Network API Service for Real-Time Application Guidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional communications network applications operate independently of lower-level network layers, lacking access to critical network data that could enhance their performance and decision-making capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A system that exposes network guidance and control features to external applications by analyzing low-level network data from both access and core networks, providing real-time metrics and predictions to facilitate client-side and server-side adaptations, and allowing applications to modify network features on demand.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If applications operate independently of lower-level network layers, then application-level interaction simplicity is maintained, but access to critical network data is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication-level interaction simplicityVSAvoidnetwork data access

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component that bridges the application layer and lower-level network layers. This intermediary provides applications with access to critical network data (such as bandwidth, latency, congestion information) without requiring applications to directly interact with complex lower-level protocols, thus maintaining ease of operation while eliminating information loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If network data is exposed to external applications, then application adaptability is improved, but network complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication adaptabilityVSAvoidnetwork complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments network data exposure into controlled, modular interfaces. Instead of exposing the entire complex network infrastructure to applications, it divides network information into discrete, manageable data types (bandwidth metrics, latency measurements, congestion indicators) that can be accessed through standardized interfaces, thereby improving application adaptability while managing network complexity through structured organization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If real-time network metrics are provided to applications, then decision-making capability is enhanced, but data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecision-making capabilityVSAvoiddata processing requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the most critical and relevant network metrics needed for application decision-making, rather than providing all available network data. It selectively extracts key parameters such as bandwidth availability, latency, and congestion status, filtering out redundant information to enhance decision-making capability while minimizing data processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS11477644B2Network application programming interface guided service placement

Publication Date: 2022.10.18 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a network API service makes multiple APIs available for guidance and control. The network API service may collect low-level network data related to network elements in access networks and core networks and analyze the low-level network data to create application-level metrics in response to API requests. Other embodiments are disclosed.