Autonomous Service Provisioning in Network Routers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized provisioning servers in network configuration can cause delays and complexity due to the need for orchestration processes, especially when dealing with heterogeneous routing devices.
Innovation Solution
Routing devices are empowered to learn and implement service changes dynamically by running their own processes, such as daemons, which communicate with a network control server to retrieve and execute executable files for providing services, thereby decentralizing the service provisioning process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a central provisioning server is used to configure routing devices, then service provisioning can be centralized and managed, but delays occur and complexity increases due to orchestration processes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized provisioning function by allowing individual routing devices to independently execute service provisioning processes. Each router runs local service daemons that can autonomously provision services without waiting for centralized orchestration, thereby eliminating provisioning delays while maintaining service management capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
Routing devices are empowered to self-provision services by executing executable files locally. The service daemons on each router can independently retrieve, validate, and apply service configurations without requiring manual intervention or centralized coordination, enabling rapid autonomous service deployment.
2Ease of operation
If a central provisioning server configures heterogeneous routing devices, then centralized control is maintained, but additional complexities arise due to device diversity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal service daemon architecture that runs on all routing devices regardless of their specific hardware or software platform. The service daemons execute standardized executable files that contain device-specific configuration instructions, allowing the same provisioning mechanism to work across heterogeneous devices without increasing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system manages device heterogeneity by dynamically changing configuration parameters within executable files based on the target device's characteristics. The service daemons automatically adapt the service provisioning parameters to match the specific routing device being configured, eliminating the need for complex manual adaptation procedures.
3Productivity
If routing devices autonomously execute service changes, then provisioning speed improves and complexity reduces, but reliance on centralized server decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having routing devices continuously monitor for service change notifications and immediately execute the corresponding executable files upon receipt. This pre-positioning of service logic on each device enables instant local execution without waiting for centralized confirmation or coordination, dramatically improving provisioning speed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses a notification mechanism as an intermediary between the centralized server and autonomous routing devices. The server sends service change notifications that trigger local execution, maintaining a lightweight connection that enables fast autonomous action while preserving essential centralized coordination for service management.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method provides a service on a network. The method includes the following steps: (a) requesting, on a router, executable instructions from a remote server, the executable instructions specifying how the router is to operate to provide a service requested for a user of the network; (b) receiving the instructions; (c) initializing, on the router, a thread to execute the received instructions; (d) determining that a configuration of the router has changed; and (e) when the configuration of the router is determined to have changed, executing, on the initialized thread, the instructions to apply the service in accordance with the change in the router's configuration.