Agent-Level Fault Data Correlation in Network Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional network management systems face inefficiencies in fault and performance management, requiring extensive data transfer across hierarchical levels, leading to bandwidth and processing power issues, and often fail to identify the root cause of problems due to uncorrelated fault and performance management data, resulting in slow response times and reduced quality of service.

Innovation Solution

The method involves correlating fault and performance management data at the agent level using configuration management relationships, reducing the need for raw data transfer to higher levels by sending summarized information, thereby reducing bandwidth and processing requirements, and enabling faster, more automated management processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If fault and performance management data is transferred across hierarchical levels in conventional network management systems, then complete data is available for analysis, but bandwidth consumption increases and processing time is extended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompleteness of fault and performance management dataVSAvoidbandwidth consumption and processing power
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and processes fault and performance management data locally at the agent level before transmission. By taking out the correlation function from the central management system and placing it at the agent level, only essential summarized information needs to be transmitted upward, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining data completeness for root cause analysis

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the data processing function across different hierarchical levels. The agent level performs local correlation of fault and performance data using configuration management relationships, while the management level receives pre-processed information. This segmentation reduces the processing burden on upper levels and minimizes data transmission requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of energy

If fault and performance management data is not correlated at the agent level, then data transfer requirements are reduced, but root cause identification capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth and processing powerVSAvoidroot cause identification
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary correlation of fault and performance management data at the agent level using available configuration management relationships before data is transmitted upward. This preliminary action enables root cause identification to occur at the lowest possible level in the hierarchy, maintaining diagnostic capability while minimizing data transmission requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces configuration management relationships as an intermediary mechanism that enables correlation between different network entities. These relationships serve as a mediator that allows the agent to understand connections between faults and performance data without requiring complete data transfer to upper management levels

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If extensive raw data is transferred to higher management levels, then comprehensive analysis is possible, but response time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomprehensive analysis capabilityVSAvoidresponse time for issue resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary correlation and analysis at the agent level before transmitting data upward. By conducting initial processing locally, the system achieves faster response times while still enabling comprehensive analysis at higher levels with pre-processed information, eliminating the need to transfer extensive raw data

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP1976185B1Operating network entities in a communication system comprising a management network with agent and management levels
Publication Date: 2019.05.01 NOKIA SIEMENS NETWORKS GMBH & CO KG
  • EP1976185B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1976185B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1976185B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to operating of network entities in a communications system, wherein said communications system comprises a management network with agent and management levels, wherein a fault and/or performance management related data provided or occurring in an agent level is correlated and/or analyzed in said agent level with further fault and/or performance management related data provided or occurring in said agent level by use of configuration management relationships in said agent level, and wherein an information derived from the correlation is transmitted to at least one management level of said management network of said communications network being responsible for management of the corresponding agent level.