Network Management and control using collaborative on-line simulation

• US 20060149524A1
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Kalyanaraman, Shivkumar, Mo, Bin, Harrison, David, Tao, Ye, Jiang, Jingjie, Szymanski, Boleslaw K, Vastola, Kenneth, Sikdar, Biplab
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,285 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 703/13
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2111/02 CAD in a network environment, e.g. collaborative CAD or distributed simulation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/33 Design verification, e.g. functional simulation or model checking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0816 the condition being an adaptation, e.g. in response to network events
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/142 using statistical or mathematical methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/145 involving simulating, designing, planning or modelling of a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing

Abstract

A collaborative on-line simulation system and method to provide automated and pro-active control functions for computer network. In a wide area network, clients communicate through one or several nodes (108). Each node (108) contains routers which include control plane (202) and data plane (204). Collaborative on-line simulators (206) are interfaced to the network nodes (108) and continuously monitor the surrounding network conditions, communicate with other simulators and execute collaborative on-line simulation. Based on the simulation results, the on-line simulators (206) continuously tune selected network parameters to a more efficient operation point to fit the current network conditions.

Claims

1. A system for improving the efficiency of a data network, said system comprising:

a plurality of simulators, said plurality of simulators receiving current network parameters and changing said network parameters for more efficient performance; and

plurality of network nodes providing said current network parameter to each of said plurality of simulators.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a monitor and on-line modeling unit, said monitor and on-line modeling unit continually collecting at least one network parameter.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a management interface unit, said management interface unit routing the operation of components within said plurality of simulators.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising an experimental design unit, said experimental design unit determining and/or setting up simulation experiments and/or analyzing a result of said simulation experiments to set said network parameters.

5. The system of claim 4 further comprising an experiment execution unit, said experiment execution executing the simulation experiments received from said experiment design unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of network nodes comprises a control plane coupled to said at least one simulators.

7. A processor-based system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory device coupled to said processor, said memory device containing a device for continuously changing network parameters to improving the efficiency of a data network, said device comprising;

a plurality of simulators, said plurality of simulators receiving current network parameters and changing said network parameters for more efficient performance; and

plurality of network nodes providing said current network parameter to each of said plurality of simulators.

8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a monitor and on-line modeling unit, said monitor and on-line modeling unit continually collecting at least one network parameter.

9. The system of claim 7 further comprising a management interface unit, said management interface unit routing the operation of components within said plurality of simulators.

10. The system of claim 7 further comprising an experimental design unit, said experimental design unit determining and/or setting up simulation experiments and/or analyzing a result of said simulation experiments to set said network parameters.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising an experiment execution unit, said experiment execution executing the simulation experiments received from said experiment design unit.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein each of said plurality of network nodes comprises a control plane coupled to said at least one simulators.

13. An integrated memory circuit comprising:

a die containing a processor and memory device, said memory device containing a device for improving the efficiency of a data network, said device comprising;

a plurality of simulators, said plurality of simulators receiving current network parameters and changing said network parameters for more efficient performance; and

plurality of network nodes providing said current network parameter to each of said plurality of simulators.

14. The circuit of claim 13 further comprising a monitor and on-line modeling unit, said monitor and on-line modeling unit continually collecting at least one network parameter.

15. The circuit of claim 13 further comprising a management interface unit, said management interface unit routing the operation of components within said plurality of simulators.

16. The circuit of claim 13 an experimental design unit, said experimental design unit determining an/or setting up simulation experiments and/or analyzing a result of said simulation experiments to set said network parameters.

17. The circuit of claim 16 further comprising an experiment execution unit, said experiment execution executing the simulation experiments received from said experiment design unit.

18. The circuit of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of network nodes comprises a control plane coupled to said at least one simulators.

19. A method for improving the efficiency of a data network, said method comprising:

searching a plurality of network node for current network parameters;

conducting a plurality of simulation experiments with said current network parameters;

providing improved network parameters to said plurality of network nodes in response to said simulation experiments; and

and changing said current network parameters to said improved network parameters in real-time.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing said improved network parameters to other simulators.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said search of said current network parameters is performed using a ^2k full factorial methodology.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said search of said current network parameters is performed using exploration and exploitation.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein multiple simulation experiments are processed in parallel.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said parallel processing of said multiple simulation experiments are conducted over a plurality of simulation execution devices.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein Random Early Drop queuing management is used as the underlying network scheme.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein said simulation experiments are performed on a UNIX based computer system.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein said simulation experiments are performed on a LINUX based computer system.