Situation Semantics Policy Management for NGN Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network management systems for Next Generation Networks (NGNs) face complexity due to siloed structures, lack of unified control, inadequate diagnostics, and insufficient policy management, leading to difficulties in service management, self-deployment, and tracing of service and network issues across multiple domains.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of situation semantics-based management using management infons to model and enforce policies within the network, enabling unified management and control by capturing the meaning and context of policy enforcement information, and providing a framework for end-to-end service path tracing and policy management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If siloed management structure is used for each network type, then dedicated control for each network domain is achieved, but management complexity increases exponentially and unified end-to-end service management becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple siloed management systems into a unified policy management framework that can manage end-to-end services across different network domains (IP network, circuit-switched network, ATM network) through a single integrated interface, reducing management complexity while maintaining domain-specific control capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal management system that can handle multiple network types and service scenarios through standardized policy definitions and a common management interface, allowing the same system to manage diverse network resources without requiring separate specialized systems for each domain
2Productivity
If traditional management information content is used, then basic network monitoring is achieved, but fine-grained end-to-end service management and automatic diagnostics are not enabled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments management information into fine-grained components including service flow identifiers, policy enforcement points, quality of service parameters, and network resource allocations, allowing detailed tracking and management of individual service instances throughout the end-to-end service path
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary management layer that collects, correlates, and enriches information from multiple network domains, providing comprehensive end-to-end service visibility and enabling automatic diagnostics by bridging the gap between basic monitoring data and detailed service management requirements
3Adaptability or versatility
If stove-pipe architecture is used for each network type, then isolated network domain control is achieved, but seamless service delivery across multiple technologies and domains becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces policy enforcement points and management intermediaries that translate between domain-specific control mechanisms and unified service requirements, enabling seamless service delivery across multiple technologies while preserving the autonomy and adaptability of isolated network domains
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter-based policy definitions that can be dynamically adjusted to accommodate different network domains and service requirements, allowing the same management framework to adapt to various technologies (IP, circuit-switched, ATM) without requiring architectural changes in each domain
Data Source
AI summary
Communication nodes, systems and methods are described which manage and process management information using semantic variable entities governed by a formal logic and upon which computations can be performed. Such semantic variable entities include, for example, management infons and or management situations which can be used, for example, to manage policy enforcement in communication networks.