Discretized State-Transition Visualization for SD-WAN Path Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Identifying early signs of network path degradation in software-defined wide area networks (SD-WANs) is challenging, making it difficult to predict and prevent Service Level Agreement (SLA) violations and maintain optimal application experience.
Innovation Solution
The use of discretized state-transitions to visualize and analyze network path metrics, converting continuous data into labeled states and tracking transitions between these states to provide predictive insights and troubleshooting capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If continuous path metrics data is monitored in real-time, then early detection of path degradation is improved, but data complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments continuous path metrics data into discrete labeled states (e.g., good, fair, poor, bad) based on threshold criteria. This segmentation transforms complex continuous data into manageable discrete categories, enabling early detection of degradation while reducing processing complexity. The network path metrics are divided into distinct states that can be easily monitored and compared.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation from continuous metric values to discrete state labels. By transforming the data format from continuous to discrete, the system achieves both early detection capability (through sensitive state transitions) and reduced complexity (through simplified state comparison and visualization).
2Ease of operation
If discrete state labels are assigned to path metrics, then visualization and analysis become simpler, but information precision is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a temporal dimension to the state transitions by tracking sequences of labeled states over time. This allows the system to maintain simplified discrete labeling while recovering precision through the analysis of transition patterns and sequences. The state transition visualization shows not just individual states but the evolution of path quality over time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where state transitions trigger alerts and notifications when degradation patterns are detected. This feedback loop allows the system to maintain simple discrete states while providing precise degradation detection through the monitoring of state change patterns and transitions from good to poor states.
3Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If state transition sequences are tracked and visualized, then troubleshooting capabilities are improved, but computational overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential state transition information needed for troubleshooting, rather than processing all raw metric data. By taking out and focusing on the discrete state labels and their transitions, the system achieves improved troubleshooting capability while minimizing computational overhead. Only the relevant state change events are tracked and visualized.
4Reliability
If proactive rerouting is implemented based on state transitions, then service level agreement compliance is improved, but network control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by detecting state transitions that indicate impending SLA violations and triggering rerouting before actual degradation occurs. By taking preliminary action based on discrete state labels and transition patterns, the system improves SLA compliance while maintaining relatively simple control logic compared to continuous metric-based approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a device obtains path metrics for a network path used to convey application traffic for an online application. The device discretizes the path metrics into labeled states. The device generates state transition visualization data that represents the labeled states as nodes and transitions between the labeled states as edges connecting the nodes. The device provides the state transition visualization data for display.