Network State Snapshots for Historical Connectivity Failure Tracing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Identifying the location of a faulty node in a communication network causing data transfer issues is a time-consuming task, especially when the problem is reported hours after it occurred, due to the dynamic nature of network topology and routing tables.
Innovation Solution
A system that efficiently stores and retrieves network snapshots and updates to recreate the network's topology and routing information at any past time, allowing network analysts to quickly determine the path a data packet would have taken between two nodes, using BGP files and update logs to generate detailed reports.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network topology and routing information are stored dynamically to reflect real-time changes, then the network can adapt to failures and optimize routing, but the complexity of tracking and analyzing historical states increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously capturing and storing network topology snapshots and routing information at regular intervals. This historical data is preserved before failures occur, enabling analysts to reconstruct past network states without the complexity of real-time tracking during incidents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates copies of network state information through periodic snapshots of topology and routing tables. These snapshots serve as reusable historical records that can be queried and analyzed to determine packet paths at any past time, avoiding the need for complex continuous tracking.
2Measurement precision
If manual analysis of network topology and routing tables is performed to identify faulty nodes, then detailed investigation is possible, but the time required for troubleshooting increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically generating path traces and fault analysis reports based on stored network state snapshots. Analysts can query historical data and receive automated results showing packet paths and potential failure points without manual analysis of complex routing tables.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical analysis of network topology with automated computational processing. The system automatically reconstructs network paths, queries historical states, and generates diagnostic reports, substituting human manual inspection with automated algorithms that operate instantly.
3Measurement precision
If network state snapshots are stored at frequent intervals to enable accurate historical reconstruction, then path trace accuracy improves, but storage requirements and system overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by storing detailed network state information only at specific critical points (snapshots) rather than continuously. The granularity and detail of stored data vary based on when snapshots are taken, focusing computational and storage resources on capturing meaningful network states rather than all possible moments.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure pertains to computer assisted methods, apparatus, and systems for determining a path that a data packet would have traversed through a communication network at a particular point in time, which may be used, for instance, to determine the sources of connectivity failures in a large scale communication network.