Service Metrics Correlation for SLA Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service providers face difficulties in monitoring and managing services across communication networks due to a lack of direct service-specific metrics, making it challenging to ensure compliance with Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and accurately bill customers for service performance.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to measure and correlate performance metrics at service termination points, producing Performance of Service (PoS) metrics that enable service providers to track service performance and network failures, allowing for real-time monitoring and direct communication with customers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If network management collects and monitors network-related information, then network performance monitoring capability is improved, but service-specific performance identification capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component that correlates network-related information with service information. This intermediary process matches network performance data with specific service identifiers, enabling service providers to identify which services are affected by network issues without requiring network management to directly provide service-specific information. The correlation mechanism acts as a mediator between network management data and service provider needs.
2Device complexity
If service providers rely on network management for service performance information, then network management infrastructure is utilized, but service management efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables service providers to self-serve by providing them with direct access to service performance information through the correlation system. Instead of constantly querying network management, service providers can independently monitor their services using the correlated data, identify service-specific issues, and take corrective actions. This self-service capability significantly improves service management efficiency while still utilizing the existing network management infrastructure for data collection.
3Reliability
If detailed service performance monitoring is implemented, then SLA compliance verification is improved, but system complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary service-specific information from the broader network management system. By selectively correlating network performance data with specific service identifiers and extracting only the relevant metrics needed for SLA verification, the system avoids the complexity of implementing a completely new detailed monitoring infrastructure. The extraction approach provides sufficient detail for SLA compliance while maintaining system simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
Described are a system and method for managing a service transported over a transport network between first and second service termination points. Packet traffic associated with the service is received at a service termination point connected to the transport network. Performance of the packet traffic is measured at the service termination point. The measured performance of the packet traffic and the service are correlated to produce a performance of service (PoS) service metric. Based on the PoS service metric, other service metrics associated with the service are correlated, including a rate of service (RoS) service metric and availability of service (AoS) service metric. These service metrics can be used to develop service level agreement (SLA) and service level metrics that define the operation of the service and operation of the network supporting those services.