Intent-Based Network Command Generation System

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing and configuring utility systems and communication networks are complex and prone to errors, requiring extensive knowledge and experience, leading to potential disruptions and increased costs due to human-generated commands.

Innovation Solution

An Intent-based Network (IBN) system that interprets natural language input to determine user intent, decomposes high-level tasks into sub-tasks, and automatically or semi-automatically generates commands to manage or reconfigure network devices, reducing the cognitive load of human operators and minimizing configuration errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If human operators manually generate commands to configure or reconfigure network devices, then the system can be controlled and reconfigured, but the process becomes complex and error-prone, requiring extensive knowledge and experience

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of command generationVSAvoidconfiguration accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing network devices to automatically generate and execute configuration commands based on natural language intents. The command generation system autonomously translates user intents into device-specific commands without requiring manual intervention from operators, thereby eliminating human error while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The command generation system acts as an intermediary between the user's natural language intent and the network device's configuration requirements. It translates high-level intents into precise device commands, serving as a mediator that eliminates the need for operators to directly manipulate complex device configurations, thus improving both ease of operation and configuration accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If operators manually locate target devices and connections to reconfigure them, then the reconfiguration task can be completed, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereconfiguration speedVSAvoidcomplexity of reconfiguration process
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-identifying target devices and connections through intent analysis before actual reconfiguration occurs. The command generation system determines the complete configuration path and required device modifications in advance, eliminating the need for operators to manually locate and navigate through multiple devices during reconfiguration, thus accelerating the process while simplifying the procedure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Manufacturing precision

If extensive system knowledge and experience are required to generate commands accurately, then configuration precision can be maintained, but the operational burden on operators increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration precisionVSAvoidoperational burden
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces the mechanical system of human knowledge and experience with an automated command generation mechanism. Instead of relying on operators' expertise to generate precise commands, the system uses algorithmic translation of natural language intents into device-specific commands, thereby maintaining configuration precision while eliminating the operational burden of requiring extensive system knowledge.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP4064051A1Command generation system and method of issuing commands
Publication Date: 2022.09.28 HITACHI ENERGY LTD
  • EP4064051A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4064051A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4064051A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A command generation system (20) for issuing commands to an actor (11) of a utility system, industrial system or communication network implements an Intent-based Network and comprises a first interface (21) operative to receive natural language input that specifies a task to be executed, one or several processing modules (31-33) operative to perform a stateful intent resolution process to determine a user's intent expressed by the natural language input and to generate at least one command based on the determined intent, and a second interface (22) operative to issue the at least one command to the actor (11) to cause execution of the task in the utility system, industrial system or communication network.