Network Resource State Model for Physical-Logical Activity Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management systems struggle to efficiently track and manage the inter-relationship between physical and logical activities, particularly when deploying white boxes with native operating systems, leading to unclear resource status and inefficient network operations.
Innovation Solution
A comprehensive multi-stage state model that tracks physical, logical, and hybrid activities of network resources, using a three-stage state model with inventoryStatus, operationalStatus, and detailedStatus attributes to provide a unified framework for managing network resources, including sites, equipment, and connections, enhancing existing Service Provider DBORs with improved status tracking and coordination of physical, logical, and hybrid activities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a traditional network management system is used to track physical equipment, then the physical resource status can be monitored, but the inter-relationship with logical activities cannot be effectively tracked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the resource status tracking into three distinct state models: physical state model (tracking physical equipment), logical state model (tracking logical resources and configurations), and hybrid state model (tracking inter-relationships between physical and logical activities). This segmentation allows comprehensive tracking without requiring a single complex system to handle all aspects simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a state model intermediary layer that sits between the physical network infrastructure and the management system. This intermediary translates and correlates physical activities with logical activities, enabling effective tracking of their inter-relationships without directly modifying the underlying complex infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If white boxes with native operating systems are deployed, then flexibility and adaptability improve, but the inter-relationship of physical and logical activities becomes more complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal hybrid state model that can track and coordinate multiple types of activities (physical, logical, and their inter-relationships) across different deployment scenarios including white boxes with native operating systems. This multi-functional model handles diverse activities through a unified framework, reducing the perceived complexity despite increased adaptability requirements.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive tracking of physical and logical activities is implemented, then resource status clarity improves, but management efficiency may decrease due to increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the tracking into separate physical, logical, and hybrid state models, the patent provides comprehensive resource status clarity through structured organization. Each model handles specific aspects independently, making the information more manageable and efficient to process than a single undifferentiated tracking system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by providing different levels of tracking detail appropriate to each resource type and activity stage. The state models capture only the relevant attributes and relationships for each specific context, avoiding unnecessary complexity while maintaining comprehensive clarity where needed.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a database being maintained that has information indicating states of network resources, which can be determined based on physical activities, logical activities and hybrid activities performed on or by the network resources; obtaining activity information for a particular network resource, where the activity information is a physical activity, a logical activity and/or a hybrid activity; and determining whether a state change for the particular network resource should be made such as to whether the activity information corresponds to and warrants change to at least one of an inventory state, an operational state, or a detailed state. Other embodiments are disclosed.