Local Assurance Device for Communication Network Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized network management systems for communication networks face performance issues due to large data volumes and calculation times, leading to network degradation, and existing solutions with on-board agents do not effectively address the assurance of service continuity.
Innovation Solution
A local assurance device is integrated into network equipment, enabling local management of assurance methods by adapting configuration, analyzing network parameters, and triggering alarms based on predefined rules, reducing data transmission and enhancing network performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If centralized assurance method is used with large volume data collection from network equipment, then service continuity monitoring capability is improved, but network performance deteriorates due to passband consumption and calculation time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized assurance system into distributed autonomous assurance devices deployed at individual network elements. Each device independently performs local data processing and assurance functions, segmenting the monolithic centralized system into multiple autonomous units that operate independently, thereby reducing network passband consumption and centralized calculation burden.
Solution Approach 2:
Each network element is equipped with an autonomous assurance device that performs self-monitoring and self-assessment of its operational status. These devices independently collect local data, execute assurance algorithms, and generate reports without requiring continuous centralized control, enabling self-service operation that reduces network load while maintaining monitoring capabilities.
2Productivity
If on-board agents are deployed in network elements, then local data processing capability is improved, but assurance functionality remains insufficient as decisional aspects remain centralized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the decisional assurance functions from the centralized system and embeds them directly into the on-board agents at network elements. This extraction transfers both data processing and decision-making capabilities to the local level, enabling agents to autonomously execute assurance policies and generate alerts without requiring centralized decision intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The autonomous assurance devices are designed as multi-functional units that simultaneously perform data collection, local analysis, decision-making, and alert generation. This universal design consolidates multiple functions into single integrated devices, eliminating the need for separate centralized control mechanisms and enabling comprehensive local assurance operation.
Data Source
AI summary
An installed device (D) is intented to local assurance management for a network element (NE) in a communication network (N) equipped with a network management system (NMS), where said equipment element (NE) presents a chosen configuration and contains means (MM) for the measurement of parameter values in the network as well as a management information base (MIB) which stores management data representing the measured values. The device or arrangement (D) includes management means (MAE) used to adapt the configuration of the equipment element (NE) in accordance with at least the management data stored in the management information base (MIB) and with chosen rules known as assurance rules.