Network Service Inference via Topology Conflict Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network management systems face challenges in effectively managing virtual private networks (VPNs) due to the diverse nature of hardware and protocols used, making it difficult to guarantee quality of service (QoS) contracts with customers.
Innovation Solution
The system infers services on a network by receiving topologically relevant information, resolving conflicts, and determining network topology to identify VPN services, allowing for better management and performance analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If diverse hardware and protocols are used to support VPN services, then service versatility and adaptability are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of management increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network information base (NIB) as an intermediary layer between diverse network hardware/protocols and the management system. The NIB standardizes and consolidates network topology information from multiple sources into a unified representation, enabling simplified management while supporting diverse VPN services through the abstraction layer it provides.
Solution Approach 2:
The management system implements a universal service inference engine that can identify multiple types of VPN services (IPsec, MPLS, L2TP, PPTP) using a single integrated approach. This engine analyzes standardized network topology data to detect various service types without requiring separate management mechanisms for each protocol or hardware type.
2Measurement precision
If comprehensive network information is collected to infer services, then measurement precision and service detection accuracy are improved, but loss of time and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and storing network topology information in the network information base (NIB) before service inference is needed. This pre-processing and consolidation of data ensures that when service detection is required, the analysis can proceed quickly using already-organized information, reducing real-time processing time while maintaining comprehensive data for accurate inference.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing services on a network. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes receiving topologically relevant network information concerning nodes, interfaces, connections and/or protocols; resolving conflicts in the received information; determining and storing a network topology from the received and resolved information; and inferring one or more services based on the stored topology.