Reactive Mappers for Parallel Intent Model Compilation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network management systems face challenges in efficiently configuring and managing network devices, particularly in extending unified intent models and compiling low-level configuration data, which can lead to performance issues and inefficiencies in handling changes and updates.

Innovation Solution

A network management system that uses reactive mappers to support parallel and incremental compilation of unified intent models, allowing for extensibility and tracking translations, enabling the same mapper to handle create, update, and delete scenarios, and triggering deployments once all translations are completed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If serial compilation methods are used to compile unified intent models, then the system can process configurations sequentially, but the time required for site activation and configuration updates becomes excessively long

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration compilation speedVSAvoidsite activation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The compilation process is divided into independent tasks assigned to multiple worker threads. Each worker thread processes specific vertices or edges in the intent model graph independently, allowing parallel compilation that reduces overall site activation time from sequential processing to concurrent execution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from single-threaded sequential compilation to multi-threaded parallel compilation by introducing a threading dimension to the processing architecture. This enables simultaneous execution of compilation tasks across multiple threads, dramatically reducing the time required to compile intent models and activate sites.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the unified intent model graph is extended to support new use cases, then system versatility improves, but the compilation logic becomes more complex and harder to manage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveintent model extensibilityVSAvoidcompilation logic complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The compilation logic is segmented into separate, modular components - one for parsing the intent model graph, another for compiling each vertex type, and a third for generating configuration data. This modular architecture allows new use cases to be added by implementing only the relevant vertex compiler without affecting other parts of the system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A universal vertex compiler framework is implemented that can handle multiple vertex types through a common interface. The compiler uses polymorphic design where base compiler logic remains unchanged while specific vertex types inherit and override only the necessary compilation methods, enabling extensibility without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Manufacturing precision

If comprehensive translation mapping is provided for all intent model changes, then configuration accuracy improves, but the processing overhead and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration translation accuracyVSAvoidtranslation mapping complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of applying a uniform translation approach to all intent model elements, the system implements localized translation logic for each vertex and edge type. Each element has its own specialized compiler method that handles its specific translation requirements, maintaining high accuracy while reducing overall processing complexity through targeted rather than blanket processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3700132B1Supporting compilation and extensibility on unified graph-based intent models
Publication Date: 2022.07.27 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC
  • EP3700132B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3700132B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3700132B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An example controller device manages a plurality of network devices. The controller device includes one or more processing units, implemented using digital logic circuitry, configured to receive data representing a modification to unified intent model represented by a graph model, determine one or more vertices of the graph model affected by the data representing the modification and one or more vertices to be added to the graph model to extend the unified intent model, update the one or more vertices of the graph model affected by the data representing the modification and add the one or more vertices to be added to the graph model, compile the updated one or more vertices and the added one or more vertices to generate low level configuration data for the plurality of network devices, and configure one or more of the plurality of network devices with the low level configuration data.