US6577597B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Dynamic adjustment of network elements using a feedback-based adaptive technique
Assignee: Cisco Technology Inc
•
Filing: 1999-06-29
•
Granted: 2003-06-10
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Expires: 2019-06-29
Abstract
Abstract A feedback-based adaptive network is described wherein at least a portion of the network elements report operating information relating to network conditions to a centralized data store. The information which is reported to the data store is analyzed by a policy engine which includes a plurality of application specific plug-in policies for analyzing selected information from the data store and for computing updated control information based upon the analysis of the information. The updated control information is fed back to selected network elements to thereby affect operation of the selected elements. Typically, when the operation of a network element has been affected, its corresponding operating information will change. The new or changed network element operating information is then reported to the data store and analyzed by the policy engine. The policy engine may then generate new or updated control information for affecting the operation of selected elements in the network. In this way, the dynamic and automatic feedback control of network elements is provided in order to allow the network to adapt to changing conditions. Events relating to changing conditions in the network may be reported to selected elements in the network using an event notification service. Additionally the adaptive, feedback-based network of the present invention may include a network quality monitoring system for evaluating performance characteristics or other aspects of the network based upon predetermined standards or criteria. If it is determined that a particular characteristic of the network does not conform with the standards established for that characteristic, the policy which controls that particular characteristic of the network may be automatically and dynamically modified to thereby affect the network performance.
Inventors
- 👤 Shankar Natarajan
- 👤 Andrew G. Harvey
- 👤 Hsuan-Chung Lee
- 👤 Vipin Rawat
- 👤 Leo Pereira
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 19:45
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04L; H04L12/00; H04L12/28; H04L12/2854; H04L41/00; H04L41/08; H04L41/0803; H04L41/0813; H04L41/0816; H04L41/082; H04L41/0876; H04L41/0886; H04L41/50; H04L41/5003; H04L41/5009; H04L41/5077
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for providing dynamic feedback control of frame relay network elements in a data network, the data network including a plurality of frame relay network elements, each of said frame relay network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said operating parameters being related to at least one control parameter of said element, said method comprising: reporting operating parameter information related to a first set of frame relay network elements to a data store; analyzing at least a portion of said reported operating parameter information based upon selected guidelines to determine whether a performance of at least a portion of said network conforms with predetermined criteria; and dynamically and automatically updating control parameters of a second set of frame relay network elements in response to said analysis of said portion of reported operating parameter information.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
A method for providing dynamic feedback control of frame relay network elements in a data network, the data network including a plurality of frame relay network elements, each of said frame relay network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said operating parameters being related to at least one control parameter of said element, said method comprising: reporting operating parameter information related to a first set of frame relay network elements to a data store; analyzing at least a portion of said reported operating parameter information based upon selected guidelines to determine whether a performance of at least a portion of said network conforms with predetermined criteria; and dynamically and automatically updating control parameters of a second set of frame relay network elements in response to said analysis of said portion of reported operating parameter information.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 1 further including: determining an updated value of at least one control parameter for a selected element based upon said analysis of said portion of reported operating parameter information; and providing said updated value to said selected element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 further including configuring said selected element using said updated control information value to thereby affect operation of said element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the determination of said updated values is accomplished via a policy engine including said guidelines for analyzing said portion of reported operating parameter information and for determining said updated values based upon said analysis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 further including providing a user interface to enable dynamic modifications of said guidelines within said policy engine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said network includes an administration system for monitoring and analyzing information reported to said data store element, said method further including: analyzing at least a portion of said reported information; and using said administration system to dynamically modify at least one guideline within policy engine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 6 wherein said modification of said policy engine by said administration system is an automated process.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 further including notifying said selected frame relay network element of an event relating to said updated control parameter value.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 8 further including retrieving said updated control parameter value into said selected element in response to said event notification.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 9 further including: storing said at least one updated value in said data store; and retrieving said updated value from said data store into said selected element.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 9 further including polling said data store to determine if an updated control parameter value for said selected element is available.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing a second portion of reported operating parameter information to determine whether a service quality of at least a second portion of said network conforms with predetermined service quality criteria.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 12 further including reporting information to an administration system based upon said analysis of said second network portion, said information relating to service quality aspects not meeting said service quality criteria.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 13 further including modifying said selected guidelines in response to notification of said information relating to service quality aspects not meeting said service quality criteria.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: providing an event registration system for requesting notification of at least one event; determining whether said at least one event has occurred; and providing notification of occurrence of said event to at least one registered party.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer code embodied therein for implementing the method of claim 1 .
Claim 18
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for providing dynamic updating of frame relay network element parameters over a data network, the data network including a plurality of frame relay network elements, each of said frame relay network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said operating parameters being related to at least one control parameter of said element, said method comprising: reporting operating parameter information related to a first subset of frame relay network elements to a data store; analyzing at least a portion of said reported operating parameter information according to predetermined guidelines; calculating updated control information for at least one frame relay network element in response to said analysis of said operating parameter information; providing said updated control information to said element; and configuring said frame relay network element in accordance with said updated control information to thereby affect operation of said frame relay network element.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for providing dynamic updating of frame relay network element parameters over a data network, the data network including a plurality of frame relay network elements, each of said frame relay network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said operating parameters being related to at least one control parameter of said element, said method comprising: reporting operating parameter information related to a first subset of frame relay network elements to a data store; analyzing at least a portion of said reported operating parameter information according to predetermined guidelines; calculating updated control information for at least one frame relay network element in response to said analysis of said operating parameter information; providing said updated control information to said element; and configuring said frame relay network element in accordance with said updated control information to thereby affect operation of said frame relay network element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method of claim 17 further including: storing said updated control information at said data store; monitoring said data store for availability of updated control information; notifying said frame relay network element of said updated control information at said data store; and retrieving said updated control information into said frame relay network element in response to said notification.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
151 words
An adaptive feedback system in a data network comprising: a plurality of frame relay network elements, each of said frame relay network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said operating parameters being related to at least one control parameter of said element; a data store operable to store operating parameter information reported by a first portion of frame relay network elements; a policy engine operable to analyze at least a portion of said reported operating parameter information based upon selected guidelines to determine whether a performance of at least a portion of said network conforms with predetermined criteria, said policy engine being further operable to calculate updated control information for at least one frame relay network element in response to said analysis of said operating parameter information; said frame relay network element being operable to configure itself using said updated control information to thereby affect operation of said element.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
151 words
An adaptive feedback system in a data network comprising: a plurality of frame relay network elements, each of said frame relay network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said operating parameters being related to at least one control parameter of said element; a data store operable to store operating parameter information reported by a first portion of frame relay network elements; a policy engine operable to analyze at least a portion of said reported operating parameter information based upon selected guidelines to determine whether a performance of at least a portion of said network conforms with predetermined criteria, said policy engine being further operable to calculate updated control information for at least one frame relay network element in response to said analysis of said operating parameter information; said frame relay network element being operable to configure itself using said updated control information to thereby affect operation of said element.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The feedback system of claim 19 wherein said data store is implemented as a directory server utilizing a directory access protocol.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
The feedback system of claim 19 wherein said data store includes a Java Naming and Directory Interface (JNDI) for communicating with said policy engine.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The feedback system of claim 19 further including an event notification system for notifying said frame relay network element of said updated control information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The feedback system of claim 19 wherein said frame relay network element includes a data structure for storing said updated control information.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The feedback system of claim 19 further including a service quality monitoring system is operable to analyze a second portion of reported operating parameter information to determine whether a service quality of at least a second portion of said network conforms with predetermined service quality criteria.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The feedback system of claim 19 further including an administration system operable to dynamically modify said selected guidelines within said policy engine.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
44 words
The feedback system of claim 25 wherein said administration system is further operable to dynamically modify said selected guidelines within said policy engine in response to a determination that said service quality of said second network portion does not meet said service quality criteria.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
31 words
The feedback system of claim 25 wherein said administration system is further operable to dynamically modify said selected guidelines within said policy engine in response to instructions from a remote user.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
68 words
The feedback system of claim 25 wherein said data store, said policy engine, said frame relay network element, and said administration system each include a respective event handling entity in communication with an event notification server; wherein each of said event handling entities is operable to receive event notification messages from said event notification server, and is further operable to report event information to said event notification server.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
The feedback system of claim 19 wherein said frame relay network element is a router.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The feedback system of claim 19 wherein said frame relay network element is a data terminating equipment device.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The feedback system of claim 19 wherein said frame relay network element is a data communication equipment device.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
The feedback system of claim 19 wherein said frame relay network element is a switching circuit.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
14 words
The feedback system of claim 19 wherein said network is a frame relay network.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
13 words
The feedback system of claim 19 wherein said network is an ATM network.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-09 | 2006-12-09 | 2007-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-09 | 2010-12-09 | 2011-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-09 | 2014-12-09 | 2015-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |