Network Replica System for Real-Time Emulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management solutions lack the ability to replicate networks and their environments in real-time, failing to emulate network functions for applications like A/B testing, optimization, and simulation, especially in distributed edge or cloud compute infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
A network replica method that communicates with management systems via APIs, stores data in a database of record, and applies assertions to emulate network behavior, including device, process, business, and technology behaviors, allowing for the creation of a detailed model of the network's current state, capable of segmenting and distributing for analysis across edge and core cloud components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If network management systems collect and store data from networks, then a database of record is created, but the system cannot replicate or emulate the network in real-time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a network replica by copying network state data from the database of record into an emulation environment. This replica is a simplified representation that can be manipulated and analyzed without affecting the actual network, enabling A/B testing, optimization, and simulation while preserving the original network state information.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the network representation into a database of record (for data collection and storage) and a network replica (for emulation and analysis). This segmentation allows each component to serve its specific function - the database preserves information while the replica provides adaptability for various emulation scenarios.
2Measurement precision
If a detailed network model is created in a database of record, then network state is captured, but the model cannot be distributed to edge and core cloud components for local analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the network replica from the centralized database of record and distributes it to edge and core cloud components. This extraction enables local analysis and processing at distributed locations while maintaining the precision of the original network state model through accurate data replication.
3Productivity
If network functions are virtualized on physical resources, then service chains are optimized, but the system cannot provide a replicable network representation for testing and simulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a reliable network replica by copying network state information from the database of record. This replica serves as a trustworthy representation that can be used for A/B testing, optimization, and simulation, providing reliability for testing purposes while the actual NFV system continues to optimize service chains in production.
4Loss of information
If network management focuses on operational data collection, then planning information is available, but the system is not designed to create or resident in distributed compute infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the network replica system universal by designing it to work with both centralized databases and distributed compute infrastructure. The network replica can be created from operational data in the database of record and then distributed to edge and core cloud components, enabling the same system to serve both operational management and distributed analysis functions.
Data Source
AI summary
Network replica systems and methods include, via a server, a group of servers, or in a cloud computing environment, communicating with one or more management systems and one or more networks associated with the one or more management systems via one or more Application Programming Interfaces (APIs); obtaining data from the one or more management systems and/or the one or more networks; storing the data in a database of record which defines a detailed model of a current state of the networks; and applying one or more assertions to data of interest in the database of record to emulate behavior in the one or more networks, wherein the assertions map actual device, process, business, architecture, and technology behaviors onto the data of interest from the database of record to emulate the behavior, wherein the database of record and the applied one or more assertions include a network replica of the networks.