AAA Roaming Policy Automation with Maintenance Window Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual process of updating authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) configurations in wireless communication networks is inefficient and error-prone, requiring technicians to edit multiple files on each AAA node and using different computer tools, which is time-consuming and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

An automated method and system that analyze data stores for roaming agreement changes, generate automation scripts, and execute them during a predefined maintenance window to update roaming policy configuration files on AAA nodes, while monitoring progress and ensuring updates are completed within the time frame to avoid service disruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual processes are used to update AAA configurations, then technicians can directly edit files on each AAA node, but the process becomes time-consuming and error-prone

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidupdate time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service through automated script execution that performs configuration updates without requiring manual technician intervention. The automation framework copies files, executes update scripts, and validates changes automatically, eliminating human error while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical processes of technicians physically editing files are replaced with an automated electronic system. The automation framework uses computer-executable scripts to perform file operations, configuration changes, and validation, substituting human manual labor with automated computational processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If multiple files are updated on each AAA node simultaneously, then comprehensive updates can be applied, but service disruptions may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupdate efficiencyVSAvoidservice disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The update process is segmented into distinct phases: file copying, script execution, validation, and commit. This segmentation allows the system to perform comprehensive updates while maintaining service continuity by validating changes before applying them, thus preventing disruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Files are copied to temporary locations and validation scripts are executed before actual configuration changes are committed. This preliminary action ensures that updates are prepared and validated in advance, allowing rollback if issues occur and preventing service disruptions during the update process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If automation scripts are executed during a predefined maintenance window, then updates can be completed with minimal impact, but the time frame is constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice stabilityVSAvoidmaintenance window duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The automation framework maintains continuous useful action by efficiently orchestrating file operations and script executions within the maintenance window. Parallel processing and optimized sequencing ensure that all necessary updates are completed continuously without unnecessary delays, maximizing utilization of the constrained time frame.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system rushes through necessary validation and update steps by executing scripts and performing checks in an optimized sequence. Critical path operations are prioritized and non-critical operations are streamlined, allowing comprehensive updates to be completed within the constrained maintenance window by moving quickly through essential steps.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #21Skipping (Rushing through)

Data Source

PatentUS10749869B1Authentication authorization and accounting (AAA) system roaming management

Publication Date: 2020.08.18 T MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC

AI summary

A system for changing roaming policy configuration on an authentication, authorization, accounting (AAA) system. The system comprises a processor, a non-transitory memory, and an AAA policy change application stored in the non-transitory memory. When executed by the processor, the AAA policy change application launches execution of a plurality of instances of the automation script, monitors a progress of the instances of the automation script, compares the progress of the instances of the automation script to a time remaining of a predefined maintenance time window, where the AAA policy change application is configured to halt an in-progress update of roaming policy configuration on the plurality of AAA nodes based on the comparison of the progress of the instances of the automation script being insufficient relative to the time remaining of the predefined maintenance time window, and copies roaming policy files updated by the automation script to AAA nodes.