Controller-Based Sensor Selection for Network Metric Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network management systems face inefficiencies in metric collection due to reliance on common sensors and manual administrator selection, leading to increased network usage and computational processing power.

Innovation Solution

A controller device determines device characteristic information to select the most appropriate sensor from a plurality of sensors based on supported protocols, optimizing metric collection by using polling or streaming mechanisms accordingly, thereby reducing network usage and computational load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a common sensor is used for metric collection across multiple network devices, then device compatibility is improved, but network usage and computational processing power increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice compatibilityVSAvoidnetwork usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system selects different sensors based on the specific characteristics of each network device. The controller determines device characteristic information and selects from a plurality of sensors the most appropriate one for each device type, rather than using a single common sensor for all devices. This local optimization reduces overall network usage while maintaining compatibility across diverse device types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Measurement precision

If manual administrator selection of sensors is used, then control precision is improved, but device complexity and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesensor selection accuracyVSAvoidconfiguration complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automated sensor selection based on device characteristic information. The controller automatically determines the appropriate sensor for each network device without requiring manual administrator intervention. This self-service approach maintains precise sensor selection while eliminating the complexity and time consumption associated with manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses device characteristic information as feedback to automatically determine the most appropriate sensor for each network device. This feedback mechanism enables the controller to make informed sensor selection decisions based on actual device properties, achieving precision comparable to manual selection but with automated efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If polling mechanism is used for sensor information collection, then device compatibility is improved, but network usage and computational load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidcomputational processing power
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system selects different information collection mechanisms (polling or streaming) based on the specific capabilities of each network device. For devices that support streaming, the system uses streaming to reduce computational load, while for devices that only support polling, it uses polling to maintain compatibility. This local optimization balances compatibility with energy efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4102804A1Metric collection based on device characteristic information
Publication Date: 2022.12.14 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC
  • EP4102804A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4102804A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4102804A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method includes determining, by a controller device that manages a plurality of network devices, device characteristic information for a network device of the plurality of network devices and selecting, by the controller device, one or more sensors from a plurality of sensors based on the device characteristic information for the network device. The method further includes outputting, by the controller device, an instruction to cause the network device to generate the one or more selected sensors at the network device and receiving, by the controller device, sensor information from the one or more selected sensors generated at the network device.