Service Broker Abstraction for Network Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management software faces challenges in consistently discovering and configuring network elements across heterogeneous networks due to interoperability issues, making network provisioning complex and difficult.
Innovation Solution
A network element with a service broker that constructs a model of services offered and proactively transmits this information to a database, allowing for a centralized management interface that abstracts clients from underlying network details, enabling easy and reliable provisioning of services across mixed platforms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If network management software queries network elements to discover configurations, then network service provisioning can be achieved, but interoperability problems in heterogeneous networks cause inconsistent discovery and increased complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service broker as an intermediary component that sits between network management software and diverse network elements. The service broker translates and standardizes communication between the management system and heterogeneous network elements, eliminating interoperability issues and providing consistent service discovery across different vendors and technologies.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network management architecture into distinct functional layers: the service broker layer that handles translation and standardization, and the network element layer that implements specific services. This segmentation isolates complexity within the service broker while presenting a simplified interface to the management system.
2Manufacturing precision
If network elements are configured individually through command line interfaces, then specific network elements can be configured, but the process becomes complicated and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having network elements proactively publish their service capabilities and configurations to the service broker before being queried. This allows the management system to retrieve pre-configured service information without needing to individually log into and query each network element, significantly reducing provisioning time while maintaining configuration accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by allowing network elements to automatically publish their own service models and configurations to the service broker without requiring manual intervention. This self-publishing mechanism eliminates the need for operators to individually configure and query each network element through command line interfaces.
3Loss of information
If service information is requested from network elements, then service provisioning can proceed, but the lack of proactive information transmission increases management complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional information flow by having network elements proactively push service information to the service broker instead of the management system querying network elements. This inversion ensures that service information is continuously available and up-to-date without requiring active queries, reducing information management complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where network elements continuously publish updates to their service models and configurations to the service broker. This continuous feedback loop ensures that the management system always has current service information without needing to repeatedly query network elements, reducing both information loss and management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A network service database stores abstractions of services provided by network elements. The network elements may proactively initiate communication with the service database. Additionally, network elements may update the service database when the network element experiences a state change. Client applications may contact the service database to perform functions, such as provisioning network services, billing, and fault monitoring without having to be concerned with the underlying details of each of the network elements.