Multi-Layer Control System for Network Maintenance Rerouting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Maintenance activities in multi-layer communication networks disrupt communication traffic, leading to performance degradation and service interruptions due to the lack of integrated management across layers, resulting in unforeseen impacts on network performance and potential service contract violations.
Innovation Solution
A computerized system that coordinates maintenance activities across multi-layer networks by determining affected optical and IP paths, rerouting traffic through alternative paths, and scheduling maintenance to minimize disruptions, utilizing a processor-based multi-layer control system and maintenance tool to manage network traffic and topology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If maintenance activities are performed on optical resources, then network reliability is improved, but communication traffic is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by determining affected optical and IP paths before maintenance activities begin, calculating traffic impact, and preparing alternative routing configurations in advance. This allows maintenance to be scheduled and executed with minimal disruption to communication traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-layer control system acts as an intermediary between maintenance activities and network traffic. It coordinates maintenance scheduling across multiple layers (optical and IP), manages alternative path routing, and balances the need for maintenance with traffic requirements, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability improvement and traffic disruption.
2Reliability
If integrated multi-layer management is implemented, then network performance is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges management of multiple network layers (optical and IP) into a single integrated multi-layer control system. This consolidation improves network performance through coordinated management while the automated algorithms and standardized interfaces help manage the inherent complexity of integrating multiple layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-layer control system performs multiple functions: it manages maintenance activities, determines affected paths, calculates traffic impact, coordinates routing changes, and monitors network state across different layers. This multi-functionality improves overall network performance while consolidating complexity into a single universal management platform.
3Reliability
If traffic is rerouted through alternative paths, then service continuity is maintained, but network congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes routing parameters by selecting alternative optical and IP paths based on current network conditions. It calculates traffic impact and adjusts routing decisions to maintain service continuity while attempting to minimize congestion on alternative paths through intelligent parameter optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring network state, traffic conditions, and maintenance progress. This feedback allows the system to adjust routing decisions in real-time, maintaining service continuity while responding to congestion conditions on alternative paths by selecting optimal routing configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A computerized system for performing preparation operations for a maintenance activity that causes a disruption in a communication path of traffic over a multi-layer network. The system comprising: a maintenance tool configured to coordinate maintenance activities of the multi-layer network based on maintenance activity data, a storage unit to store the maintenance activity data; and a multi-layer control system comprising a processor, wherein said processor is configured to: receive from the maintenance tool an indication that one or more maintenance activities are required on an indicated optical resource, determine an affected optical path, determine an affected IP link utilizing said affected optical path; remove traffic from the affected IP link; remove the affected optical path; activate an alternative optical path; configure the packet switching layer to utilize the alternative optical path; and repeat for each affected optical path and each affected IP link.