Network Intent Management Using Managed Entity Subsets

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing network management intent are inflexible, particularly in complex and changeable environments, leading to repeated deletion or suspension of intents when targets are not met, without providing a flexible alternative.

Innovation Solution

The method involves determining a managed entity subset within a managed entity set and executing a management action group to fulfill the intent target within this subset, rather than suspending or deleting the entire intent, allowing for flexible management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the network management service production entity deletes or suspends the entire network management intent when the target cannot be fulfilled within the managed entity set, then the system can respond to failures, but the flexibility of managing the network management intent is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse to intent fulfillment failureVSAvoidflexibility of managing network management intent
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the managed entity set into a managed entity subset when the original intent cannot be fully fulfilled. Instead of deleting or suspending the entire network management intent, the system identifies and executes the intent on a subset of managed entities that can still satisfy the intent target, thereby maintaining flexibility while responding to fulfillment failures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the network management service production entity repeatedly deletes or suspends the network management intent when targets are not met in complex environments, then the system can adapt to changes, but the management process becomes inefficient and resource-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptation to complex and changeable environmentVSAvoidefficiency of intent management process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by executing the network management intent on a subset of managed entities rather than requiring full fulfillment across the entire managed entity set. This allows the system to make partial progress toward the intent target, avoiding repeated deletion and suspension cycles, thereby improving management efficiency while maintaining adaptability to complex environments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If the network management service production entity executes the first management action group on the entire managed entity set, then the intent target can be fully achieved if conditions permit, but the signaling exchange and transmission resources are increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefulfillment of intent targetVSAvoidtransmission resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts or identifies a managed entity subset from the full managed entity set that is sufficient to fulfill the network management intent target. By executing management actions only on this subset rather than the entire set, the system reduces signaling exchange and transmission resource consumption while still achieving the intent target, thereby optimizing resource usage without sacrificing reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP4730731A1Method and apparatus for managing network management intent, and system
Publication Date: 2026.04.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4730731A1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4730731A1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4730731A1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This application provides a method for managing a network management intent, an apparatus, and a system. The method includes: determining that execution of a first management action group can not fulfill a target of a network management intent within a scope of a managed entity set of the network management intent, where the managed entity set includes at least two managed entities, and the first management action group includes at least one action for managing the managed entity set; and executing the first management action group or a second management action group, to fulfill the target of the network management intent within a scope of a managed entity subset, where the managed entity subset is a subset of the managed entity set, and the second management action group includes at least one action for managing the managed entity subset. In this way, a flexible manner of managing the network management intent is provided.