Session Admission Control Using Predictive Tunnel Performance Models

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication networks face challenges in efficiently managing session admissions due to limitations in predicting network performance and resource availability, leading to potential adverse impacts on existing sessions and quality of service.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the creation of a datastore with historical parameter values for tunnels, using predictive models to assess expected performance and impact on existing sessions, and evaluating historical performance to determine if session admissions will have no adverse effects, with a network gatekeeper configured to make informed decisions based on these analyses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional session admission control is used based on current network state, then admission decisions are made quickly, but the accuracy of performance prediction is poor leading to potential QoS degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance prediction accuracyVSAvoidadmission decision time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by collecting historical performance data and building predictive models before actual session admission decisions are needed. The datastore is pre-populated with performance metrics from multiple time intervals, and predictive models are pre-computed so that when a session admission request arrives, the system can quickly query pre-analyzed data rather than performing complex real-time predictions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts the prediction process by using multiple time intervals of historical data to capture changing network conditions. The predictive models are updated over time as new historical data becomes available, allowing the system to adapt to evolving network patterns while maintaining quick decision-making capability through efficient data structures and query mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Measurement precision

If historical performance data for multiple time intervals is collected and predictive models are built, then performance prediction accuracy is improved, but the complexity of the admission control system increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance prediction accuracyVSAvoidadmission control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates simplified copies of complex network performance data by storing aggregated metrics in a structured datastore that captures essential patterns from historical data. Instead of maintaining and processing complete raw datasets, the system uses representative samples and summary statistics that preserve predictive power while reducing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system transforms complex multi-dimensional historical performance data into simplified predictive parameters and models that capture the essential behavior patterns. By changing the representation from raw data to processed metrics and predictive functions, the system maintains high prediction accuracy while reducing the complexity of data storage and processing requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If multiple tunnels are evaluated for session admission, then resource allocation optimization is improved, but the computational overhead and processing time increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource allocation efficiencyVSAvoidsession admission processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary evaluation of tunnel performance characteristics and pre-ranks tunnels based on their historical performance and current capacity. This preliminary sorting and pre-analysis allows the admission control to quickly evaluate tunnels in order of likelihood to succeed, avoiding exhaustive evaluation of all tunnels and reducing processing time while still optimizing resource allocation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2915307B1Communications network using a tunnel to connect two network nodes
Publication Date: 2019.03.06 BRITISH TELECOM PLC
  • EP2915307B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2915307B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2915307B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A session admission process is provided which identifies the weakest link in a route between a first node and a second node and determines if the route is able to cope if the session is admitted. The suitability of a link is determined on the basis of: historical link performance; the predicted future performance of the link; and the predicted future demands on the link from other sessions supported by that link.