Network Role Grouping by Connection Habits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing large enterprise networks is challenging due to the need for efficient network segmentation, fault isolation, and early detection of security violations, which is hindered by the lack of a feasible technique to structure views of networks at a higher level of granularity and reliance on human guesses about logical relationships among computers and users.
Innovation Solution
A method of correlating different role groupings in a network by receiving two sets of node groupings based on connection characteristics, using unique host identifiers, and updating IDs to ensure that nodes with similar connection habits are assigned the same identifiers, allowing for comparison and management of connection patterns.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network management is conducted on a host-by-host basis, then detailed monitoring and control are achieved, but feasibility is lost for large networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments hosts into groups based on connection characteristics (roles), transforming individual host monitoring into group-level analysis. This segmentation enables detailed monitoring to be aggregated at higher levels, making large network management feasible while preserving monitoring precision through group representative sampling.
2Ease of operation
If ad hoc grouping is used to structure network views, then human flexibility is maintained, but consistency and automation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter for grouping from ad hoc human-based classification to systematic connection-characteristic-based classification. By using measurable connection parameters (connection habits, patterns) as grouping criteria, the system achieves automated, consistent role assignment while maintaining operational ease through objective, data-driven grouping.
3Adaptability or versatility
If human guesses are used to determine logical relationships, then adaptability to unique network configurations is maintained, but reliability and objectivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of human subjective judgment with an automated system based on connection characteristic analysis. By substituting human guesses with algorithmic comparison of connection patterns, the system maintains adaptability to unique network configurations while significantly improving reliability and objectivity through data-driven, reproducible grouping.
4Reliability
If network segmentation is implemented using firewalls, routers, and VLANs, then fault isolation and security are improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the network topology through role grouping, representing actual network relationships without requiring physical network reconfiguration. This virtual modeling allows fault isolation and security analysis at the logical level, reducing the need for complex physical segmentation while maintaining reliability benefits.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for correlating different results of role grouping includes receiving two sets of grouping of nodes on a network, grouping of the nodes according to connection characteristics of the nodes in the groups, each of the sets having associated identifications and correlating associated identifications of one set with those of the other set so that the two groups have the same identifications, if the member hosts of each set of groups have nearly identical connection habits.