Method for determining feature utilization in a software-defined network

• US 10,536,350 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2017
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nicira Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vmware-Airwatch (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Myneni, Sirisha, Chanda, Arijit
• Primary Examiner(s): Blair, Douglas B
• Application Number:
  US15/720,179
• Publication Number:
  US 20190104034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/08 Configuration management of networks or network elements address allocation H04L61/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/40 using virtualisation of network functions or resources, e.g. SDN or NFV entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5032 Generating service level reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5067 Customer-centric QoS measurements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5096 wherein the managed service relates to distributed or central networked applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/062 related to network traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/20 the monitoring system or the monitored elements being virtualised, abstracted or software-defined entities, e.g. SDN or NFV

Abstract

In a computer-implemented method for determining feature utilization in a software-defined network, an available feature set for the software-defined network is determined, wherein the available feature set is based on a version of the software-defined network. Features enabled on the software-defined network are determined. The features enabled in the software-defined network are compared to the available feature set. A network profile score is generated based on the comparing, where the network profile score includes constituent feature scores for features of the available feature set. The network profile score is presented in a graphical user interface, the network profile score providing an indication of feature utilization of the available feature set, where the graphical user interface allows for receiving a user interaction for presenting the constituent feature scores for the features of the available feature set responsive to the user interaction.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining feature utilization in a software-defined network, the method comprising:

determining an available feature set for the software-defined network, wherein the available feature set is based on a version of the software-defined network;

determining features enabled on the software-defined network;

comparing the features enabled in the software-defined network to the available feature set;

generating a network profile score based on the comparing, wherein the network profile score comprises constituent feature scores for features of the available feature set, the network profile score representing a measure of a completeness of network configurations based upon the available feature set relative to the features enabled in the software-defined network;

generating a projected score based on feature sets available by upgrading the software-defined network to a higher license version;

presenting the network profile score and the projected feature score in a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface allows for receiving a user interaction for presenting the constituent feature scores for the features of the available feature set responsive to the user interaction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the available feature set for the software-defined network comprises:

accessing telemetry data for the software-defined network, wherein the telemetry data comprises data identifying the version of the software-defined network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the version is a license version of the software-defined network, wherein different license versions comprises different available feature sets.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the features enabled on the software-defined network comprises:

accessing telemetry data for the software-defined network, wherein the telemetry data comprises data identifying at least a portion of the features enabled on the software-defined network.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining the features enabled on the software-defined network comprises:

analyzing the software-defined network to identify at least a portion of the features enabled on the software-defined network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating the network profile score based on the comparing comprises:

determining the constituent feature scores for the features of the available feature set, wherein the constituent feature score represents a degree of enablement of the feature; and

aggregating the constituent feature scores into the network profile score.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

weighing the constituent feature scores according to a relative weight value prior to the aggregating the constituent feature scores into the network profile score.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein a constituent feature score of the constituent feature scores comprises a Boolean value identifying whether a corresponding constituent feature is enabled.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein a constituent feature score of the constituent feature scores comprises a relative value identifying a degree to which corresponding constituent feature is enabled.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an indication removing a feature from the available feature set, such that the available feature set does not comprise the feature.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting the network profile score in a graphical user interface comprises:

presenting an entitled network profile score based on an actual enablement of features of the available feature set.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting the network profile score in a graphical user interface comprises:

presenting a potential network profile score based on a complete enablement of features of the available feature set for a different version of the software-defined network.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a selection of a feature corresponding to a constituent feature score at the graphical user interface, presenting information related to the feature; and

provided the constituent feature score is indicative of less than full enablement of the feature, presenting a selectable control for increasing enablement of the feature.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the selectable control comprises a control for enabling the feature.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the selectable control is operable to access a configuration control for controlling enablement of the feature.

16. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and a user interface selection device, a method for determining feature utilization in a software-defined network, the method comprising:

determining an available feature set for the software-defined network, wherein the available feature set is based on a version of the software-defined network;

determining features enabled on the software-defined network based at least in part on telemetry data for the software-defined network and on an analysis of the software-defined network;

comparing the features enabled in the software-defined network to the available feature set;

generating a network profile score based on the comparing, wherein the network profile score comprises constituent feature scores for features of the available feature set, the network profile score representing a measure of a completeness of network configurations based upon the available feature set relative to the features enabled in the software-defined network;

generating a projected score based on feature sets available by upgrading the software-defined network to a higher license version;

presenting the network profile score and the projected feature score in the graphical user interface;

responsive to a user interaction with the network profile score at the graphical user interface, presenting the constituent feature scores for the features of the available feature set responsive to the user interaction;

responsive to a second user interaction selecting a feature corresponding to a constituent feature score at the graphical user interface, presenting information related to the feature; and

provided the constituent feature score is indicative of less than full enablement of the feature, presenting a selectable control for increasing enablement of the feature.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the presenting the network profile score in a graphical user interface comprises:

presenting an entitled network profile score based on an actual enablement of features of the available feature set.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the presenting the network profile score in a graphical user interface comprises:

presenting a potential network profile score based on a complete enablement of features of the available feature set for a different version of the software-defined network.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

responsive to a third user interaction with the selectable control, enabling the feature.

20. A computer system comprising:

a graphical user interface;

a display device;

a user interface selection device; and

one or more processors executing instructions that cause the one or more processors to at least;

determine an available feature set for a software-defined network, wherein the available feature set is based on a version of the software-defined network;

determine features enabled on the software-defined network based at least in part on telemetry data for the software-defined network and on an analysis of the software-defined network;

generate a network profile score based on comparing the features enabled in the software-defined network to the available feature set, wherein the network profile score comprises constituent feature scores for features of the available feature set, the network profile score representing a measure of a completeness of network configurations based upon the available feature set relative to the features enabled in the software-defined network;

generate a projected score based on feature sets available by upgrading the software-defined network to a higher license version;

present the network profile score and the projected feature score in the graphical user interface;

responsive to a user interaction with the network profile score at the graphical user interface, present the constituent feature scores for the features of the available feature set responsive to the user interaction;

responsive to a second user interaction selecting a feature corresponding to a constituent feature score at the graphical user interface, present information related to the feature; and

provided the constituent feature score is indicative of less than full enablement of the feature, present a selectable control for increasing enablement of the feature.