Network Inventory Update Mechanism Using Cache Sequence Numbers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional network inventory systems face challenges in providing up-to-date configuration and state information, ensuring data accuracy, detecting changes in inventory messages in a timely manner, aligning edge and central inventory data, and managing network resource usage effectively.
Innovation Solution
A network node is configured to transmit configuration messages to network devices, determine if updates are needed for the network inventory system, and update records with the latest configuration information. The node also handles change messages, synchronizes data, and manages cache sequence numbers to ensure data integrity and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the network node continuously monitors and updates inventory data from network devices, then the up-to-dateness of network inventory information is improved, but the network resource usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network device proactively sends change messages to the network node when configuration or state changes occur, rather than waiting for periodic polling. This preliminary action allows the network node to receive updates only when necessary, reducing unnecessary network resource usage while maintaining up-to-date inventory information.
Solution Approach 2:
The network device includes a cache sequence number in change messages to provide feedback about the state of inventory data. The network node uses this feedback to determine whether actual updates are needed, avoiding redundant processing and network resource consumption while ensuring data freshness.
2Measurement precision
If the network node validates cache sequence numbers and synchronizes data, then the accuracy of network inventory data is improved, but the processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex data validation mechanisms with a simpler sequence number comparison system. Instead of validating entire data structures for consistency, the network node only needs to compare integer sequence numbers, significantly reducing processing time while maintaining data accuracy through the cache sequence number field.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the network node implements comprehensive synchronization protocols, then the consistency of inventory data across network devices is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The synchronization protocol is segmented into discrete, manageable components: change messages containing specific data changes, cache sequence numbers for tracking, and targeted synchronization only when sequence numbers differ. This segmentation simplifies the overall protocol compared to comprehensive synchronization systems while maintaining data consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
A network node may transmit a configuration message to at least one network device of a plurality of network devices, the configuration message including updated configuration information for the at least one network device, determine whether to update a network inventory system based on a response to the configuration message, and update a record included in the network inventory system associated with the at least one network device based on results of the determination, the updating including updating the record with the updated configuration information.