Network Device Information Segmentation for SNMP Traffic Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network management systems using SNMP face significant communication traffic increases when searching for multiple devices, especially due to the need for re-sending requests for attribute information that cause errors, leading to inefficiencies in obtaining device information.

Innovation Solution

The approach involves separating device information into device-independent and device-dependent categories, allowing for bulk retrieval of independent information and individual retrieval of dependent information, thereby reducing communication traffic by avoiding collective error processing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If bulk retrieval of multiple device information is performed using SNMP, then information obtainment efficiency is improved, but communication traffic increases tremendously when error resending is required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation obtainment efficiencyVSAvoidcommunication traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments device information into two categories: device-independent information (obtained in bulk) and device-dependent information (obtained individually). This segmentation allows the system to retrieve common information efficiently for multiple devices while avoiding the need to resend entire bulk requests when errors occur, thereby reducing communication traffic overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by retrieving only the necessary device-independent information in bulk rather than attempting to retrieve all device information in bulk. When errors occur, only the specific device-dependent information needs to be retrieved individually, avoiding the excessive communication traffic that would result from resending complete bulk requests.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of energy

If individual retrieval of device information is performed to avoid error resending, then communication traffic is reduced, but information obtainment efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication trafficVSAvoidinformation obtainment efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments device information into device-independent information (retrieved in bulk for efficiency) and device-dependent information (retrieved individually to avoid error resending). This segmentation enables the system to optimize for both communication traffic reduction and information obtainment efficiency by applying different retrieval strategies to different information types.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the bulk retrieval mechanism for device-independent information with individual retrieval for device-dependent information. This combination allows the system to achieve high efficiency for common information while avoiding the communication overhead of error resending for device-specific information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If multiple attributes are obtained in a single SNMP message, then information obtainment efficiency is improved, but error handling complexity increases when obtainment errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation obtainment efficiencyVSAvoiderror handling complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments attributes into those that can be obtained in bulk (device-independent) and those that require individual retrieval (device-dependent). This segmentation simplifies error handling because errors in device-dependent attributes do not affect the bulk retrieval of device-independent attributes, reducing the complexity of error handling while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Productivity

If bulk retrieval is performed for all device information, then information obtainment efficiency is improved, but adaptability to device-specific settings and functions decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation obtainment efficiencyVSAvoiddevice-specific information retrieval

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments device information into device-independent information (suitable for bulk retrieval) and device-dependent information (requiring individual retrieval). This segmentation enables the system to maintain high efficiency for common information while preserving adaptability to device-specific settings and functions by retrieving dependent information individually after device identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11240094B2Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and computer-readable medium

Publication Date: 2022.02.01 CANON KK

AI summary

First device information, which is information independent from settings of a device or functions of a device, is obtained from a device in bulk; second device information, which is information that depends on settings of a device or functions of a device, is obtained; and the obtained first and second device information are stored in a storage unit. A device connected through communication is then specified on the basis of the obtained first device information.