Network Device Capability Predictor for Traffic-Aware Performance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network devices often fail to perform as expected due to mismatched advertised and actual performance characteristics, leading to suboptimal communication performance or over-provisioning, as their performance characteristics are measured under different traffic conditions than those encountered in deployment.

Innovation Solution

A network device capability predictor that uses a model to compute performance characteristics based on traffic information, including traffic profiles and cost parameters, to accurately assess a network device's capabilities under expected traffic conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If performance characteristics are measured under standardized test conditions, then measurement consistency is improved, but accuracy under actual deployment conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeasurement consistencyVSAvoidaccuracy under actual conditions
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter being measured from standardized test metrics to actual deployment metrics. Instead of measuring performance under controlled test conditions, the system measures performance characteristics under the actual traffic conditions expected in deployment, thereby aligning measurement conditions with operational conditions and resolving the contradiction between measurement consistency and actual accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary measurement of performance characteristics under expected deployment traffic conditions before the network device is fully deployed. This preliminary action allows the system to capture accurate performance data under realistic conditions while maintaining measurement consistency through controlled measurement procedures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If network devices are over-provisioned to ensure adequate performance, then reliability is improved, but resource utilization deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance adequacyVSAvoidresource utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where measured performance characteristics under actual traffic conditions are used to determine appropriate provisioning levels. The system continuously monitors performance and adjusts provisioning decisions based on real feedback from the network device's actual behavior, eliminating the need for conservative over-provisioning while ensuring adequate performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical approach of over-provisioning hardware resources with an intelligent software-based measurement and prediction system. Instead of adding more physical resources to ensure performance, the system uses computational models and actual traffic measurements to accurately predict performance and optimize resource allocation

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

3Productivity

If network devices are under-provisioned to optimize resource utilization, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidperformance adequacy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses feedback from actual performance measurements under deployment conditions to dynamically determine optimal provisioning levels. By continuously monitoring how the network device actually performs under real traffic conditions, the system can confidently provision resources at optimal levels without risking performance adequacy, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2700198B1Computing a performance characteristic of a network device
Publication Date: 2021.02.17 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP
  • EP2700198B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2700198B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2700198B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A traffic profile or description of a mix of different types of traffic is provided to compute, using a model, a performance characteristic of a network device. The model relates a performance characteristic of the network device to parameters associated with different types of traffic.