TDM Compound SLA Call With Non-Preemptible And Preemptible Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Time Division Multiplexing (TDM)-based services do not support compound Service Level Agreements (SLAs), limiting them to either guaranteed or preemptible services, whereas packet-based services can have both guaranteed and preemptible rates, lacking the flexibility to handle multiple SLA attributes for a single call.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method in a network with a control plane to create a compound SLA call for TDM services by combining a non-preemptible and a preemptible component, using Link Capacity Adjustment Scheme (LCAS) and end-to-end call adjustment messages to manage the preemptible component's removal at endpoints in response to preemption events, allowing for heterogeneous SLA attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TDM-based services use conventional guaranteed SLA, then service reliability is improved, but service flexibility and adaptability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The service flow is segmented into multiple components with different SLA attributes. The patent divides a TDM service into a guaranteed component (with reserved bandwidth and high reliability) and a best-effort component (with available bandwidth and lower priority). This segmentation allows each component to have different preemption characteristics, resolving the contradiction between reliability and flexibility by allowing the guaranteed component to maintain reliability while the best-effort component provides adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The SLA attributes of the TDM service are made dynamic rather than static. The patent implements a dynamic SLA framework where the service can transition between different states (full guaranteed, partial guaranteed, best-effort only) based on network conditions and preemption events. This dynamic adjustment allows the service to adapt its characteristics in real-time, maintaining reliability when needed while providing flexibility when resources are available.
2Adaptability or versatility
If TDM-based services support compound SLA with multiple components, then service adaptability is improved, but service complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal SLA management framework that can handle multiple SLA types (guaranteed, best-effort, compound) through a single unified mechanism. The preemption management system and component identification mechanisms are designed to work across different service types, reducing the need for separate complex management systems for each SLA variant. This multi-functionality approach allows the network to manage compound SLAs without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary mechanisms (such as SLA management entities, component identification tags, and preemption control messages) that mediate between the complex compound SLA requirements and the underlying TDM network infrastructure. These intermediaries translate high-level compound SLA specifications into actionable network configurations, shielding the complexity from both the service provider and the network core, thus managing service adaptability while containing visible complexity.
3Productivity
If TDM service allows preemptible component, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but service guarantee level deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different preemption characteristics to different components of the same TDM service. Instead of making the entire service either fully guaranteed or fully preemptible, the service is divided into components with localized quality attributes: the guaranteed component maintains strict service levels with no preemption, while the best-effort component allows preemption for improved bandwidth efficiency. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by allowing bandwidth efficiency improvements in the best-effort portion without compromising the guarantee level of the critical component.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, implemented in a network with a control plane, is described for creating a compound Service Level Agreement (SLA) call for a Time Division Multiplexing (TDM) service in the network. The method includes creating the call with a non-preemptible component and a preemptible component, the compound SLA comprising the non-preemptible component and the preemptible component; implementing endpoints for the call at a source node and a destination node; and responsive to a preemption event in the network, removing the preemptible component at the endpoints. A node and network are also described.