Control Point Discovery via IPDR and SNMP

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing cable network infrastructure requires costly and time-consuming upgrades to support new protocols like Network Layer Signaling (NLS) for control point management, especially when dealing with hundreds or thousands of control points.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing existing management tools such as Internet Protocol Detail Record (IPDR) and Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) for control point discovery, allowing dynamic association updates without the need for expensive replacements or upgrades, leveraging these protocols to determine and apply controlling functions on control points and endpoints.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If existing cable network infrastructure is upgraded to support NLS protocol for control point management, then control point discovery capability is improved, but upgrade cost and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol point discovery capabilityVSAvoidupgrade time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism that translates between existing management protocols and control point discovery requirements. Instead of upgrading control points to support NLS directly, the system uses existing protocols (SNMP, IPDR, RADIUS, TACACS+) as intermediaries to convey control point information to the application server, thereby avoiding time-consuming hardware upgrades while achieving the same functional goal

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a virtual representation of control point information by extracting data from existing protocol messages (SNMP traps, IPDR records, RADIUS/TACACS+ logs) and reconstructing control point associations in the application server. This copying approach allows the system to work with virtualized control point data without physically upgrading the control points themselves

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Adaptability or versatility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol point discovery capabilityVSAvoidupgrade cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes existing management protocols multi-functional by demonstrating that SNMP, IPDR, RADIUS, and TACACS+ can serve both their traditional network management functions and the new control point discovery function. This universality eliminates the need for dedicated NLS protocol support in control points, thereby avoiding upgrade costs while achieving control point discovery capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service control point discovery by allowing the application server to autonomously extract control point information from existing protocol messages that control points already generate for other purposes. Control points continue to operate as before, automatically providing the information needed for discovery without requiring any modifications or upgrades

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If control points are replaced or upgraded to support NLS, then protocol compatibility is improved, but operational complexity and deployment difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoiddeployment ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of making control points compatible with new NLS protocol through replacement or upgrade, the patent inverts the approach by making the application server compatible with existing control point protocols. The application server is enhanced to interpret messages from legacy protocols, thereby achieving protocol compatibility while maintaining the simplicity and stability of existing control point deployments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS10743080B2Control point discovery

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 HCL TECH LTD

AI summary

An example method is described in which a controller initiates, with a control point, control point discovery for an endpoint managed by the control point. The controller, receives, from the control point, a message in response to the initiation of control point discovery. The message is an Internet Protocol Detail Record (IPDR) message or Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) message that includes registration information of the endpoint. Based on the registration information of the endpoint, the controller determines an association between the control point and the endpoint. This allows the controller to apply a controlling function on the control point when the endpoint accesses a service via the control point.