration of the network for providing the service.

[0063] Further, in the determination device 1A, the above-described plurality of elements include a first element and a second element configured redundantly, and the determination unit 12 determines the degree of influence on the service when a failure occurs in the first element and no failure occurs in the second element. For this reason, according to the determination device 1A, in addition to the effect exhibited by the determination device 1, when a plurality of elements configured redundantly are included in the network for providing the service, the degree to which a failure on the network affects the service can be determined in consideration of the redundant configuration, and thus the effect can be obtained.

[0064] Also, in the determination device 1A, the network is used to provide a plurality of services, the network configuration information indicates the dependency relationship for each service among the plurality of elements, and the determination unit 12 identifies the service affected by the failure among the plurality of services. For this reason, according to the determination device 1A, in addition to the effect exhibited by the determination device 1, when a failure occurs on the network that provides a plurality of services, the effect can be obtained that it is possible to easily determine which service is affected by the failure.

[0065] Also, in the determination device 1A, the plurality of elements include an element indicating a network function required for providing the service and an element indicating a virtual unit on a computer that implements the network function as a virtual device. Here, when the network function is realized as a virtual device, it may be more difficult to determine the degree to which a failure affects the service on the network than when it is realized as a physical device. For this reason, according to the determination device 1A, in addition to the effect exhibited by the determination device 1, the effect can be obtained that it is possible to easily determine the degree to which a failure on the network that realizes the network function as a virtual device affects the service.

[0066] 〔Example of Realization by Software〕 Some or all of the functions of the determination devices 1 and 1A (hereinafter also referred to as "the above-mentioned respective devices") may be realized by hardware such as an integrated circuit (IC chip), or may be realized by software.

[0067] In the latter case, the above-mentioned respective devices are realized by, for example, a computer that executes the instructions of a program, which is software that realizes each function. An example of such a computer (hereinafter referred to as computer C) is shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of computer C that functions as the above-mentioned respective devices.

[0068] Computer C includes at least one processor C1 and at least one memory C2. A program P for operating computer C as the above-mentioned respective devices is recorded in memory C2. In computer C, processor C1 reads and executes program P from memory C2, whereby each function of the above-mentioned respective devices is realized.

[0069] As processor C1, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU (Graphic Processing Unit), DSP (Digital Signal Processor), MPU (Micro Processing Unit), FPU (Floating point number Processing Unit), PPU (Physics Processing Unit), TPU (Tensor Processing Unit), quantum processor, microcontroller, or a combination thereof can be used. As memory C2, for example, a flash memory, HDD (Hard Disk Drive), SSD (Solid State Drive), or a combination thereof can be used.

[0070] Incidentally, the computer C may further include a RAM (Random Access Memory) for expanding the program P during execution or temporarily storing various data. Further, the computer C may further include a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data to and from other devices. Further, the computer C may further include an input / output interface for connecting input / output devices such as a keyboard, a mouse, a display, and a printer.

[0071] Also, the program P can be recorded on a non-transitory tangible recording medium M readable by the computer C. As such a recording medium M, for example, a tape, a disk, a card, a semiconductor memory, or a programmable logic circuit can be used. The computer C can acquire the program P via such a recording medium M. Also, the program P can be transmitted via a transmission medium. As such a transmission medium, for example, a communication network or a broadcast wave can be used. The computer C can also acquire the program P via such a transmission medium.

[0072] 〔Supplementary Note A〕 The present disclosure includes the technologies described in the following supplementary notes. However, the present invention is not limited to the technologies described in the following supplementary notes, and various modifications are possible within the scope indicated in the claims.

[0073] (Supplementary Note A1) Detection means for detecting a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by design means to provide a service; Determination means for determining the degree of influence of the failure on the service with reference to network configuration information generated by the design means and indicating a dependency relationship regarding the service among the plurality of elements; A determination device comprising:

[0074] (Supplementary Note A2) Further comprising a notification means for notifying the user of the determination result by the determination means with reference to notification destination information indicating a user who uses the service. The determination device according to appended note A1.

[0075] (Appended note A3) Further comprising the design means. When information regarding the service is input, the design means generates the network configuration information by designing the network for providing the service. The determination device according to appended note A1 or A2.

[0076] (Appended note A4) The network configuration information is generated for each of a plurality of networks that can be selectively used to provide the service, and at least some elements of the plurality of selectively available networks are different from each other. Further comprising an operation means for selecting and operating any one of the plurality of selectively available networks, and when a failure occurs in an element included in the operating network, selecting and operating another network that does not include the element in which the failure has occurred among the plurality of selectively available networks. The determination device according to any one of appended notes A1 to A3.

[0077] (Appended note A5) The plurality of elements include a first element and a second element configured redundantly. When a failure occurs in the first element and no failure occurs in the second element, the determination means determines the degree of influence on the service. The determination device according to any one of appended notes A1 to A4.

[0078] (Appended note A6) The network is used to provide a plurality of services. The network configuration information indicates the dependency relationship for each service among the plurality of elements. The determination means identifies the service(s) among the plurality of services that are affected by the failure. The determination device according to any one of Appendices A1 to A5.

[0079] (Appendix A7) The plurality of elements include an element indicating a network function necessary for providing the service and an element indicating a virtual unit on a computer that implements the network function as a virtual device. The determination device according to any one of Appendices A1 to A6.

[0080] [Appendix Item B] This disclosure includes the technologies described in the following appendices. However, the present invention is not limited to the technologies described in the following appendices, and various modifications can be made within the scope indicated in the claims.

[0081] (Appendix B1) At least one processor performs a detection process of detecting a failure that has occurred in at least any one of a plurality of elements that constitute a network designed by a design process to provide a service, and a determination process in which the at least one processor refers to network configuration information generated by the design process and indicating a dependency relationship related to the service among the plurality of elements, and determines the degree of influence of the failure on the service. A determination method including this.

[0082] (Appendix B2) The at least one processor further includes a notification process of referring to notification destination information indicating a user who uses the service and notifying the user of the determination result by the determination process. The determination method according to Appendix B1.

[0083] (Appendix B3) The at least one processor further includes executing the design process. In the design process, when information regarding the service is input, the at least one processor generates the network configuration information by designing the network for providing the service. The determination method described in Supplementary Note B1 or B2.

[0084] (Supplementary Note B4) The network configuration information is generated for each of the plurality of networks selectively available for providing the service, and at least some elements of the plurality of selectively available networks are different from each other. The at least one processor further includes an operation process of selecting and operating any one of the plurality of selectively available networks, and when a failure occurs in an element included in the operating network, selecting and operating another network that does not include the element in which the failure has occurred among the plurality of selectively available networks. The determination method described in any one of Supplementary Notes B1 to B3.

[0085] (Supplementary Note B5) The plurality of elements include a first element and a second element configured redundantly. In the determination process, when a failure occurs in the first element and no failure occurs in the second element, the at least one processor determines the degree of influence on the service. The determination method described in any one of Supplementary Notes B1 to B4.

[0086] (Supplementary Note B6) The network is used to provide a plurality of services. The network configuration information indicates the service-by-service dependency relationships among the plurality of elements. In the determination process, the at least one processor identifies the service(s) affected by the failure among the plurality of services. The determination method described in any one of Supplementary Notes B1 to B5.

[0087] (Appendix B7) The plurality of elements include an element indicating a network function required for providing the service, and an element indicating a virtual unit on a computer that implements the network function as a virtual device. The determination method according to any one of Appendices B1 to B6.

[0088] [Appendix C] The present disclosure includes the technologies described in the following appendices. However, the present invention is not limited to the technologies described in the following appendices, and various modifications are possible within the scope indicated in the claims.

[0089] (Appendix C1) A program for causing a computer to function as a determination device, the computer being a detection unit that detects a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by design means to provide a service; a determination unit that determines the degree of influence of the failure on the service by referring to network configuration information generated by the design means and indicating a dependency relationship regarding the service among the plurality of elements; functioning as a determination program.

[0090] (Appendix C2) The computer is further caused to function as a notification unit that notifies the user of the determination result by the determination unit by referring to notification destination information indicating the user who uses the service. The determination program according to Appendix C1.

[0091] (Appendix C3) The computer is further caused to function as the design means, wherein the design means generates the network configuration information by designing the network for providing the service when information regarding the service is input. The determination program described in Supplementary Note C1 or C2.

[0092] (Supplementary Note C4) The network configuration information is generated for each of a plurality of networks that can be selectively used to provide the service, and at least some elements of the plurality of selectively available networks are different from each other. The computer selects and operates any one of the plurality of selectively available networks, and when a failure occurs in an element included in the network in operation, selects and operates another network among the plurality of selectively available networks that does not include the element in which the failure has occurred, and further functions as an operation means. The determination program described in any one of Supplementary Notes C1 to C3.

[0093] (Supplementary Note C5) The plurality of elements include a first element and a second element that are redundantly configured. When a failure occurs in the first element and no failure occurs in the second element, the determination means determines the degree of influence on the service. The determination program described in any one of Supplementary Notes C1 to C4.

[0094] (Supplementary Note C6) The network is used to provide a plurality of services. The network configuration information indicates the service-by-service dependency relationships among the plurality of elements. The determination means identifies the service(s) affected by the failure among the plurality of services. The determination program described in any one of Supplementary Notes C1 to C5.

[0095] (Supplementary Note C7) The plurality of elements include elements indicating network functions required for providing the service and elements indicating virtual units on a computer that implement the network functions as virtual devices. The determination program according to any one of Appendices C1 to C6.

[0096] 〔Supplementary Note D〕 The present disclosure includes the technologies described in the following appendices. However, the present invention is not limited to the technologies described in the following appendices, and various modifications are possible within the scope indicated in the claims.

[0097] (Appendix D1) Comprising at least one processor, the at least one processor A detection process for detecting a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by a design process to provide a service, Determination processing for determining the degree of influence of the failure on the service by referring to network configuration information generated by the design processing and indicating a dependency relationship related to the service among the plurality of elements, A determination device that executes the above.

[0098] Note that the determination device may further include a memory. Also, a program for causing the at least one processor to execute each of the above processes may be stored in the memory.

[0099] (Appendix D2) The at least one processor Further executes a notification process of notifying the user of the determination result by the determination process with reference to notification destination information indicating a user who uses the service, The determination device according to Appendix D1.

[0100] (Appendix D3) The at least one processor Further executes the design process, In the design process, when information related to the service is input, the at least one processor generates the network configuration information by designing the network for providing the service. The determination device described in Supplementary Note D1 or D2.

[0101] (Supplementary Note D4) The network configuration information is generated for each of a plurality of networks that can be selectively used to provide the service, and at least some elements of the plurality of selectively usable networks are different from each other. The at least one processor selects and operates any one of the plurality of selectively usable networks, and when a failure occurs in an element included in the operating network, selects and operates another network among the plurality of selectively usable networks that does not include the element in which the failure has occurred. Further execute the operation process. The determination device described in any one of Supplementary Notes D1 to D3.

[0102] (Supplementary Note D5) The plurality of elements include a first element and a second element configured redundantly. In the determination process, when a failure occurs in the first element and no failure occurs in the second element, the at least one processor determines the degree of influence on the service. The determination device described in any one of Supplementary Notes D1 to D4.

[0103] (Supplementary Note D6) The network is used to provide a plurality of services. The network configuration information indicates the service-by-service dependency relationships among the plurality of elements. In the determination process, the at least one processor identifies the service among the plurality of services that is affected by the failure. The determination device described in any one of Supplementary Notes D1 to D5.

[0104] (Supplementary Note D7) The plurality of elements includes an element indicating a network function required for providing the service, and an element indicating a virtual unit on a computer that implements the network function as a virtual device. The determination device according to any one of Appendices D1 to D6.

[0105] 〔Appendix E〕 This disclosure includes the technologies described in the following appendices. However, the present invention is not limited to the technologies described in the following appendices, and various modifications are possible within the scope indicated in the claims.

[0106] (Appendix E1) A program that causes a computer to function as a determination device, causing the computer to a detection process for detecting a failure that has occurred in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by a design process to provide a service, a determination process for determining the degree of influence of the failure on the service by referring to network configuration information generated by the design process and indicating a dependency relationship related to the service among the plurality of elements, A non-transitory recording medium recording a determination program that causes the above to be executed.

Explanation of Signs

[0107] 1, 1A Determination device 2 User terminal 9 Network virtualization device 90 Virtual device 10 Determination system 11 Detection unit 12 Determination unit 13 Notification unit 14 Design unit 15 Operation unit 16 Virtual device control unit 110 Control unit 120 Storage unit C1 Processor C2 Memory

Claims

1. Detection means for detecting a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by design means to provide a service; Determination means for determining the degree of influence on the service due to the failure, with reference to network configuration information generated by the design means and indicating a dependency relationship regarding the service among the plurality of elements; A determination device comprising the above.

2. The determination device according to claim 1, further comprising notification means for notifying the user of the determination result by the determination means, with reference to notification destination information indicating a user who uses the service. The determination device according to claim 1.

3. Further comprising the design means, wherein the design means generates the network configuration information by designing the network for providing the service when information regarding the service is input. The determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The network configuration information is generated for each of a plurality of networks that can be selectively used to provide the service, and at least some of the plurality of selectively usable networks have different elements from each other, and further comprising operation means for selecting and operating any one of the plurality of selectively usable networks, and when a failure occurs in an element included in the network in operation, selecting and operating another network among the plurality of selectively usable networks that does not include the element in which the failure has occurred. The determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The plurality of elements include a first element and a second element configured redundantly, and the determination means determines the degree of influence on the service when a failure occurs in the first element and no failure occurs in the second element. The determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. The network is used to provide a plurality of services, the network configuration information indicates a dependency relationship for each service among the plurality of elements, and the determination means identifies the service(s) affected by the failure among the plurality of services. The determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. The plurality of elements include elements indicating network functions required for providing the service, and elements indicating virtual units on a computer that implement the network functions as virtual devices. The determination device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. A detection process in which at least one processor detects a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by a design process to provide a service; A determination process in which the at least one processor refers to network configuration information generated by the design process and indicating a dependency relationship related to the service among the plurality of elements, and determines the degree of influence of the failure on the service; A determination method including the above.

9. A program for causing a computer to function as a determination device, the computer being a detection means for detecting a failure occurring in at least any one of a plurality of elements constituting a network designed by design means to provide a service; a determination means for referring to network configuration information generated by the design means and indicating a dependency relationship related to the service among the plurality of elements, and determining the degree of influence of the failure on the service; Functioning as a determination program.

Images