In-band Telemetry Packet Header Embedding for Multi-Tenant Scalability

The patent segments the centralized collector into multiple distributed collectors, each responsible for specific tenants or flows. This segmentation allows tenants to have dedicated collectors that capture their specific telemetry data while maintaining the benefits of automated collection. The segmentation resolves the contradiction by providing tenant-specific visibility without requiring manual administrator intervention.

The patent implements self-service capabilities where tenants can autonomously configure and manage their own telemetry collection through programmable network interfaces. The distributed collectors automatically identify and collect relevant tenant data without requiring network administrator configuration. This self-service approach eliminates the dependency on administrators while maintaining ease of operation through automated processes.

The patent applies local quality by deploying distributed collectors that are locally positioned near specific tenants or flows. Each collector is optimized to collect only the telemetry data relevant to its assigned tenant or flow, providing precise, localized measurement capabilities. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple infrastructure control through standardized collector designs while achieving high measurement precision for tenant-specific metrics.

The patent introduces dynamic configuration capabilities where collectors can adapt their data collection behavior based on real-time network conditions and tenant requirements. The system dynamically adjusts which metrics are collected and how frequently, allowing precise measurement of tenant-specific issues while maintaining efficient resource utilization. This dynamic approach enables accurate tenant-specific measurements without the overhead of collecting all possible metrics continuously.

The patent implements universal collectors that can serve multiple tenants and flows simultaneously through programmable interfaces. Each collector is designed with multi-functionality, capable of dynamically configuring itself to collect telemetry for different tenants based on packet headers and flow identification. This universality reduces the total number of collectors needed while maintaining tenant-specific data collection, resolving the scalability contradiction.

The patent merges multiple collection functions into single distributed collectors that can handle multiple tenants and flows. By combining what would traditionally require separate collectors for each tenant into shared, multi-tenant collectors, the system reduces hardware resources and device complexity while maintaining the ability to collect tenant-specific telemetry data through software-based configuration and isolation.

The patent implements self-service capabilities where distributed collectors automatically identify themselves and configure network elements for telemetry collection. The collectors use programmable interfaces to autonomously program network elements with the necessary flow identification and data collection instructions, eliminating manual configuration requirements. This maintains high automation while simplifying deployment.

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring collectors with the capability to automatically program network elements upon deployment. The collectors are designed with built-in configuration templates and automated programming logic that enables them to quickly set up telemetry collection on network elements without requiring manual administrator intervention. This preliminary preparation maintains automation while reducing the complexity of initial system setup.