Policy Conflict Detection Across Network Operators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Policy conflicts can arise when priorities of policies from different network operators, such as mobile and fixed networks, are not properly managed, leading to potential service quality deterioration due to incompatible conditions and priorities.

Innovation Solution

A policy conflict detection system that determines the presence of conflicting policies by comparing priorities, application periods, control targets, and control conditions across different network operators, and notifies the involved operators to resolve these conflicts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If policy cooperation between multiple network operators is implemented, then service customization and resource management capability are improved, but policy conflict and service quality deterioration occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice customization capabilityVSAvoidservice quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting policy conflicts before they affect service delivery. The determination unit proactively compares the second policy from the second network operator with existing first policies to identify conflicts in advance, allowing operators to resolve issues before they degrade service quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a policy conflict detection system that acts as a mediator between multiple network operators' policies. This intermediary system objectively compares policies and identifies conflicts, enabling coordinated resolution without direct confrontation between operators' conflicting requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If incompatible policies with identical priority are simultaneously applied, then policy enforcement strictness is improved, but execution waiting time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepolicy enforcement accuracyVSAvoidexecution waiting time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary comparison of policy priorities and compatibility before enforcement. By identifying incompatible policies with identical priorities in advance, the system prevents execution delays caused by runtime conflict resolution, maintaining both enforcement accuracy and timely execution.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If comprehensive policy comparison across multiple parameters is performed, then conflict detection accuracy is improved, but processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconflict detection accuracyVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the policy conflict detection process into distinct functional units: a determination unit that compares policies and identifies conflicts. This segmentation allows comprehensive multi-parameter comparison while managing complexity through modular design, where each unit handles specific aspects of policy analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11233701B2Policy conflict detection system and policy conflict detection method

Publication Date: 2022.01.25 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

A policy conflict detection system includes a determination unit configured to determine, in response to an instruction to apply to a first network operator which performs policy control based on a set of first policies, a second policy from a second network operator, whether a third policy, which matches the second policy in terms of a priority, an application period, a control target, and a control condition and which has a control content exclusive of that of the second policy is present among the first policies, thereby enabling detection of conflict of the policies.