Distributed Network Agents for Adaptive OAM Probe Configuration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Manual or centralized configuration of network nodes for network analytics is resource-intensive, compromises security, and degrades network performance in both the control and data planes, particularly due to the complexity and resource requirements of active measurement probes.

Innovation Solution

Extension of the OAM protocol to control associations between active measurement probes and responders, introducing new OAM field types to signal measurement requests, acknowledge port openings, and manage measurement durations, allowing distributed network agents to configure nodes for adaptive network analytics.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual or centralized configuration of network nodes is used for network analytics, then network analytics can be performed, but resource consumption increases and network performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork analytics capabilityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables network nodes to automatically configure themselves for network analytics through distributed agents that autonomously establish probe-responder associations, eliminating the need for manual or centralized configuration and reducing resource consumption at central controllers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the network analytics configuration task into distributed segments, with individual agents at different network nodes independently managing their own probe and responder configurations, rather than centralized control of all nodes

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If manual or centralized configuration of network nodes is used for network analytics, then network analytics can be performed, but security is compromised due to increased open ports

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork analytics capabilityVSAvoidsecurity risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically opens and closes ports on network nodes based on real-time analytics needs, with ports being temporarily opened only when probes require responder functionality and automatically closed when no longer needed, rather than maintaining permanently open ports

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic measurement intervals where probes are activated and deactivated in cycles, with responder ports opened only during active measurement periods and closed during idle periods, reducing overall exposure to security risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Reliability

If active measurement probes are deployed for network analytics, then network performance monitoring is enabled, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork performance monitoringVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces distributed agents as intermediaries between network probes and responders, with agents automatically managing the complex tasks of establishing associations, configuring parameters, and coordinating measurements, thereby simplifying overall system operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary configuration actions by pre-establishing probe-responder associations and pre-configuring measurement parameters before actual network analytics tasks begin, reducing operational complexity during active monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Stability of the object's composition

If centralized configuration control is used for network nodes, then configuration consistency can be maintained, but configuration time and resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration consistencyVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary configuration actions where distributed agents pre-establish probe-responder associations and cache configuration parameters locally, enabling rapid deployment of network analytics without time-consuming centralized configuration for each node

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs universal configuration protocols and standardized agent behaviors that can be applied across diverse network nodes, maintaining configuration consistency through common rules rather than node-specific centralized configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10965546B2Control of network nodes in computer network systems

Publication Date: 2021.03.30 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Installing on a node of a computer network, an agent of a network system. The installed agent receives a network task via the network. The network task involves a second node of the network. The receiving agent generates a probe implementing the task and targeted to the second node. Either the receiving agent or the generated probe generates a command for the second node. The command is related to the probe and can be in the form of a data link layer protocol data unit for network operations, administration, and maintenance (OAM). The agent or node that generates the command communicates the command to the second node. The second node executes the communicated command. The second node communicates an acknowledgment of the executed command to the first node.