Network Sensor Aggregating Statistics for Multiple Logical Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional network-monitoring systems are inadequate for handling large numbers of logical network interfaces, as they can only monitor and collect statistics from a single interface at a time, leading to inefficiencies in time and computing resource usage.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that deploys sensors within network devices to simultaneously collect network statistics information from multiple logical network interfaces by determining a range of network addresses and providing instructions for the sensors to aggregate data, enabling efficient handling of network traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional network-monitoring systems query each logical interface individually, then they can obtain network statistics information, but the time and computing resources required become prohibitively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple individual interface queries into a single aggregated query that retrieves statistics for multiple logical interfaces simultaneously. The sensor collects data for all interfaces in one operation, merging what would otherwise be separate sequential operations into a unified parallel data collection process.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is designed with multi-functionality to handle diverse query types (single interface, multiple interfaces, range-based queries) through a unified data collection mechanism. This universal approach allows the same sensor infrastructure to serve multiple monitoring needs without requiring separate specialized systems for each query type.
2Reliability
If traditional network-monitoring systems monitor multiple logical interfaces, then they can detect network issues, but the computing resources required become prohibitively large
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple individual interface monitoring operations into a single aggregated sensor deployment. By collecting statistics for multiple interfaces simultaneously through one sensor instance, the system reduces the cumulative computing overhead of running separate monitoring processes for each interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the monitoring task by introducing a specialized sensor component that handles the computationally intensive data collection work. This separates the data gathering function from the analysis function, allowing the sensor to efficiently collect raw statistics while the system processes only the aggregated results.
3Productivity
If network administrators deploy sensors to collect statistics from multiple interfaces, then monitoring efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor is designed as a universal component that can monitor any logical interface or range of interfaces within the network device. This multi-functional design reduces system complexity by using a single standardized sensor type for all monitoring needs, rather than requiring different specialized sensors for different interface configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adapts sensor deployment based on monitoring requirements. Sensors can be configured to monitor specific interfaces, multiple interfaces, or ranges of interfaces depending on the query needs, allowing flexible resource allocation without requiring pre-configured specialized sensors for each scenario.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed method may include (1) deploying, within a network device, at least one sensor designed to collect network statistics information about a plurality of logical network interfaces of the network device, (2) receiving, at the network device, one or more requests to obtain network statistics information about at least one logical network interface of the network device, (3) determining a range of network addresses that includes a network address of each logical network interface within the one or more requests, and then (4) providing, to the sensor, an instruction that prompts the sensor to (A) simultaneously collect network statistics information about each logical network interface whose network address is within the range of network addresses and (B) utilize the collected network statistics information to enable the network device to handle network traffic. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.