Network Model Overlay for Planning Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art network management systems face challenges in planning changes to communications networks due to informal and insufficiently defined modifications, leading to difficulties in understanding and implementing changes, especially when multiple planners work independently, and merging changes back into the main model.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that display a configuration of a communications network as an overlay on another configuration, allowing planners to visualize and manage changes by storing a network model, identifying changes, and displaying them as an overlay without modifying the original configuration, enabling clear planning and updating of network changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a planner modifies the network model directly to see how planned changes will affect the network, then the planner can visualize the changes, but the network model no longer corresponds to the actual operational network
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a virtual copy of the network model that serves as a planning workspace. This copy contains all the elements of the operational network model but allows modifications without affecting the original. Planners can make changes to the virtual copy to visualize planned modifications while the operational network model remains unchanged and accurate.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the planning function from the operational network model management. By dividing the model into a virtual planning copy and the operational master model, the system allows independent planning activities without compromising the integrity or accuracy of the operational network representation.
2Reliability
If a planner uses a copy of the network model database to plan changes, then the original model remains unchanged, but it becomes difficult to merge changes back into the main model
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automated feedback mechanisms that track changes made in the virtual planning copy and facilitate their integration into the operational network model. The system monitors modifications, validates them, and enables seamless merging of approved changes back into the main model without manual intervention or database locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The virtual network model acts as an intermediary between planning activities and the operational network model. It serves as a buffer that captures planned changes, allows for validation and approval processes, and then transfers only the approved modifications to the operational model, simplifying the merge process.
3Ease of operation
If multiple planners work on separate copies of the database independently, then each planner can work without interference, but collating the planned changes becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically merges changes from multiple virtual planning copies into a unified operational network model. It provides conflict detection and resolution capabilities that identify overlapping changes, allow planners to review potential conflicts, and automatically integrate compatible changes from different planners' work without manual collation efforts.
4Reliability
If the entire database is locked to transfer changes from a copy to the main model, then data consistency is maintained, but other users are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary validation and preparation of changes in the virtual planning copy before transferring them to the operational model. Changes are pre-checked for consistency, conflicts are identified in advance, and the transfer process is streamlined so that only validated, ready-to-apply changes are merged, minimizing or eliminating the need for database locking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces the traditional mechanical approach of database locking with a software-based change management process. Instead of preventing access through locks, the system uses virtualization, automated validation, and intelligent merging algorithms to maintain data consistency while allowing continuous access and operations on the operational network model by other users.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, computer program, and method are provided for displaying a configuration of a communications network as an overlay on another configuration. A network model is stored that represents a first configuration of a communications network. Further, one or more changes to the first configuration are identified that represent a second configuration of the communications network. The second configuration of the communications network is displayed as an overlay on the first configuration of the communications network to show the one or more changes in connection with the first configuration.