Adaptive Publish/Subscribe Broker for Network Event Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication mechanisms in network management, such as polling and publish-subscribe systems, face inefficiencies due to unnecessary information exchange and manual configuration requirements, leading to delayed responsiveness and irrelevant event notifications.

Innovation Solution

An adaptive publish/subscribe system that utilizes an XMPP-based framework with a broker to provide context-driven publication options and subscriptions, allowing devices to selectively receive relevant information based on triggers and permissions, thereby optimizing event communication and reducing unnecessary data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If polling is used as a communication mechanism, then system responsiveness to significant events is delayed, but transaction cycles can be maintained regularly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem responsivenessVSAvoidresponse delay

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the polling mechanism by introducing event-driven triggers that activate communication cycles only when significant events occur, rather than maintaining fixed regular intervals. This allows the system to respond immediately to critical events while reducing unnecessary polling during normal operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables devices to autonomously determine when event-driven communication is necessary by monitoring local conditions and triggers. Each device can independently initiate publish-subscribe cycles based on its own state changes or detected events, eliminating the need for continuous external polling while maintaining rapid response to significant occurrences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of time

If event-driven procedures are used, then response delay is reduced, but manual configuration of associations between producers and consumers is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse delayVSAvoidmanual configuration requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables devices to autonomously discover and establish event subscriptions without manual configuration. Devices automatically register their event production capabilities and consumption interests with the broker, which then autonomously establishes the necessary associations based on matching event types and subscriber requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The broker acts as an intermediary that manages the complex associations between event producers and consumers. It maintains a registry of available events and subscribers, automatically matching them based on event types and subscription criteria, thereby eliminating the need for direct manual configuration between producer-consumer pairs.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If publish-subscribe mechanisms are used, then decoupling between producers and consumers is provided, but subscribers are overloaded with irrelevant events and information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecoupling between producers and consumersVSAvoidvolume of event notifications

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies selective filtering that tailors event delivery to each subscriber's specific needs and context. Instead of broadcasting all events to all subscribers, the broker evaluates subscription criteria, event types, and subscriber relevance requirements to deliver only locally appropriate events to each subscriber, reducing overall notification volume while maintaining comprehensive coverage where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Productivity

If publish-subscribe mechanisms are used, then event-driven communication is enhanced, but irrelevant events overload subscribers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent communication efficiencyVSAvoidrelevance of received information

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements context-aware filtering that evaluates each event against subscriber-specific criteria, priorities, and relevance rules. Events are selectively delivered based on their local relevance to each subscriber's function, role, and current operational context, ensuring that subscribers receive high-quality information while filtering out irrelevant notifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs a two-stage approach where all events are initially published to the broker (excessive action), but subscribers receive only the subset of events that match their specific subscription criteria and relevance requirements (partial action). This ensures complete event visibility for the system while delivering only relevant information to individual subscribers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9553831B2Adaptive publish/subscribe system

Publication Date: 2017.01.24 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A context-driven publication option is received over a network at an adaptive publish subscribe broker from a publishing network device. The context driven publication options are presented over the network to a subscribing network device. A selection of a context-driven subscription is received over the network at the adaptive publish/subscribe broker from the subscribing network device. A publication configured for network management and operations is received at the adaptive publish/subscribe broker. Publications are filtered at the adaptive publish/subscribe broker for the subscribing network device according to the selection of the context-driven subscription.