Network design device, network design method, and program

Abstract

A network design device according to one aspect of the present invention designs a network that can be abstracted to a hierarchical structure from a physical layer to a service layer via an intermediate layer. The network design device comprises a resource management unit, an order processing unit, a calculation unit, and a human resource operation management unit. The resource management unit manages construction characteristics including at least a resource adjustment overhead, a design period, a construction period, a lead time, and a life cycle cost in each layer of the hierarchical structure. The order processing unit extracts, from an order given by designating end-to-end resources and routes of a service layer, insufficient resources at locations exceeding capacity due to the addition of routes. The calculation unit combines the extracted insufficient resources and sequentially calculates processes required for network construction on the basis of construction characteristics for each layer. The human resource operation management unit allocates human resources corresponding to the calculated processes and calculates a construction period required for network construction.

Description

Network design device, network design method, and program

[0001] One aspect of the present invention relates to a network design device, a network design method, and a program.

[0002] In recent years, services that require the use of networks, so-called network services, have become increasingly important. For example, the use of cloud computing has become widely recognized by both businesses and individuals, and demand for such services is expected to continue to grow in the future. As demand expands, networks that can provide multiple services over a common network are being constructed.

[0003] Network services are provided by service providers (ISPs). Customers who purchase services are likely to compare multiple providers, focusing on cost and availability timeliness. For providers, the success or failure of winning an order depends on how quickly they can answer these questions. However, calculating the cost and availability timeliness of network construction is a difficult task, as it requires finding the optimal network design that meets the customer's requirements and combining various pieces of information to make a decision based on consistent criteria.

[0004] Japanese Patent No. 6655524 Japanese Patent No. 7107158 Japanese Patent No. 6837022

[0005] Networks are hierarchically structured from the physical layer to the highest logical layer. In existing technologies, multiple engineers are responsible for designing each layer, and if an engineer is unable to design a particular layer, they request the design of other layers in stages. This makes it difficult to grasp the entire network, making cross-layer optimization difficult and time-consuming when designing a network to meet an order. There is a need for technology that can comprehensively grasp the required network resources in response to an order from a client, calculate the network construction cost and availability time by taking into account the construction characteristics of each layer, and quickly evaluate the design using unified criteria. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide technology that can automatically calculate the network construction cost and availability time.

[0006] According to an embodiment, a network design device designs a network that can be abstracted into a hierarchical structure extending from a physical layer through an intermediate layer to a service layer. The network design device includes a resource management unit, an order processing unit, a calculation unit, and a human resource operation management unit. The resource management unit manages construction characteristics, including at least the resource adjustment overhead, design period, construction period, lead time, and life cycle cost, for each layer of the hierarchical structure. The order processing unit extracts insufficient resources where adding a route would exceed capacity for an order specifying end-to-end resources and routes in the service layer. The calculation unit combines the extracted insufficient resources and sequentially calculates the process steps required for network construction based on the construction characteristics for each layer. The human resource operation management unit allocates human resources according to the calculated process steps and calculates the construction period required for network construction.

[0007] According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a technology that can automatically calculate the construction cost of a network and the time when it will be available.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a comparison between a network for which a construction period can be calculated and a network for which a construction period cannot be calculated. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram illustrating an example of a network design device according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the order processing unit 20. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing procedure of the construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a model in which elements of a target network are extracted. FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating examples of construction characteristics and capacities for each layer. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating extraction of a shortage resource. FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating extraction of a shortage resource. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating extraction of a shortage resource. FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating calculation of shortage construction man-hours. FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating allocation of human resources. FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating conversion of a management model.

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. <Overview> First, an overview will be described. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a comparison between networks for which construction periods can be calculated and networks for which construction periods cannot be calculated. The network in FIG. 1(a) shows an example of a subscriber-side access network, and in many cases, multiple subscribers have the same configuration. In such cases, the process for building the network is clear, making it easy to evaluate the construction period by dividing it into unit costs for each process.

[0010] In contrast, the network in Figure 1(b) shows a case where the number of devices accommodated, bandwidth, and network configuration change depending on the service. In such a case, it is necessary to evaluate network resources in layers other than the equipment across the board, making a unified evaluation difficult and calculating the construction period not easy.

[0011] 2 is a functional block diagram showing an example of a network design device according to an embodiment. The network design device is a computer including a processor and a memory. The computer functions as the network design device 1 according to the embodiment by the processor executing a program loaded into the memory.

[0012] 2, the network design device 1 designs a network that can be abstracted into a management structure consisting of multiple layers. For example, the network design device 1 designs a network that can be abstracted into a hierarchical structure, from a physical layer through an intermediate layer to a service layer. A network can be abstracted into multiple layers, including a physical layer and a logical layer, and each layer includes multiple resources. Even for a newly constructed network, the layers can be combined by utilizing the fact that the network ultimately comes down to a physical layer (physical devices, geography, etc.), allowing for automated network design.

[0013] The concepts of resources and layers can be broken down into a hierarchical management structure and are applicable to industries in general as long as they can be combined and evaluated taking into account the relationships between layers, and are not limited to networks.

[0014] 2 includes a display unit 10 that provides an operating environment using a GUI (Graphical User Interface), an order processing unit 20, a construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30, a resource management unit 40, and a human resource operation management unit 60. Of these, the resource management unit 40 includes a data format conversion unit 41 that acquires network design information 70 and converts the data format, and a network configuration storage unit 42. The resource management unit 40 manages construction characteristics for each layer. Furthermore, the resource management unit 40 manages unused resources for each layer as managed objects linked to the resources that house the unused resources using the network configuration storage unit 42.

[0015] The network configuration storage unit 42 centrally manages the construction characteristics and resource information for each layer in a database. The construction characteristics include at least the resource adjustment overhead, design period, construction period, lead time, and life cycle cost for each layer.

[0016] The order processing unit 20 includes a data receiving unit 21 and a shortage resource extraction unit 22. The data receiving unit 21 receives an input of an order 50 for a network to be designed (starting point, ending point, location, conditions, or bandwidth / section, delivery date, budget, etc.). End-to-end resources and routes in the service layer are identified from the conditions specified in the order.

[0017] The insufficient resource extraction unit 22 extracts the insufficient resources at the locations where the capacity is exceeded due to the addition of the end-to-end route for the given order.

[0018] The construction period and construction cost calculation unit 30 includes a shortage man-hour and labor cost calculation unit 31, a calculation result storage unit 32, and a data output unit 33. The shortage man-hour and labor cost calculation unit 31 combines the shortage resources extracted by the shortage resource extraction unit 22, and sequentially calculates the steps required for network construction based on the construction characteristics of each layer. The extracted shortage resources are output by the data output unit 33 as a function-shortage resource list result 90.

[0019] The human resource operation management unit 60 includes a construction operation management unit 61 and a human resource management unit 62, and allocates human resources according to the process calculated by the man-hour shortage / construction cost calculation unit 31, and calculates the construction period required for network construction. The calculated construction period and construction cost are output by the data output unit 33 as a construction period / construction cost result 80.

[0020] 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the processing procedure of the order processor 20. In FIG. 3, the order processor 20 receives order information 50 including information (such as bandwidth, section, delivery date, and budget) from the purchaser (step S1), then references the network design information 70 to obtain one piece of design information (communication path) that does not have a user requirement flag (step S2). The order processor 20 also receives service layer entities from the network configuration storage unit 42 (step S3), and also receives the entity's capacity and used resources (step S4).

[0021] Next, the order processor 20 assigns a resource shortage flag to entities for which the sum of the requested resources from the purchaser and the used resources is greater than the unused resources (steps S5 and S6). This procedure is repeated down through successive layers until the physical layer is reached and all entities have been compared (steps S7, S8, and S9). When the verification of step S5 for all entities in the physical layer is complete, the order processor 20 outputs a resource shortage list 60a (step S10).

[0022] 4 and 5 are flowcharts showing an example of the processing procedure of the construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30. In FIG. 4, the construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30 acquires the shortage resource information 60a (step S21) and acquires the layer construction characteristics of the shortage resource from the network configuration storage unit 42 (step S22). The construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30 then calculates the number of man-hours from the acquired construction characteristics (step S23), calculates the construction cost from the number of man-hours (step S24), and saves the number of man-hours and the construction cost for the entity (step S25). This process is repeated until the number of man-hours and the construction cost for all entities have been calculated (step S26).

[0023] Once the calculation of man-hours and construction costs for all entities has been completed, the construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30 sorts the entities in ascending order of layer (step S27) and assigns an initial value for the scheduled construction date (step S28). Next, the construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30 obtains and registers the shortest construction operation (after the construction start date) available for each entity from the human resource management unit 62 (step S29). The construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30 also adds the lead time for that entity to the construction start date and saves the result (step S30). This procedure is repeated until the operation of all entities has been obtained (step S31). Each time this procedure is repeated, the scheduled construction date is assigned (step S32).

[0024] Next, the construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30 retrieves the order information (step S41 in FIG. 5) and calculates the difference from the user requirements (delivery date / budget) (step S42). If both the construction period and construction cost satisfy the user requirements (Yes in step S43), a user requirement OK flag is added (step S44). If the construction period and construction cost do not satisfy the user requirements (No in step S43), a user requirement NG flag is added (step S45).

[0025] Next, the construction period / construction cost calculation unit 30 determines whether any user requirement flags are set for all the design information (step S46), and if the answer is No, the processing procedure returns to step S2 in Fig. 3. If the answer is Yes, the construction periods / construction costs are sorted in descending order of difference from the user requirements (step S47), and the construction period / construction cost result 80a is output (step S48).

[0026] Next, we will explain in detail how to calculate the construction cost and the scheduled construction date. ０ The upper layers are then arranged in order of proximity to the physical layer. １ , L ２ ...L ｎ The physical construction acquisition date is α ０ , and the construction dates of the upper layers are calculated in order of proximity to the physical layer as α １ , α ２ ...α ｎ If the work involves multiple processes or spans multiple days, the latest day among them is set as the construction acquisition date. ０ , and the construction costs of the upper layers are calculated in order of proximity to the physical layer. １ , Y ２ ...Y ｎ Layer L ｉ Construction costs for building the missing release Y ｉ (Config / path setting work) （１） , y （２） ...y Ｎ Furthermore, the lead time of each layer is r ０ , r １ ,...r ｎ Then, the construction cost and the scheduled construction date can be calculated using formula (i) and formula (ii).

[0027]

[0028] FIG. 6 shows an example of a model that extracts elements of a target network. For example, in a hierarchical network structure from the physical layer through the L1 and L2 layers to the IP (L3) layer, construction characteristics are managed for each type of entity in each layer. The construction characteristics are information managed by a generic model, NOIM (Network Operation Injected Model), and include at least the resource adjustment overhead, design period, construction period, lead time, and life cycle cost for each layer. Furthermore, in this embodiment, capacity (latency, bandwidth), etc. is set for each resource, and unused resources are also managed.

[0029] 7 is a diagram illustrating an example of the construction characteristics and capacity for each layer. In FIG. 7 , a node in the physical layer has construction characteristics of, for example, material cost: 2 million yen / unit, hardware design (chassis): 0.2 man-day: 20,000 yen / unit, installation work: 1 man-day: 100,000 yen / unit, ancillary work: 0.5 man: 50,000 yen / unit, and lead time: 20 days. A link has construction characteristics of material cost: 10,000 yen / m, hardware design (wiring): 0.1 man-day: 10,000 yen / piece, wiring work: 0.5 man-day: 50,000 yen / piece, connectivity test: 1 man-day: 100,000 yen / piece, and lead time: 5 days.

[0030] At the IP layer, the node has construction characteristics of: design (chassis configuration creation): 0.2 man-days: 20,000 yen / unit, configuration input work: 0.5 man-days: 50,000 yen / unit, lead time: 2 days. The link has construction characteristics of: design (IF config creation): 0.1 man-days: 10,000 yen / path, configuration input work: 0.5 man-days: 50,000 yen, communication test: 1 man-day: 100,000 yen, lead time: 1 day. Furthermore, assume that a contract bandwidth of 8G / 10G is specified as an order at the IP layer.

[0031] FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the extraction of insufficient resources. Assume that a new order for one 5G service line is placed by an orderer. When newly opening communications at the IP layer from A to Z, end-to-end IP resource information is first obtained. For example, this is performed using the following steps [1] and [2]. [1] An optimal route connecting the end to end is calculated using an optimal route search algorithm (such as Dijkstra's algorithm). [2] The capacity on the route is obtained, and insufficient resources are extracted. For example, a resource shortage occurs in the section of the contracted bandwidth 8G + 5G = 13G / 10G (sections (1) and (2)).

[0032] Figure 9 is a diagram for explaining the extraction of insufficient resources. For the insufficient resources (1) and (2) that have occurred in Figure 8, the layer below is traced and the equipment resources of that layer are obtained. Specifically, the following steps [3] and [4] are performed. [3] Trace the layer below where the insufficient resources are located and obtain the capacity. [4] Obtain the construction characteristics of each layer and information on each resource (capacity, etc.).

[0033] 10 is a diagram for explaining the extraction of insufficient resources. Steps [5] and [6] are repeated until the physical layer is reached, at which point the acquisition process ends. [5] The physical resource capacity (remaining number of enclosures, ports, etc.) is acquired. [6] If there is a shortage, it is extracted as a shortage resource, and the process ends.

[0034] FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the calculation of the missing construction man-hours. To construct the missing resources, the man-hours and construction costs required for that construction are calculated from the construction characteristics of each layer. Specifically, the steps are [7] and [8]. [7] Calculate the man-hours from the construction characteristics of each layer, starting from the bottom layer. [8] Once the man-hours for the top layer have been calculated, calculate and output the total construction costs, and end the process.

[0035] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the allocation of human resources. Finally, human resources (operations) appropriate for the process are allocated, and the construction period is calculated from the secured operations. Specifically, the steps are [9] and

[10] . [9] Operations are secured starting from the bottom layer.

[10] The process ends when the man-hours for the top layer have been calculated.

[0036] Figure 13 is a diagram for explaining the conversion of the management model. When opening new communications at the IP layer from S to G, resource information is acquired. Specifically, steps

[11] and

[12] are followed.

[11] Select the layer you want to use (e.g., IP layer).

[12] Acquire the construction characteristics of each layer and information on each resource (capacity, etc.).

[0037] As explained above, in this embodiment, when an order is placed, insufficient resources are identified based on the construction characteristics of each layer managed by the general-purpose model NOIM. The newly constructed target to compensate for this is then traced back to the lower layers, and finally linked to the resulting layer to identify the insufficient resources. The construction period and construction cost are calculated from the construction characteristics of each layer linked to the insufficient resources. These indices enable the design results of a network construction across each layer to be quantitatively evaluated using a unified index.

[0038] In this embodiment, end-to-end resources and their routes in the service layer are specified for each order. If adding these routes results in an excess of capacity, the system extracts the insufficient resources. For the excess capacity, the system then goes down to the next lower layer and extracts the insufficient resources in the same way. This procedure is repeated until the system finally reaches the physical equipment. The extracted insufficient resources are then combined, and the construction process is calculated from the lower layers based on the construction characteristics of each layer. Finally, human resources are assigned, and the time and cost are calculated.

[0039] Existing technologies have issues such as the following (A) and (B), making it difficult to evaluate design results using unified indicators for the entire network. (A) It is not possible to calculate the launch date taking into account the design results of each layer of the network configuration. In other words, if the network configuration is not uniform, it is not possible to calculate the total construction period for all network layers, taking into account the man-hours for each layer, for the physical and logical network resources that are insufficient in each layer. (B) It is not possible to calculate construction costs when the network configuration differs from customer to customer. In other words, it is not possible to calculate the total construction cost for all layers that covers the physical and logical network resources that are insufficient.

[0040] In contrast, according to the embodiment, by automatically calculating and evaluating the time and cost required to build the missing network resources for the design results according to the order, it becomes possible to quickly inform the client whether or not the resource can be provided. That is, the construction period calculation logic based on a general-purpose data model can calculate the total construction period across physical and logical network resources. Furthermore, the construction cost calculation logic across physical and logical network resources can calculate the cost required to build the missing resources.

[0041] In other words, in this embodiment, end-to-end resources and their routes in the service layer are specified for each order. If adding these routes results in an excess of capacity, the system extracts the insufficient resources. For areas where capacity is exceeded, the system goes down to the next lower layer and similarly extracts the insufficient resources (repeated until it finally reaches the physical equipment). The extracted insufficient resources are then combined, and the construction process is calculated from the lowest layer based on the construction characteristics of each layer managed by the general-purpose model NOIM. Finally, human resources are assigned, and the time and cost are calculated.

[0042] Therefore, according to the embodiment, it is possible to provide a network design device that can automatically calculate the construction cost and availability time of a network. Therefore, when designing a new network, it is possible to easily design an optimal network for each customer, and it is possible to prevent the design process from taking too long. Ultimately, it is possible to quickly respond to the client as to whether the network can be provided.

[0043] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made in the implementation stage without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments may be implemented in appropriate combinations, in which case the combined effects can be obtained. Furthermore, the above-described embodiments include various inventions, and various inventions can be extracted by combining selected elements from the disclosed elements. For example, if the problem can be solved and the desired effect can be obtained even if some elements are deleted from all elements shown in the embodiments, the configuration from which these elements are deleted can be extracted as an invention.

[0044] 1...Network design device 10...Display unit 20...Order processing unit 21...Data receiving unit 22...Shortage resource extraction unit 30...Construction period / construction cost calculation unit 31...Shortage man-hour / construction cost calculation unit 32...Calculation result storage unit 33...Data output unit 40...Resource management unit 41...Data format conversion unit 42...Network configuration storage unit 50...Order information 60...Human resource operation management unit 60a...Shortage resource information 61...Construction operation management unit 62...Human resource management unit 70...Network design information 80...Construction period / construction cost results 80a...Construction period / construction cost results 90...List of functionally lacking resources.

Claims

1. A network design device for designing a network that can be abstracted into a hierarchical structure extending from a physical layer through an intermediate layer to a service layer, comprising: a resource management unit for managing construction characteristics including at least the resource adjustment overhead, design period, construction period, lead time, and life cycle cost for each layer of the hierarchical structure; an order processing unit for extracting, for an order given specifying end-to-end resources and routes in the service layer, shortage resources in locations where capacity will be exceeded by adding the routes; a calculation unit for combining the extracted shortage resources and sequentially calculating the steps required for network construction based on the construction characteristics for each layer; and a human resource operation management unit for allocating human resources according to the calculated steps and calculating the construction period required for the network construction.

2. The network design device according to claim 1, wherein the order processing unit sequentially extracts the insufficient resources from the layer where the capacity is exceeded to the physical layer.

3. The network design device according to claim 1, wherein said order processing unit calculates the optimum end-to-end route using an optimum route search algorithm.

4. The network design device according to claim 3, wherein the optimum route search algorithm is Dijkstra's algorithm.

5. A network design method for designing a network that can be abstracted into a hierarchical structure from a physical layer through an intermediate layer to a service layer by a computer, comprising the steps of: managing construction characteristics including at least the resource adjustment overhead, design period, construction period, lead time, and life cycle cost for each layer of the hierarchical structure by the computer; extracting shortage resources in locations where capacity will be exceeded by adding a route for an order that specifies end-to-end resources and routes in the service layer by the computer; combining the extracted shortage resources and sequentially calculating the steps required for network construction based on the construction characteristics for each layer; and allocating human resources according to the calculated steps and calculating the construction period required for the network construction.

6. A program comprising instructions for causing a computer to function as the network design device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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