UNI Device Bandwidth Logging for SLA Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communications networks, tracking performance metrics and compliance with service level agreements (SLAs) across complex systems involving multiple service providers and users is challenging due to complications in sharing and communicating performance metrics effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for logging and monitoring user traffic by establishing an observance window to measure incoming bits and determine threshold crossings, setting flag states for non-conformance, and using user network interface devices with traffic control functions to enforce bandwidth profiles and generate alarms for compliance violations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bandwidth utilization is monitored continuously across complex network systems, then compliance tracking with SLAs is improved, but system complexity and difficulty of metric sharing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network monitoring system into distributed UNI devices that each independently monitor local bandwidth utilization. Each device maintains local state information and generates alarms autonomously, eliminating the need for complex centralized metric sharing across multiple service providers while ensuring SLA compliance tracking.
2Measurement precision
If threshold crossing detection is implemented to identify non-conformance, then compliance accuracy is improved, but measurement and detection difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes predetermined alarm thresholds for bandwidth utilization before monitoring begins. The UNI devices compare real-time measured throughput against these pre-configured thresholds, enabling accurate compliance detection without requiring complex real-time analysis. The threshold crossing triggers immediate alarm generation, simplifying the detection process while maintaining high precision.
3Productivity
If alarm generation is implemented for bandwidth violations, then network management effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables UNI devices to autonomously monitor their own bandwidth utilization, detect threshold crossings, and generate alarms without external intervention. Each device maintains local state information and independently determines compliance status, eliminating the need for complex centralized management systems while significantly improving network management effectiveness through distributed self-monitoring.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosed embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for tracking conformance of user traffic with a bandwidth profile. For example, in one embodiment, throughput is measured during an observance window and an average for offered throughput is determined based on the measured throughput. A determination is made as to whether the average exceeds a bandwidth profile in response to a determination that packets are being discarded. An alarm is sent in response to a determination that the average exceeds the bandwidth profile.