Telecommunication Network Management via Behavioral Modeling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Telecommunication network operators face high management costs and inefficiencies due to proprietary network apparatuses and management interfaces, leading to complex and heterogeneous management systems that depend on specific manufacturer tools.

Innovation Solution

A management system that builds a behavioral model of non-collaborative network apparatuses by collecting and classifying data, using observation and stimulation functions to infer internal states and manage these apparatuses, even when proprietary information is not available, through direct or indirect means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If proprietary network apparatuses from multiple manufacturers are used, then device functionality and variety are improved, but management complexity and heterogeneity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidmanagement complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a management system as an intermediary layer between the network apparatuses and operators. This management system abstracts the heterogeneity of different manufacturers' proprietary interfaces and apparatuses, providing a unified management interface. The management system translates standardized management operations into manufacturer-specific commands, thereby resolving the contradiction between using diverse proprietary apparatuses and maintaining simple management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If proprietary management interfaces are used by each manufacturer, then apparatus-specific functionality is improved, but management efficiency and standardization deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus-specific functionalityVSAvoidmanagement efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The management system implements a universal interface that can manage multiple types of network apparatuses from different manufacturers through a single standardized interface. The system is designed to be multi-functional, handling configuration, monitoring, and control operations across heterogeneous apparatuses without requiring separate management tools for each manufacturer, thereby improving management efficiency while preserving apparatus-specific capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If different management systems are developed for each network apparatus type, then apparatus-specific management requirements are met, but management cost and system heterogeneity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus-specific managementVSAvoidsystem heterogeneity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple manufacturer-specific management systems into a single unified management system. By combining the functionality of separate management tools into one integrated system, the patent reduces system heterogeneity and management costs while maintaining the ability to handle apparatus-specific requirements through internal adaptation layers that translate standardized operations into manufacturer-specific commands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Measurement precision

If network management depends on manufacturer-specific tools, then apparatus control precision is improved, but management independence and flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus control precisionVSAvoidmanagement independence

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The management system acts as an independent intermediary between operators and manufacturer-specific apparatuses. It provides management independence by allowing operators to manage network apparatuses through standardized interfaces without being tied to any single manufacturer's proprietary tools. The intermediary translates high-level management operations into precise manufacturer-specific commands, maintaining control precision while enabling flexibility and independence in management choices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3583816B1Method and system for managing telecommunication network apparatuses

Publication Date: 2023.10.18 TELECOM ITALIA SPA

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AI summary

A method of managing a network apparatus (F nc T) of a telecommunication network, wherein the network apparatus does not expose management interfaces sufficient to allow managing at least one operational parameter thereof of interest for the managing, the method comprising: collecting (305) data about the network apparatus to be managed by making requests to the network apparatus to be managed and to at least one other network apparatus ((F nc ,F c ) in operating relationships with the network apparatus to be managed; based on the collected data (330), generating (335) a behavioral model of the network apparatus to be managed, the behavioral model being an inferred logical and mathematical model of the behavior of the network apparatus to be managed with respect to the operational parameter thereof of interest for the managing, and managing (325) the network apparatus to be managed exploiting the generated behavioral model thereof.