Network Equipment Performance Measurement Model Simplification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network management systems face complexity in managing performance measurements due to the need for numerous standardized interactions and the lack of real-time visibility into which nodes are reporting measurements and what types of measurements they are reporting, making it inefficient for individual managed nodes.

Innovation Solution

A simplified network model where equipment maintains a Network Resource Management (NRM) Information Object Class (IOC) ManagedElement object, which contains ManagedFunction objects that perform and report measurements, with a PMControl object controlling the reporting mode and administrative state, allowing direct reporting to a network management system or writing to a file location, enabling the network management system to control measurement performance and retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standardized interactions and subscription mechanisms are used for performance measurement reporting, then measurement collection is achieved, but system complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement collection reliabilityVSAvoidmanagement system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the complex subscription and job management mechanisms from the performance measurement process. Instead of using standardized subscription interactions, the system directly collects measurements from managed nodes through simplified interfaces, removing the intermediary subscription layer that added complexity while maintaining measurement collection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the performance measurement functionality into distinct Information Object Classes (IOCs) such as ManagedElement, ManagedFunction, and Measurement. This segmentation allows each component to have a specific, simplified role in the measurement process, reducing overall system complexity while ensuring reliable measurement collection through well-defined responsibilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Extent of automation

If complex job management operations are implemented, then measurement control is achieved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement control automationVSAvoidnode operation simplicity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service by allowing managed nodes to autonomously report their performance measurements without requiring complex job creation, suspension, or resumption operations. The nodes automatically generate and report measurements based on their configured measurement objects, eliminating the need for operators to manually manage measurement jobs while maintaining full measurement control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The Measurement object in the patent serves multiple functions universally: it defines what measurements to take, how often to report them, and how to retrieve the results. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate operations for measurement creation, control, and retrieval, simplifying operation while maintaining automation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If intermediary agents are used for measurement reporting, then standardized compliance is achieved, but reporting efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestandardization complianceVSAvoidmeasurement reporting efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the traditional reporting model where agents collected measurements from nodes. Instead, managed nodes directly report their measurements to the management system using simplified interfaces. This inversion eliminates the intermediary agent layer, improving reporting efficiency while maintaining standardized compliance through the defined Information Object Class structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS12126486B2Management model for network equipment performance measurements

Publication Date: 2024.10.22 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)

AI summary

In a network Performance Measurement (PM) model, network equipment (10) maintains (102) a ManagedElement object. The ManagedElement object contains one or more ManagedFunction objects which perform and report measurements. Each ManagedFunction object has one or more Measurement objects (106) that specifies a measurement, and lists a reporting period. The ManagedElement object contains a PMControl object (104), which specifies the reporting mode and includes an administrative state attribute of the ManagedElement object that is controlled by the network management system (20). The ManagedElement object controls (110) an operational state attribute of the PMControl object based on resources to perform the measurement and access to the relevant reporting mechanism (108). When both states of the PMControl object are set to a functional value (112), the ManagedFunction objects perform (114) and report (118) the results of measurement specified in associated Measurement objects.