Cross-Domain Network Service Management via Distributed Adjacency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management systems struggle to efficiently provision and manage cross-domain services across multiple administration domains due to the lack of automated signaling mechanisms, leading to costly and burdensome manual configurations, and centralized solutions that are inflexible and scalable poorly.
Innovation Solution
A distributed cross-domain managed service layer is established, enabling peer-to-peer communication between network elements across domains through inter-domain adjacency managers, signaling inter-working gateways, and service request managers, which minimizes manual configuration and enhances flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a centralized, hierarchically layered network management architecture is used to enable cross-domain provisioning, then cross-domain services can be managed, but the system scales poorly and becomes top-heavy as network services become more complex and dynamic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized management architecture into distributed domain managers, each independently managing their own domain. This segmentation eliminates the top-heavy centralized structure while maintaining cross-domain service management through peer-to-peer communication between domain managers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a standardized interface layer that mediates communication between disparate domain managers. This interface acts as an intermediary that enables automated signaling and coordination without requiring a centralized control point, thus reducing architectural complexity while maintaining versatility.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration and workflow mechanisms are used for cross-domain service provisioning, then service coordination between domains can be achieved, but the process becomes costly and burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables domain managers to automatically negotiate and provision cross-domain services through standardized interfaces without manual intervention. Each domain manager independently makes decisions and executes provisioning actions, eliminating the need for costly manual workflow coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical configuration processes with automated electronic signaling mechanisms. The standardized interfaces enable machine-to-machine communication and automatic service provisioning, dramatically improving productivity while maintaining coordination capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If technology-specific management application stacks are used in each domain, then domain-specific management requirements are met, but integration between domains becomes complex and requires extensive manual configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal standardized interface that works across all domain types and technologies. This single interface design enables any domain manager to communicate with any other domain manager regardless of the underlying technology, eliminating integration complexity while preserving domain-specific management capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and method are provided for enabling establishment of cross-domain services, including exchange of reachability information between domains, routing of services across domains, and differential labeling. The network element control and management planes are supplemented by additional components that enable the control and management planes of each domain to inter-communicate in a peer-to-peer manner. Adjacencies are established between domains, and service reachability information is exchanged between domains. Network Service Applications within the management planes can then establish services across the domains by inter-communicating.