Network management system and method

Abstract

To reduce the possibility that modification of a set parameter value group is required after the parameter value group is set on a network system.SOLUTION: A system is built that manages a network system including an edge server in which an application is executed and a core network of a mobile network connected to the edge server. The system sets, in the network system, a parameter value group that has been determined using a setting template with which an application requirement matching an application requirement of a user is associated. The setting template includes a template parameter value (parameter value as a template) for each of parameter items regarding the network system. The system monitors the status of the network system in which the parameter value group has been set, and, on the basis of a result of the monitoring, updates the setting template or determines a value to be displayed on the basis of the setting template.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates generally to management of communication networks, and more particularly to assisting in network configuration. [Background technology]

[0002] Fifth generation mobile communications (5G) has made it possible to achieve low latency, wideband, and highly reliable wireless communications. The introduction of such wireless networks will enable the consolidation and abolishment of various existing networks within privately operated networks, and is expected to reduce the costs of building and operating networks.

[0003] It is desirable to reduce the burden of network settings related to 5G. As a technology for supporting network settings, for example, network settings using templates are known (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2020-140276 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In 5G, edge servers called MEC (Multi-access Edge Computing) will be introduced at locations such as on-site (or telecommunications carrier offices), making it possible to install a network system at the location. The network system is a system that includes the edge server where applications are executed and the core network of the mobile network connected to the edge server (the edge server and the core network may be located in separate locations).

[0006] Whether or not the parameter value group set in the network system is appropriate cannot be determined until the operation of the network system in which the parameter value group is set actually begins. If the parameter value group is inappropriate, the set parameter value group must be changed.

[0007] The above-mentioned problems may also occur in wireless communication services other than 5G, such as 6G (6th Generation) or LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless communication services. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] A network management system for managing a network system is constructed. The network management system selects one or more configuration templates, each of which is associated with an application requirement that matches the application requirement of a user, from a plurality of configuration templates, each of which is associated with an application requirement. The network management system sets a group of parameter values ​​determined using a target configuration template, which is one of the selected one or more configuration templates, in the network system. The group of parameter values ​​is a parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system. Each configuration template includes a template parameter value group, which is a template parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system. The template parameter value is a parameter value as a template. The network management system updates the target configuration template based on the result of the monitoring, or sets at least one template parameter value displayed based on the target configuration template to a value based on the result of the monitoring. Effect of the Invention

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the possibility that a need arises to change a set of parameter values ​​after the set set of parameter values ​​has been set in a network system. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 shows an example of the overall flow of processing performed in an embodiment. [Diagram 3] An example of a network setting UI is shown. [Figure 4] 13 shows an example of the configuration of an application requirement table. [Diagram 5] 13 shows an example of the configuration of a UE group table. [Figure 6] 13 shows an example of the configuration of a first network template table. [Figure 7] 13 shows an example of the configuration of a second network template table. [Figure 8] 1 shows an example of the configuration of a first profile table. [Figure 9] 10 shows an example of a time series of the network bandwidth, the bandwidth usage rate, and the number of shortages. [Figure 10] An example of the relationship between the burst time and the number of shortages is shown below. [Figure 11] 13 shows an example of the configuration of a second profile table. [Figure 12] 13 shows an example of the configuration of a third profile table. [Figure 13] 13 shows an example of the configuration of a fourth profile table. [Figure 14] 13 shows an example of the configuration of a fifth profile table. [Figure 15] 1 shows an example of the flow of a network setting support process. [Figure 16] 1 shows an example of a flow of a network status monitoring process. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] In the following description, an "interface unit" may refer to one or more interface devices. The one or more interface devices may be at least one of the following: One or more I / O (Input / Output) interface devices. The I / O (Input / Output) interface devices are interface devices to at least one of the I / O devices and a remote display computer. The I / O interface device to the display computer may be a communications interface device. The at least one I / O device may be a user interface device, e.g., either an input device such as a keyboard and a pointing device, or an output device such as a display device. One or more communication interface devices. The one or more communication interface devices may be one or more homogeneous communication interface devices (e.g., one or more NICs (Network Interface Cards)) or two or more heterogeneous communication interface devices (e.g., a NIC and an HBA (Host Bus Adapter)).

[0012] In the following description, a "memory" refers to one or more memory devices, which are an example of one or more storage devices, and may typically be a primary storage device. At least one memory device in the memory may be a volatile memory device or a non-volatile memory device.

[0013] In the following description, a "persistent storage device" may be one or more persistent storage devices, which are an example of one or more persistent storage devices. A persistent storage device may typically be a non-volatile storage device (e.g., an auxiliary storage device), and more specifically, may be, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), a non-volatile memory express (NVME) drive, or a storage class memory (SCM).

[0014] Also, in the following description, "storage device" may be at least memory, including memory and persistent storage device.

[0015] Furthermore, in the following description, a "processor" may be one or more processor devices. The at least one processor device may typically be a microprocessor device such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), but may also be other types of processor devices such as a GPU (Graphics Processing Unit). The at least one processor device may be a single-core or multi-core. The at least one processor device may be a processor core. The at least one processor device may also be a broader processor device such as a circuit that is a collection of gate arrays written in a hardware description language that performs part or all of the processing (e.g., an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), a CPLD (Complex Programmable Logic Device), or an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit)).

[0016] In the following description, information that gives an output in response to an input may be described using expressions such as "xxxDB" (DB is an abbreviation for "database") or "xxx table", but the information may be data of any structure (for example, structured data or unstructured data), or may be a neural network that generates an output in response to an input, or a learning model such as a genetic algorithm or random forest. Therefore, "xxxDB" or "xxx table" may be referred to as "xxx information". In the following description, the configuration of DB and tables is an example, and one DB (one table) may be divided into two or more DBs (two or more tables), or all or part of two or more DBs (two or more tables) may be one DB (one table).

[0017] In the following description, functions may be described using the expression "yyy unit", but the functions may be realized by one or more computer programs being executed by a processor, or by one or more hardware circuits (e.g., FPGA or ASIC), or by a combination thereof. When a function is realized by a program being executed by a processor, the function may be at least a part of the processor, since the specified processing is performed using a storage device and / or an interface device, etc., as appropriate. Processing described with a function as the subject may be processing performed by a processor or a device having the processor. A program may be installed from a program source. The program source may be, for example, a program distribution computer or a storage medium (e.g., a non-transitory storage medium) that can be read by a computer. The description of each function is an example, and multiple functions may be combined into one function, or one function may be divided into multiple functions.

[0018] In addition, in the following description, when describing elements of the same type without distinguishing between them, common reference symbols will be used, and when describing elements of the same type without distinguishing between them, reference symbols will be used.

[0019] Furthermore, the identification information for identifying elements such as application requirements and network types may be a combination of one or more of a "name," an "ID," an "identifier," and a "number," etc.

[0020] FIG. 1 shows an example of the overall configuration of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] The network system 150 includes an edge server 151 on which an application is executed and a core network 152 (e.g., 5G core) of a mobile network connected to the edge server 151. The network system 150 may include at least a part of a mobile network. The mobile network may include a (Radio) Access Network (R)AN, a User Plane Function (UPF) server, multiple switches, a Data Network (DN), and a core network 152. The (R)AN may include a base station that wirelessly communicates with a User Equipment (UE), which is an example of a user device. The (R)AN and the UPF server may be connected to a mobile backhaul. The core network 152 may include functions such as an Access and Mobility Management Function (AMF), a Session Management Function (SMF), a Policy Control Function (PCF), and a Unified Data Management (UDM). The network system 150 may also include a local 5G of an operator that does not have a wireless communication service. The local 5G may be installed at a site such as a logistics site or a factory. The edge server 151 may be an edge server located at a site (base) or an edge server provided in a carrier network. The edge server 151 executes applications.

[0022] The network management system 100 is a system that manages a network system 150. The network management system 100 is a physical computer system configured with one or more physical computers, but may also be a logical computer system based on a physical computer system (for example, a system realized on a cloud platform).

[0023] The network management system 100 comprises an interface device 51, a storage device 52 and a processor 53 connected thereto.

[0024] The interface device 51 is communicatively connected to at least one element in the network system 150 .

[0025] The storage device 52 stores information and programs. Examples of information include an application requirement DB 71, a UE group DB 72, a template DB 73, a statistics DB 74, and a profile DB 75. The application requirement DB 71 stores information representing accepted application requirements. The UE group DB 72 stores information representing groups of UEs. The template DB 73 stores information representing setting templates with which application requirements are associated. The template DB 73 typically stores information representing a plurality of setting templates with which application requirements are associated. The statistics DB 74 stores information representing statistics related to the network system 150. The profile DB 75 stores information representing profiles of application requirements.

[0026] By the processor 53 executing the programs, a UI (User Interface) unit 61, a template management unit 62, a setting unit 63, and a system monitoring unit 64 are realized.

[0027] The UI unit 61 accepts input of application requirements from a user. In this embodiment, the input of application requirements is accepted from an administrator via a UI (User Interface) (described later) displayed on the management terminal 110, but may alternatively be accepted by reading from a storage device or by other methods. The management terminal 110 may be a computer such as a personal computer or a smartphone. The "administrator" may be a person belonging to a user (e.g., a company) or may be an administrator of the network management system 100. The UI unit 61 also provides a UI based on a setting template to the management terminal 110.

[0028] The template management unit 62 selects one or more setting templates, each associated with an application requirement that matches the input application requirement, from the template DB 73. A target setting template, which is one setting template from the one or more selected setting templates, is selected manually or automatically. A parameter value group is determined manually or automatically using the target setting template. The parameter value group is a parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system 150. Each setting template includes a template parameter value group, which is a template parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system 150.

[0029] The setting unit 63 sets the parameter value group determined using the target setting template in the network system 150 (deployment of the parameter value group).

[0030] Whether the parameter value group set in network system 150 is appropriate or not cannot be known until operation of network system 150 in which the parameter value group is set actually begins. If the parameter value group is inappropriate, the set parameter value group needs to be changed.

[0031] The system monitoring unit 64 monitors the network status, which is the status of the network system 150 in which the parameter value group is set. The "network status" may include, for example, the status of the edge server 151 (e.g., the utilization rate of the computational resources) and the network status (e.g., the number of communication packets, the number of discarded packets, and the bandwidth utilization rate). The template management unit 62 updates the above-mentioned target setting template based on the monitoring result of the network status, or sets at least one template parameter value displayed based on the target setting template to a value based on the monitoring result of the network status. Monitoring the status of the network system 150 may include, for example, analyzing information periodically received from elements in the network system 150 (e.g., the edge server 151 or the core network 152) (e.g., a response to a status inquiry (e.g., an inquiry about values ​​of various information items) periodically sent to the elements in the network system 150).

[0032] According to this embodiment, the target setting template (or template parameter values ​​displayed based on the target setting template) is set as a setting template (or values) suitable for the operation results (actual situation) of the network system 150. In other words, an initial set of parameter values ​​displayed for the administrator is learned based on the operation results of the network system 150. For this reason, there is a high possibility that a set of parameter values ​​determined using the target setting template thereafter will be an appropriate set of parameter values, and therefore the possibility of a need to change the set set of parameter values ​​after the set set of parameter values ​​is reduced.

[0033] In addition, it is considered necessary to flexibly reconfigure (e.g., expand or reduce) network system 150 in response to fluctuations in supply and demand (e.g., changes in requirements from customers) and changes in the on-site environment (e.g., changes in the number of vehicles or robots operating in logistics or factories). Even if network system 150 is reconfigured, a situation corresponding to network system 150 after reconfiguration is identified, and based on the identified situation, a target setting template (or template parameter values ​​displayed based on the target setting template) is set as a setting template (or value). In other words, network setting support that follows configuration changes in network system 150 is possible.

[0034] This embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows an example of the overall flow of processing performed in the embodiment.

[0036] The UI unit 61 receives input of information representing application requirements from the administrator via a UI provided by the UI unit 61 and displayed on the management terminal 110 (S201), and outputs the received information to the template management unit 62 (S202). The application requirements include a network type (e.g., control network, office network) and basic requirements (e.g., application name, number of UEs).

[0037] If the profile of the input application requirement (application requirement represented by information from the UI unit 61) is stored in the profile DB 75, the template management unit 62 outputs profile-based display information to the UI unit 61. The profile-based display information is information including values ​​based on a candidate setting template and values ​​to which a profile has been applied. A "candidate setting template" is a setting template associated with an application requirement that is the same as or similar to the input application requirement. The profile-based display information is based on the application requirement DB 71, the template DB 73, and the profile DB 75.

[0038] On the other hand, if the input application requirement profile is not stored in the profile DB 75, the template management unit 62 outputs template-based display information to the UI unit 61 (S205). The template-based display information is information including values ​​based on the candidate setting template. The template-based display information is based on the application requirement DB 71 and the template DB 73.

[0039] Both the profile-based display information and the template-based display information may include information representing a candidate configuration template. In addition, the "application requirement similar to the input application requirement" may be an application requirement whose difference from the input application requirement is equal to or less than a certain difference (for example, an application requirement whose feature amount is equal to or less than a certain difference from the feature amount of the input application requirement).

[0040] The UI unit 61 displays the display information output in S203 or S205 on the management terminal 110 (S206). FIG. 3 shows an example of the network setting UI 320 including the display information displayed in S206. The network setting UI 320 is typically a GUI (Graphical User Interface). The network setting UI 320 has GUI components such as a requirement input form section 323, one or more setting template objects 321 (e.g., setting template objects 321A to 321C), and a decision button 322. The requirement input form section 323 includes GUI components that accept input of application requirements (e.g., application name, network type, UE group, and number of UEs). The setting template object 321 is a display object of a candidate setting template, and displays parameter values ​​included in the display information output in S203 or S205. For at least some parameter values, there are GUI components (e.g., a text box, a pull-down menu) that accept editing of the parameter values. Selection of a candidate configuration template (selection of configuration template object 321) and pressing of decision button 322 are accepted via network setting UI 320. This causes a group of parameter values ​​for the selected candidate configuration template to be input to UI unit 61. For the selected candidate configuration template, parameter values ​​in the display information are edited by the administrator. The selected candidate configuration template is called the "target configuration template."

[0041] The UI unit 61 accepts input of a parameter value group for the target setting template (S207), and outputs the accepted parameter value group to the template management unit 62 (S208). The template management unit 62 outputs the parameter value group to the setting unit 63 (S209). The setting unit 63 sets the parameter value group in the network system 150. Typically, the setting unit 63 sets a part of the parameter value group in the edge server 151 (S210), and sets the rest of the parameter value group in the core network 152 (S211).

[0042] The system monitoring unit 64 monitors the status of the network system 150 for which the parameter value group was set in S221 (S212).

[0043] In S212, the system monitoring unit 64 generates or updates a target profile, which is a profile of application requirements associated with the target setting template, according to the status of the network system 150. Specifically, for example, the system monitoring unit 64 acquires statistics of the status of the network system 150, and stores information representing the acquired statistics in the statistics DB 74. The statistics DB 74 stores, for example, time-series information (for example, information representing statistics for each time period) for each of the following (a) to (c). An example of a status item is an item relating to each of the statistics of (a) to (c). (a) Computing statistics: specifically, statistics of values ​​for each item related to computing resources such as the edge server 151. Items related to computing statistics may be, for example, processor usage, memory usage, and disk usage. (b) Network statistics (for example, statistics on a per-flow basis). Items related to network statistics may be the number of communication packets, the number of lost packets (the number of lost packets), and the number of communication bytes. (c) Statistics of network evaluation notifications. An item related to the statistics may be, for example, the number of low evaluations.

[0044] The system monitor 64 generates or updates a target profile based on the statistics represented by the statistical DB 74 .

[0045] The network management system 100 also provides an interface (typically an API (Application Programming Interface)) for receiving a NW evaluation notification (a notification indicating an evaluation of the network used by the edge server 151) from an application. When an application executed on the edge server 151 detects a predetermined event (e.g., a communication timeout), the application calls the interface (API) and transmits a NW evaluation notification indicating that the network performance requirements may be violated to the network management system 100 (S213). The "predetermined event" here is an event that is defined as being likely to occur when the network performance requirements are violated (e.g., when performance is degraded). In S212, the system monitoring unit 64 appropriately receives a NW evaluation notification from the application (edge ​​server 151). Based on the NW evaluation notification, the system monitoring unit 64 can generate or update a target profile, or determine whether to generate or update a target profile. For example, the system monitoring unit 64 generates or updates a target profile based on the NW evaluation notification (e.g., statistics related to the NW evaluation notification) and statistics related to the status of the network system 150. The source of the NW evaluation notification may be an element other than the application (e.g., a UE communicating with the edge server 151) instead of or in addition to the application executed by the edge server 151. The NW evaluation notification may include information representing an application name, a requirement ID (ID of an application requirement), and network evaluation. The NW evaluation notification may also include information representing a detected event (e.g., packet delay, packet loss, communication timeout with the opposing device) and information representing an address (typically an IP address) of the source of the notification.

[0046] When the system monitoring unit 64 generates or updates a target profile, it instructs the template management unit 62 to update the target setting template. In response to the instruction, the template management unit 62 associates the target profile with the target setting template (S214 ). Thereafter, as a display based on the target setting template, profile-based display information is output in S203. Note that the target profile may be reflected in the target setting template itself (i.e., the template parameter values ​​in the target setting profile may be updated), and display information based on the updated target setting template (template-based display information) may be output in S203.

[0047] Furthermore, the system monitoring unit 64 may output notification information for the administrator (S215). The "notification information for the administrator" may include a report on the status of the network system 150 and a recommendation of a set of parameter values. The UI unit 61 may display the notification information on the management terminal 110 (S216).

[0048] According to the above flow, for the application requirement associated with the target setting template, a profile is generated or updated according to the status of the network system 150 in which the parameter value group is set, and thereafter, in response to the input of the application requirement (administrator intent), profile-based display information is displayed for the parameter value group. Therefore, an appropriate parameter value group can be set with less burden on the administrator.

[0049] FIG. 4 shows an example of the configuration of the application requirement table 400.

[0050] The application requirement table 400 is a table in the application requirement DB 71. The application requirement table 400 has a record for each application requirement. The record has information such as a requirement ID 401, a basic requirement 402, a network type 403, a setting parameter 404, an SLA parameter 405, and a tuning policy 406. The basic requirement 402 and the network type 403 correspond to information representing an application requirement. The setting parameter 404, the SLA parameter 405, and the tuning policy 406 correspond to a group of parameter values ​​(or values ​​on which the parameters are based) set in the network system 150. Take one application requirement as an example.

[0051] The requirement ID 401 indicates the ID of an application requirement. The ID of an application requirement may correspond to an example of information for identifying a network.

[0052] Basic requirement 402 indicates basic elements of application requirements (e.g., application name, UE group name, and number of UEs). Network type 403 indicates the name of the network type (in FIG. 4, the names are numbers such as "Network Type 1" and "Network Type 2", but more easily understandable type names such as "Control Network" and "Office Network" may be used).

[0053] The setting parameters 404 are parameter values ​​(or pointers to parameter values) set for each of a plurality of (or one) parameter items. The setting parameters 404 may include at least one of a value representing a communication characteristic (e.g., delay or jitter), a value representing a type of computing resource (e.g., CPU, GPU, FPGA), and a value representing a computing performance per unit time.

[0054] The SLA parameters 405 are parameter values ​​of parameter items belonging to a service level agreement (SLA), which is an example of network quality, such as a packet error rate (PER). The network quality may include network delay, etc., instead of or in addition to the PER.

[0055] Tuning policy 702 indicates the name of a tuning policy for maintaining network quality (in this example, maintaining the actual PER below the PER as a parameter value).

[0056] FIG. 5 shows an example of the configuration of the UE group table 500.

[0057] The UE group table 500 is a table in the UE group DB 72. The UE group table 500 has a record for each UE group. The record has information such as a UE group name 501, a location 502, and an attribute 503. Take one UE group as an example.

[0058] UE group name 501 indicates the name of a UE group. Location 502 indicates the name of the location where a UE belonging to the UE group exists. Attribute 503 indicates the attribute of a UE belonging to the UE group (for example, the type of UE).

[0059] The UE group name may be included in the basic requirements 402 (see FIG. 4) of the application requirements. At least one of the location 502 and the attribute 503 corresponding to the UE group name may affect the status of the network system 150, and as a result, may affect the content of the profile according to the status.

[0060] A UE is a device that wirelessly communicates with a base station through a mobile network, and typically has a SIM card. When inputting application requirements, the administrator may set a UE group name for each SIM instead of inputting the number of UEs that belong to a UE group.

[0061] FIG. 6 shows an example of the configuration of the first network template table 600. As shown in FIG.

[0062] The first network template table 600 is a table in the template DB 73. The first network template table 600 has a record for each network type. The record has information such as a network type 601, a number of UEs 602, configuration parameters 603, and SLA parameters 604. Take one network type as an example.

[0063] Network type 601 indicates the name of the network type. UE number 602 indicates the number of UEs (or the range thereof).

[0064] The setting parameters 603 are template parameter values ​​(or a pointer to the template parameter values) for each of a plurality of (or one) parameter items. The SLA parameters 604 are, for example, PER.

[0065] According to the example shown in Fig. 6, one or more records are identified from the first network template table 600 using the network type and the number of UEs of the application requirements as keys. There are multiple (or one) setting parameters 603 for one network type. Initially, for example, the setting parameters 603 in the first record for the same network type may be included in the display information displayed on the UI. When a profile is generated by monitoring the network system 150, another record for the same network type may be selected based on the profile, and the setting parameters 603 in the other record (or the setting parameters 603 updated based on the profile) may be included in the display information displayed on the UI.

[0066] FIG. 7 shows an example of the configuration of the second network template table 700. As shown in FIG.

[0067] The second network template table 700 is a table in the template DB 73. The second network template table 700 has a record for each network type. The record has information such as a network type 701, a tuning policy 702, check details 703, and an action to be taken when a violation occurs 704. Take one network type as an example.

[0068] A network type 701 indicates the name of a network type. A tuning policy 702 indicates the name of a tuning policy for maintaining network quality (in this example, maintaining the actual PER below the PER as a parameter value).

[0069] The check details 703 indicate the relationship between a violation situation and tuning details. A "violation situation" is a situation (a situation of the network system 150) as a condition for implementing tuning.

[0070] The violation action 704 indicates the relationship between the tuning content and the action. According to the violation action 704, the template management unit 62 may identify the tuning content detected in monitoring the status of the network system 150 from the second network template table 700 through the system monitoring unit 64, and execute an action according to the identified tuning content. The action may be, for example, notifying the violation status through the UI unit 61, or updating a parameter value group according to the violation status based on a parameter value group that has already been set, and setting the updated parameter value group through the setting unit 63.

[0071] According to the example shown in FIG. 7, a record is identified from the second network template table 700 using the network type of the application requirement as a key.

[0072] Also, according to Figures 6 and 7, the configuration templates associated with application requirements are described in the first and second network template tables, but the information constituting the configuration templates may be present in a table other than the first and second network template tables in the template DB 73.

[0073] Note that the tuning policy for maintaining the network quality may be determined based on the cost in the setting parameters 603 in addition to the network quality. A tuning policy may be prepared from the viewpoints of both cost and network quality. In other words, a tuning policy may be determined from the viewpoint of how tuning is performed from parameters such as the setting parameters 603 and the SLA parameters 604.

[0074] Furthermore, a template parameter value obtained based on the setting parameters 603, or a parameter value obtained by applying a profile to the template parameter value, is set in the network system 150. A parameter value based on the SLA parameters 604 and the tuning policy 702 may be set in the network system 150, and the network system 150 may perform automatic tuning based on the parameter value, or the system monitoring unit 64 may take an action such as tuning the network system 150 based on the SLA parameters 604 and the tuning policy 702 (and the check contents 703 and the action at violation 704).

[0075] In this embodiment, the system monitoring unit 64 monitors the status of the network system 150 in which the parameter value group is set, thereby acquiring statistics regarding the status of the network system 150, and stores information representing the acquired statistics in the statistics DB 74. The system monitoring unit 64 calculates status values, which are at least one of an estimated value and a recommended value, for one or more status items regarding the status of the network system 150 based on the statistics. The profile includes the status values ​​calculated for each of the one or more status items. The parameter value displayed based on the target setting template is a value according to the status value calculated for the status item corresponding to the parameter item of the parameter value. In this way, a profile including status values ​​that affect the displayed parameter value is generated based on the statistics regarding the status of the network system 150. As a result, the displayed parameter value is highly likely to be appropriate, and therefore, an appropriate parameter value group can be set with less editing burden on the administrator.

[0076] In this embodiment, tuning according to the tuning policy may be any of the following. (x) The parameter value group set in network system 150 includes parameter values ​​determined based on the tuning policy (specifically, for example, check content 703 (see FIG. 7)) of the target setting template on which the parameter value group is based. Network system 150 tunes network system 150 (for example, tuning as per check content 703) in accordance with the parameter value (i.e., in accordance with the tuning policy). In monitoring the status of network system 150, system monitoring unit 64 identifies what kind of tuning has been performed. (y) The system monitoring unit 64 tunes the network system 150 in accordance with the tuning policy of the target setting template (specifically, for example, check content 703 (see FIG. 7)). The system monitoring unit 64 then determines whether the status of the network system 150 in which the parameter value group is set maintains the SLA represented by the target setting template (for example, whether a PER exceeding the PER represented by the SLA parameter 604 occurs). If the result of the determination is false, the system monitoring unit 64 tunes the network system 150 based on the tuning policy represented by the target setting template.

[0077] When tuning of the network system 150 is performed, the system monitoring unit 64 determines to update the set of parameter values ​​set in the network system 150, and generates or updates a profile of the application requirements associated with the target setting template based on the updated set of parameter values.

[0078] A tuning policy corresponding to the tuning corresponds to application requirements (e.g., corresponds to cost and network quality), and the tuning is performed according to the actual situation of the network system 150. Therefore, appropriate profile generation or updating is expected.

[0079] In this embodiment, for example, there are the following two cases (Case A) and (Case B). (Case A) The status item and parameter item are network bandwidth, and the status value is an estimated value. (Case B) The status item and the parameter item are the instance size, and the status value is a recommended value.

[0080] (Case A) and (Case B) will be described respectively. In the following description, the first to fifth profile tables are given as examples of tables in the profile DB 75, but a collection of information acquired from the profile DB 75 (for example, the first to fifth profile tables) using the requirement ID of an application requirement as a key may be the profile of the application requirement.

[0081] <Case A: Network Bandwidth>

[0082] FIG. 8 shows an example of the configuration of the first profile table 800.

[0083] The first profile table 800 is a table in the profile DB 75. The first profile table 800 has a record for each time period. The record has information such as a requirement ID 801, a basic requirement 802, a network bandwidth 803, a time period 804, a burst time 805, a number of low evaluations 806, and a number of shortages 807. The length of a time period may be a fixed length or may vary depending on the time period. Take one time period as an example.

[0084] The requirement ID 801 indicates the ID of the application requirement. This application requirement corresponds to statistics (statistics related to the situation) obtained for a time period for the network system 150 in which a group of parameter values ​​is set, and corresponds to the setting template on which the group of parameter values ​​is based. The basic requirement 802 indicates the basic element of the application requirement.

[0085] NW bandwidth 803 indicates a network bandwidth as a parameter value in a group of parameter values ​​set for the application requirement.

[0086] Time period 804 represents a time period (eg, the start and end dates and times of the time period).

[0087] Burst time 805 indicates the length of time that burst traffic continues in a time period. Low evaluation count 806 indicates the number of NW evaluation notifications indicating low evaluations among NW evaluation notifications received in a time period. Deficiency count 807 indicates the number of times that network performance is determined to be insufficient in a time period.

[0088] The system monitor 64 collects from the statistical DB 74 the time periods during which burst traffic occurs, the time periods during which a NW evaluation notice indicating a low evaluation is notified, and the time periods during which packet loss occurs, and generates a first profile table 800 based on the collected results. The number of shortages 807 is incremented when one or more of the following conditions are satisfied. The time period when a network evaluation notification indicating a low evaluation was sent coincides with the time period when burst traffic is occurring (for example, the overlap rate of those time periods is above a certain value). The time period when a network evaluation notification indicating a low evaluation was sent matches the time period when packet loss occurred (for example, the overlap rate of those time periods is above a certain value). - Network evaluation notifications indicating low evaluations have been sent from multiple sources. The PER (for example, the value obtained by dividing the number of lost packets by the number of packets communicated) exceeds the PER (threshold) as the SLA. The time period when packet loss occurs and the time period when burst traffic occurs coincide (for example, the overlap rate of those time periods is above a certain value).

[0089] Based on the first profile table 800, the relationship illustrated in FIG. 9 is obtained. According to FIG. 9, the horizontal axis is the time axis, and the vertical axis is the bandwidth and the number of times. Reference numeral 901 indicates a set NW bandwidth 803 (an example of a set parameter value). Reference numeral 902 indicates a time series of the bandwidth usage rate (an example of a time series of the status of the network system 150). Reference numeral 903 indicates a time series of the low evaluation count 806 or the shortage count 807. In this way, the correlation between the NW bandwidth 803, the burst time 805, and the low evaluation count 806 or the shortage count 807 is identified.

[0090] The system monitoring unit 64 estimates the threshold value of the burst time 805 at which the number of shortages 807 becomes "0". According to the example shown in Fig. 8, the estimated threshold value is "1m" (1 minute). Also, according to Fig. 8, the relationship (relationship between the burst time and the number of shortages) shown in Fig. 10 can be obtained.

[0091] The system monitoring unit 64 calculates the required estimated bandwidth for the maximum burst time (maximum value of burst time) to be equal to or less than the threshold value. According to the example shown in FIG. 8, the maximum value of the burst time 805 is "5m". To make this equal to or less than the threshold value "1m", it is estimated that 5 times the bandwidth (NW bandwidth "10Mbps" x 5 = "50Mbps") is required. The system monitoring unit 64 generates a second profile table 1100 shown in FIG. 11 and stores the second profile table 1100 in the profile DB 75. The second profile table 1100 is a table in which a maximum burst time 1103 (information indicating an estimated maximum burst time) and an estimated bandwidth 1104 (information indicating an estimated network bandwidth) and corresponding requirement IDs 1101 and basic requirements 1102 are recorded.

[0092] As described above, in (Case A), the target setting template includes the network bandwidth as a template parameter value, and the parameter value group set in the network system 150 includes the network bandwidth. The system monitoring unit 64 identifies the burst time and the number of shortages for each of the multiple time periods based on the statistical DB 74. The system monitoring unit 64 estimates a burst time at which the number of shortages becomes zero as a burst time threshold based on the burst time and the number of shortages for each time period. The system monitoring unit 64 estimates a network bandwidth for which the maximum burst time among the burst times for the multiple time periods becomes equal to or less than the burst time threshold. The template management unit 62 sets the network bandwidth in the target setting template or the network bandwidth displayed based on the target setting template as the estimated network bandwidth. Thereby, the network bandwidth displayed based on the target setting template is highly likely to be appropriate, and therefore the need for editing the network bandwidth is reduced.

[0093] The profile DB 75 stores a third profile table 1200 as illustrated in FIG. 12. The third profile table 1200 has a record for each application requirement. The record has information such as a requirement ID 1201, a basic requirement 1202, an estimated bandwidth 1203, and statistics 1204. The requirement ID 1201 indicates the ID of the application requirement. The basic requirement 1202 indicates a basic element of the application requirement. The estimated bandwidth 1203 indicates an estimated network bandwidth. The statistics 1204 indicates the presence or absence of statistics.

[0094] According to FIG. 12, it can be seen that for the requirement IDs "1-1" and "1-2", the estimated bandwidth 1203 is obtained based on statistics. The template management unit 62 calculates the estimated bandwidth 1203 for the application requirement corresponding to the record without statistics based on one or more records with statistics. The record with statistics is a record with statistics 1204 "present", and the record without statistics is a record with statistics 1204 "absent". For example, the estimated bandwidth 1203 of the record without statistics is calculated based on the difference between the basic requirement 1202 of the record without statistics and the basic requirement 1202 of the record with statistics, and the estimated bandwidth 1203 of the record with statistics. According to the example shown in FIG. 12, for the same application, the correlation between the number of UEs and the estimated bandwidth 1203 is calculated based on each profile with the number of UEs "100" and the number of UEs "200", and the estimated bandwidth 1203 (for example, "150 Mbps") in the profile with the number of UEs "300" is calculated based on the transmission.

[0095] The above is an explanation of case A.

[0096] <Case B: Instance size>

[0097] When an instance of an application is updated according to parameter values ​​(parameter values ​​recommended to the administrator) displayed based on the results of monitoring the status of the network system 150, or when an instance of an application is reconfigured by tuning according to a tuning policy, the template management unit 62 stores information indicating the size of the instance after the update or reconfiguration in the profile DB 75. The information is recorded in a fourth profile table 1300 in the profile DB 75, as illustrated in FIG.

[0098] The fourth profile table 1300 has a record for each updated or reconfigured instance. The record has information such as a requirement ID 1301, a basic requirement 1302, a configuration instance 1303, and an updated instance 1304.

[0099] The requirement ID 1301 indicates the ID of the application requirement. The basic requirement 1302 indicates the basic element of the application requirement.

[0100] The setting instance 1303 indicates the size of the instance that has been set. The update instance 1304 indicates the size of the instance that has been updated or reconfigured.

[0101] The instance size in the setting template (or the instance size displayed based on the setting template) may be the instance size represented by the updated instance 1304.

[0102] As described above, in (Case B), the target setting template includes an instance size as a template parameter value. The parameter value group set in the network system 150 includes an instance size. The instance size is the size of an application instance, and affects the utilization rate of the computing resources (e.g., processor, memory, and disk) of the edge server 151. The system monitoring unit 64 monitors the status of the network system 150 in which the parameter value group is set, thereby detecting that the instance size set in the network system 150 has been changed by manual or automatic tuning, and records the changed instance size as a recommended instance size in the target profile (a profile of application requirements associated with the target setting template). The template management unit 62 sets the instance size in the target setting template or the instance size displayed based on the target setting template as the recommended instance size. Thereby, the instance size displayed based on the target setting template is highly likely to be appropriate, and therefore the need for editing the instance size is reduced.

[0103] The profile DB 75 stores a fifth profile table 1400 illustrated in FIG. 14. The fifth profile table 1400 has a record for each application requirement. The record has information such as a requirement ID 1401, a basic requirement 1402, a processor 1403, a memory 1404, a recommended instance 1405, and statistics 1406. The requirement ID 1401 indicates the ID of the application requirement. The basic requirement 1402 indicates a basic element of the application requirement. The processor 1403 indicates the usage rate when the processor has one core. The memory 1404 indicates the average memory usage. The recommended instance 1405 indicates the size of a recommended instance. The statistics 1406 indicates the presence or absence of statistics. The processor 1403 and the memory 1404 are examples of acquired statistics.

[0104] 14, it can be seen that for requirement IDs “1-1” and “1-2”, a recommended instance 1405 is obtained based on statistics including the processor 1403 and the memory 1404. The template management unit 62 calculates a recommended instance 1405 for an application requirement corresponding to a record without statistics based on one or more records with statistics. For example, the template management unit 62 calculates the correlation of the number of UEs, the processor 1403 and the memory 1404 from the basic requirement 1402, the processor 1403 and the memory 1404 in the records with statistics for requirement IDs “1-1” and “1-2”. The template management unit 62 estimates the processor 1403 and the memory 1404 corresponding to the number of UEs “300” of the basic requirement 1402 in the record without statistics for requirement ID “1-3” based on the correlation, and calculates a recommended instance 1405 based on the estimated processor 1403 and memory 1404.

[0105] This concludes the explanation of Case B.

[0106] In both cases A and B, the template management unit 62 identifies a correlation between the number of UEs and a statistical-based value (e.g., the estimated bandwidth 1203, the recommended instance 1405 (the processor 1403 and the memory 1404)) based on one or more statistical-based profiles (e.g., records with statistics) among profiles of a plurality of application requirements including the same application. Based on the identified correlation, the template management unit 62 estimates a statistical-based value corresponding to the number of UEs in an application requirement including the same application and having a non-statistical-based profile (e.g., records without statistics), and includes the estimated statistical-based value in the non-statistical-based profile. This is expected to create or update an appropriate profile even for application requirements for which statistics are not available.

[0107] FIG. 15 shows an example of the flow of a network setting support process.

[0108] The UI unit 61 receives an input of an application requirement (S1501). This input may be an input of a new application requirement or an input of a requirement ID of an application requirement.

[0109] If the input in S1501 is a requirement ID, and a requirement ID that matches the requirement ID is registered in the application requirement table 400 (S1502: Yes), the UI unit 61 identifies an application requirement that matches the requirement ID from the application requirement table 400, and displays information representing the identified application requirement on the management terminal 110 (S1503). The template management unit 62 determines whether or not a profile of this application requirement exists by referring to the profile DB 65 (S1504). If the determination result in S1504 is true (S1504: Yes), the template management unit 62 acquires the profile from the profile DB 65, and outputs display information based on the profile to the UI unit 61 (S1505). The display information based on the profile includes parameter values ​​obtained by applying values ​​in the profile to template parameter values ​​of a target setting template (a setting template associated with an application requirement that is the same as or similar to the identified application requirement). For example, if the profile includes the estimated bandwidth calculated in the above case A or the recommended instance size calculated in the above case B, the network bandwidth and the instance size as the template parameter values ​​of the target setting template may be updated to the estimated bandwidth and the recommended instance size, and the profile-based display information may include the estimated bandwidth and the recommended instance size. The output profile-based display information (information including the values ​​to which the profile is applied) is displayed on the management terminal 110 by the UI unit 61.

[0110] If the input in S1501 is a new application requirement, information representing the application requirement is registered in the application requirement table 400 by the UI unit 61. The template management unit 62 identifies a target setting template (a setting template associated with an application requirement that is the same as or similar to the input application requirement (e.g., network type)) from the template DB 73, and outputs template-based display information, which is display information based on the target setting template (S1507). The output template-based display information (information including template parameter values) is displayed on the management terminal 110 by the UI unit 61.

[0111] The UI unit 61 accepts a group of parameter values ​​(e.g., parameter values ​​as setting parameters, values ​​of SLA parameters, and values ​​of tuning policies) from the administrator for display of profile-based or template-based display information (S1508). The accepted group of parameter values ​​includes one or both of parameter values ​​displayed without editing by the administrator and parameter values ​​edited by the administrator. The template management unit 62 registers the input parameter values ​​in the application requirement table 400 (S1509). The setting unit 63 sets the input group of parameter values ​​in the network system 150 (S1510).

[0112] FIG. 16 shows an example of the flow of a network status monitoring process.

[0113] When the system monitoring unit 64 detects a policy violation (a violation state defined in the check contents 703 of the set tuning policy) in monitoring the status of the network system 150 (S1601: Yes), it executes an action indicated by the action at violation 704 (S1602). The system monitoring unit 64 updates the profile of the application requirement corresponding to the parameter value group set in the network system 150 (S1603).

[0114] If the system monitor 64 does not detect a policy violation in monitoring the status of the network system 150 (S1601: No), the system monitor 64 performs S1603 without performing S1602.

[0115] Regardless of whether S1601 is Yes or No, the update in S1603 may be, for example, adding a record corresponding to the new time period to the first profile table 800. If S1601 is Yes, the update in S1603 may be to include in the profile a parameter value that reduces the likelihood of the detected policy violation occurring.

[0116] Although one embodiment has been described above, this is merely an example for explaining the present invention, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to only this embodiment. The present invention can be implemented in various other forms. For example, as a periodic process other than the periodic process illustrated in FIG. 16, the network management system 100 may perform a process of creating a report including information on the usage status of resources in the network system 150. [Explanation of symbols]

[0117] 100: Network Management System

Claims

1. a template management unit that selects one or more setting templates, each of which is associated with an application requirement that matches the application requirement of a user, from a plurality of setting templates, each of which is associated with an application requirement; a setting unit that sets a group of parameter values ​​determined using a target setting template, which is one setting template among the one or more selected setting templates, in a network system that is a system including an edge server on which an application is executed and a core network of a mobile network connected to the edge server; a system monitoring unit that monitors a status of the network system in which the group of parameter values ​​is set; Equipped with The parameter value group is a parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system, Each setting template includes a template parameter value group, which is a template parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system; The template parameter value is the parameter value as a template, The template management unit updates the target setting template based on the result of the monitoring, or sets at least one template parameter value displayed based on the target setting template to a value based on the result of the monitoring, each application requirement includes a network type among a plurality of network types that each affect network quality; Each configuration template is A network quality that depends on a network type included in the application requirements associated with the configuration template; and Tuning policy for maintaining the network quality represents the system monitoring unit generates or updates a target profile, which is a profile of application requirements associated with the target setting template, based on a parameter value group updated based on a status of the network system in which the parameter value group is set and a tuning policy represented by the target setting template; the results of said monitoring include said subject profile; Network Management Systems.

2. The system monitoring unit by monitoring a status of the network system in which the group of parameter values ​​is set, statistics regarding the status of the network system are obtained; calculating a status value, which is at least one of an estimated value and a recommended value, for each of one or more status items related to the status of the network system based on the statistics; the subject profile includes a calculated situation value for each of the one or more situation items; The parameter value displayed based on the target setting template is a value according to a situation value calculated for a situation item corresponding to the parameter item of the parameter value.

2. The network management system of claim 1.

3. the targeting template includes a network bandwidth as a template parameter value; The group of parameter values ​​set in the network system includes a network bandwidth, The system monitoring unit Identifying a burst time and a shortage count for each of a plurality of time periods based on the statistics; The burst time is a duration of a burst traffic; The number of times of shortage is the number of times that the network performance is insufficient, Based on the burst time and the number of shortages for each time period, a burst time at which the number of shortages becomes zero is estimated as a burst time threshold value; estimating a network bandwidth for making the maximum burst time among the burst times of the plurality of time periods equal to or less than the burst time threshold; the calculated status value is the estimated network bandwidth; The template management unit sets a network bandwidth in the target setting template or a network bandwidth displayed based on the target setting template as the estimated network bandwidth.

3. The network management system of claim 2.

4. the targeting template includes an instance size as a template parameter value; The set of parameter values ​​set in the network system includes an instance size, The instance size is the size of an application instance, which affects the utilization of the computing resources of the edge server; The system monitoring unit By monitoring a status of the network system in which the group of parameter values ​​is set, it is detected that an instance size set in the network system has been changed by manual or automatic tuning; recording the changed instance size in the target profile as a recommended instance size; The template management unit sets an instance size in the target setting template or an instance size displayed based on the target setting template as the recommended instance size.

2. The network management system of claim 1.

5. Each application requirement is an application of the plurality of applications; The number of user devices that perform wireless communication via the mobile network; and Including, The template management unit, determining a correlation between the statistically-based value and the number of user devices based on one or more statistically-based profiles of the plurality of application requirement profiles that include the same application; Based on the identified correlation, estimate a statistically-based value corresponding to a number of user devices for an application requirement that includes the same application and has a non-statistically-based profile, and include the estimated statistically-based value in the non-statistically-based profile; the statistically-based profile is a profile including statistically-based values ​​regarding a status of the network system; The non-statistical-based profile is a profile that does not include a statistically-based value regarding the status of the network system.

2. The network management system of claim 1.

6. The computer selects one or more configuration templates, each of which is associated with an application requirement that matches the application requirement of the user, from a plurality of configuration templates, each of which is associated with an application requirement; each application requirement includes a network type among a plurality of network types that each affect network quality; Each configuration template is A network quality that depends on a network type included in the application requirements associated with the configuration template; and Tuning policy for maintaining the network quality represents The computer sets a group of parameter values ​​determined using a target configuration template, which is one configuration template among the one or more selected configuration templates, in a network system, which is a system including an edge server on which an application is executed and a core network of a mobile network connected to the edge server; The parameter value group is a parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system, Each setting template includes a template parameter value group, which is a template parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system; The template parameter value is the parameter value as a template, a computer monitors a status of the network system in which the group of parameter values ​​is set; The computer updates the target setting template based on the result of the monitoring, or sets at least one template parameter value displayed based on the target setting template to a value based on the result of the monitoring; A computer generates or updates a target profile, which is a profile of application requirements associated with the target setting template, based on a set of parameter values ​​updated based on a state of the network system in which the set of parameter values ​​is set and a tuning policy represented by the target setting template; the results of said monitoring include said subject profile; Network management methods.

7. selecting one or more setting templates, each of which is associated with an application requirement that matches the user's application requirement, from a plurality of setting templates, each of which is associated with an application requirement; each application requirement includes a network type among a plurality of network types that each affect network quality; Each configuration template is A network quality that depends on a network type included in the application requirements associated with the configuration template; and Tuning policy for maintaining the network quality represents setting a group of parameter values ​​determined using a target configuration template, which is one of the one or more selected configuration templates, in a network system, which is a system including an edge server on which an application is executed and a core network of a mobile network connected to the edge server; The parameter value group is a parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system, Each setting template includes a template parameter value group, which is a template parameter value for each parameter item related to the network system; The template parameter value is the parameter value as a template, monitor the status of the network system in which the group of parameter values ​​is set; updating the targeting template based on the results of the monitoring, or setting at least one template parameter value displayed based on the targeting template to a value based on the results of the monitoring; A computer generates or updates a target profile, which is a profile of application requirements associated with the target setting template, based on a set of parameter values ​​updated based on a state of the network system in which the set of parameter values ​​is set and a tuning policy represented by the target setting template; the results of said monitoring include said subject profile; A computer program that causes a computer to do something.

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