Intent Graph Model Difference Information Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network management systems face high bandwidth and storage requirements when storing and retrieving intent graph models due to the need to store complete snapshots of these models for every change, limiting the duration and speed of model availability.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that uses difference information to record changes in intent graph models, reducing the need for full snapshots, thereby minimizing bandwidth and storage demands.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If complete snapshots of intent graph models are stored for every change, then the network management system can maintain full historical records, but the bandwidth and storage requirements increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehistorical record completenessVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the intent graph model into hierarchical components (graph model, nodes, interfaces, link relationships, hosted interfaces). Instead of storing complete snapshots, only the specific segmented components that changed are stored as difference information, dramatically reducing storage requirements while maintaining the ability to reconstruct complete historical states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and stores only the difference information representing changes from the previous state, rather than storing the entire intent graph model snapshot. This extraction of essential change data maintains historical record completeness while minimizing storage capacity consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If complete snapshots of intent graph models are stored for every change, then the system can ensure data accuracy, but the retrieval time and bandwidth consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidretrieval time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the model into hierarchical components and storing only the changed segments as difference information, the system reduces retrieval time proportionally to the amount of change, while maintaining data accuracy through the structured difference representation that can be precisely applied to reconstruct any historical state.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Quantity of substance

If difference information is used to record changes, then the storage and bandwidth requirements are reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage capacityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hierarchical segmentation of the intent graph model into standardized components (graph model, nodes, interfaces, link relationships, hosted interfaces) creates a structured framework that simplifies the representation of changes. Each component type has a defined difference representation, making the system more manageable despite the complexity of handling incremental changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a difference information structure as an intermediary between the current and previous states of the intent graph model. This intermediary representation simplifies the complexity by providing a standardized format for capturing changes, which can be systematically applied to reconstruct historical states without directly managing the full complexity of complete snapshots.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Speed

If difference information is used instead of full snapshots, then the retrieval speed improves, but the initial processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveretrieval speedVSAvoidprocessing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by maintaining a current state of the intent graph model in memory or fast storage. When retrieval is needed, this pre-maintained current state serves as the base, and only the stored difference information needs to be applied, significantly reducing retrieval time compared to loading complete snapshots, while the processing overhead is amortized over time as changes are incrementally recorded.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP4576706A1Intent graph model generation using difference information
Publication Date: 2025.06.25 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC
  • EP4576706A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4576706A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4576706A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A system includes computer-readable media configured to store a plurality of objects representing intent graph models of a network, and processing circuitry coupled to the computer-readable media. The processing circuitry is configured to receive a request indicating a requested time, determine one or more first objects of the plurality of objects, the first objects storing an intent graph model associated with a first time, the first time different from the requested time, determine one or more second objects of the plurality of objects, the second objects storing difference information indicating one or more changes to the intent graph model associated with the first time that occurred after the first time, apply the changes to the intent graph model associated with the first time to generate an intent graph model associated with the requested time, and output an indication of the intent graph model associated with the requested time.