Hierarchical Domain Tree for Network Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing network devices across growing networks becomes increasingly complex, requiring significant human and monetary resources for maintenance, configuration, and ensuring uptime, as existing methods are prone to errors and downtime.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hierarchical tree of domains that semantically organizes devices, administrators, and objects, allowing for logical groupings and recursive permissions, enabling efficient management and access control within the network structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If individual device management methods are used, then complete control over network connectivity and access can be achieved, but management becomes time-consuming and prone to errors as the network grows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into hierarchical domains (root domain, intermediate domains, leaf domains) that can be managed independently. Each domain contains specific devices and administrators, allowing localized management without affecting the entire network. This segmentation enables parallel management activities across different domains, significantly reducing the time required to manage growing networks while maintaining complete control through the hierarchical structure.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual device configuration is performed manually, then precise configuration can be achieved, but the process becomes logistically complex and requires significant human resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges configuration management across multiple devices by establishing inheritance relationships in the hierarchical domain structure. Configuration parameters defined at parent domains are automatically inherited by child domains, allowing administrators to configure multiple devices through a single definition. This merging approach maintains precise configuration control while dramatically reducing management complexity and human resources required, as changes propagate automatically through the hierarchy.
3Adaptability or versatility
If network devices are managed individually, then specific device requirements can be met, but errors and downtime increase with network growth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by allowing each domain in the hierarchy to have domain-specific configuration parameters and policies tailored to local requirements, while simultaneously inheriting global policies from parent domains. This enables devices in different domains (e.g., New York, London, Tokyo) to have customized configurations appropriate to their specific needs, while maintaining overall network reliability through consistent inheritance of critical policies and automated error propagation handling.
4Loss of information
If comprehensive network monitoring is implemented, then complete visibility of network status can be achieved, but resource requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the nested doll principle by creating a hierarchical monitoring structure where each domain contains nested sub-domains. Monitoring data is collected at each domain level and aggregated upward through the hierarchy, with the root domain providing comprehensive network-wide visibility. This nested structure enables complete network visibility while managing system complexity, as each domain's monitoring system only needs to handle its local scope while automatically contributing to the global view through the hierarchical aggregation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system manages a network that includes devices, administrators, and objects. The system forms a hierarchical tree of domains that semantically organize the network, where each of the domains includes logical groupings of the devices, the administrators, or the objects. The system manages the network based on the hierarchical tree of domains.