Autonomic Network Control Plane for OAM Connectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Complex network configurations are prone to operational mistakes and external attacks, leading to disruptions in Operations, Administration, and Management (OAM) connectivity, and existing solutions require extensive user training and manual intervention, increasing operational expenditure and complexity.

Innovation Solution

An autonomic network system automatically generates a virtual control plane for OAM, self-configuring and self-managing network components without user input, using domain identities and certificates to establish trust and secure connections, thereby preventing misconfiguration and external attacks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual configuration and user input are used for network setup, then flexibility and customization are improved, but operational mistakes and security vulnerabilities increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration flexibilityVSAvoidOAM connectivity reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The network devices automatically perform peer discovery, establish secure connections, and configure OAM parameters without human intervention. The system self-manages the control plane by autonomously generating configurations, validating security credentials, and maintaining connectivity, thereby eliminating operator errors while preserving adaptability through automated decision-making algorithms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Security credentials and trust relationships are pre-established through automated peer discovery and certificate validation before any OAM operations begin. The system proactively configures secure tunnels and validates device identities in advance, preventing security vulnerabilities before they can compromise OAM connectivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If extensive user training and manual intervention are provided, then configuration precision is improved, but operational expenditure and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The automated control plane performs all configuration tasks autonomously, including peer discovery, secure connection establishment, and OAM parameter setup. This eliminates the need for trained operators while maintaining high configuration precision through algorithmic consistency and automated validation mechanisms that exceed human capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual configuration processes are replaced with automated software-based control plane operations. The system uses electronic peer discovery protocols, cryptographic certificate validation, and automated tunnel establishment algorithms to substitute human operators, thereby reducing operational expenditure while maintaining or improving configuration precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If network hardening and security measures are implemented, then protection against external attacks is improved, but vulnerability to operational mistakes increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveexternal attack resistanceVSAvoidoperational error susceptibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The automated control plane autonomously manages security configurations, validating peer identities through certificate verification and establishing secure tunnels without human intervention. This eliminates operational errors caused by manual hardening while maintaining strong external attack resistance through consistent application of security protocols

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control plane acts as an intermediary layer between network devices, managing security credentials and establishing trusted relationships. This intermediary automatically handles the complexity of security configurations, protecting devices from external attacks while shielding operators from configuration errors through automated credential validation and tunnel management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2946534B1Automated control plane for limited user destruction
Publication Date: 2019.03.13 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP2946534B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2946534B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP2946534B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

To avoid user error and breaking operations, administration and management (OAM), the control plane for implementing OAM is automatically generated by network devices without user input. This control plane is hidden from the user, preventing any configuration that may bring down the connectivity for OAM.