Connectivity Coordinator Automating Cloud Network Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Businesses face challenges in establishing and managing network connectivity between their own networks and provider networks, particularly in achieving desired performance, reliability, and security characteristics, due to the complexity of navigating multiple intermediary connectivity providers and the lack of automated processes for setting up and managing network connections.
Innovation Solution
A connectivity coordinator service that collects and organizes network service offering metadata from various providers, allowing clients to easily compare and select suitable connectivity options, and dynamically manages network connections through programmatic interfaces for setup, modification, and termination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If customers manually discover and establish connections through multiple intermediary connectivity providers, then network connectivity can be established, but the process is complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a connectivity coordinator service as an intermediary that automates the connection establishment process between customers and provider networks. This coordinator service manages the complex interactions with multiple intermediary connectivity providers, allowing customers to simply request connectivity without manually navigating the complex provisioning process, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables automated self-service connectivity provisioning where the connectivity coordinator service automatically discovers, selects, and establishes appropriate network connections based on customer requirements without manual intervention. This automation eliminates the time-consuming manual process while maintaining ease of operation for customers who can simply specify their connectivity needs.
2Reliability
If dedicated physical paths are established for network connectivity, then security and isolation are improved, but the complexity of discovering and establishing such connections increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connectivity coordinator service acts as an intermediary that handles the complexity of establishing dedicated physical paths with improved security and isolation. It automatically manages the provisioning process, selecting appropriate connectivity providers and configurations that meet security requirements, thereby maintaining high reliability while reducing the complexity burden on customers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring and pre-validating connectivity options that meet security and isolation requirements. The connectivity coordinator service prepares dedicated physical path configurations in advance, so when customers request secure connectivity, the complex setup work has already been done, reducing both complexity and establishment time while maintaining high security standards.
3Adaptability or versatility
If network connections are dynamically modified to meet changing business needs, then adaptability is improved, but the management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connectivity coordinator service implements automated self-service management for dynamic connection modifications. When business needs change, customers can request modifications through simple interfaces, and the coordinator service automatically handles the complex tasks of coordinating with connectivity providers, updating configurations, and ensuring seamless transitions, thereby improving adaptability while managing complexity internally.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the connectivity coordinator service continuously monitors connection performance and business requirements. When changes are needed, the service receives feedback about changing needs, automatically evaluates available options, and implements appropriate modifications, making the system highly adaptable while the feedback loop manages complexity through automated decision-making rather than manual management.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for automated multi-party cloud connectivity provisioning are disclosed. A system includes resources of a provider network, and a connectivity coordinator. The coordinator collects network service offering metadata of a plurality of connectivity providers using a first set of programmatic interfaces. In response to a connectivity query specifying connectivity parameters, the coordinator identifies, using at least a portion of the metadata, a collection of one or more connectivity providers of the plurality of connectivity providers capable of providing connectivity between a client network and a provider network endpoint in accordance with the connectivity parameters. In response to a connectivity establishment request, the coordinator initiates, using another programmatic interface, an activation of a network connection between the client network and a selected provider network endpoint.