Network Management System with Adaptive Sampled Proactive Diagnostic Capabilities

• US 20080065760A1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wi-LAN Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Damm, Gerard, Ozugur, Timucin
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/022 by sampling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/10 Active monitoring, e.g. heartbeat, ping or trace-route
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/50 Testing arrangements

Abstract

An operation is performed for executing a plurality of first-level queries. Execution of each first level query determines if a respective type of operational condition exists within a network. If needed due to the quantity of first-level queries, the first-level queries are executed in a sampled manner such that less than all of the first-level queries are applied to a specified collection of network elements of the network during each one of a plurality of instances of executing the first-level queries being performed and such that all of the first-level queries are applied to the specified collection of network elements in accordance with a prescribed query execution timeframe. An operation is performed for executing a second-level query in response to one of the first-level queries determining that the respective type of operational condition exists within the network. Executing the second-level query results in determination of diagnostic information specific to the determined type of operational condition.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating network diagnostic capabilities, comprising:

executing a plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries, wherein said first-level network diagnostic queries each determine if a respective prescribed type of operational condition exists within a network; and

executing at least one of a plurality of said second-level network diagnostic queries in response to one of said first-level network diagnostic queries determining that the respective prescribed type of operational condition exists within the network, wherein executing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query results in determination of diagnostic information specific to the respective prescribed type of operational condition corresponding to said one first-level network diagnostic query.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes executing said first-level network diagnostic queries in a sampled manner such that less than all of said first-level network diagnostic queries are applied to a specified collection of network elements of the network during each one of a plurality of instances of said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries being performed and such that all of said first-level network diagnostic queries are applied to the specified collection of network elements in accordance with a prescribed query execution timeframe

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the prescribed query execution timeframe is a prescribed duration of time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries being automatically implemented under control of a network management system of the network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein executing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query includes accessing an algorithm associated with said one first-level network diagnostic query and performing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query in accordance with the algorithm.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes:

performing said first-level network diagnostic queries in a first sequence during a first execution instance, and;

performing said first-level network diagnostic queries in a second sequence different than the first sequence during a second execution instance thereby limiting the potential for a certain one of said first-level network diagnostic queries being synchronized with a periodically recurring network traffic pattern during consecutive execution instances of said first-level network diagnostic queries.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein:

executing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query includes accessing an algorithm associated with said one first-level network diagnostic query and performing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query in accordance with the algorithm;

the prescribed query execution timeframe is a prescribed duration of time; and

said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries being automatically implemented under control of a network management system of the network.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes executing said first-level network diagnostic queries in a sampled manner such that less than all of said first-level network diagnostic queries are applied to a specified collection of network elements of the network during each one of a plurality of instances of said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries being performed and such that all of said first-level network diagnostic queries are applied to the specified collection of network elements in accordance with a prescribed query execution timeframe

9. A network management system, comprising:

instructions for executing a plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries, wherein said first-level network diagnostic queries each determine if a respective prescribed type of operational condition exists within a network and wherein said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes executing said first-level network diagnostic queries in a sampled manner such that less than all of said first-level network diagnostic queries are applied to a specified collection of network elements of the network during each one of a plurality of instances of said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries being performed and such that all of said first-level network diagnostic queries are applied to the specified collection of network elements in accordance with a prescribed query execution timeframe; and

instructions for executing at least one of a plurality of said second-level network diagnostic queries in response to one of said first-level network diagnostic queries determining that the respective prescribed type of operational condition exists within the network, wherein executing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query results in determination of diagnostic information specific to the respective prescribed type of operational condition corresponding to said one first-level network diagnostic query.

10. The network management system of claim 9 wherein the prescribed query execution timeframe is a prescribed duration of time.

11. The network management system of claim 9 wherein said instructions for executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes instructions for automatically implementing executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries.

12. The network management system of claim 9 wherein said instructions for executing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query includes instructions for accessing an algorithm associated with said one first-level network diagnostic query and instructions for performing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query in accordance with the algorithm.

13. The network management system of claim 9 wherein said instructions for executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes:

instructions for performing said first-level network diagnostic queries in a first sequence during a first execution instance, and;

instructions for performing said first-level network diagnostic queries in a second sequence different than the first sequence during a second execution instance thereby limiting the potential for a certain one of said first-level network diagnostic queries being synchronized with an adverse component of a periodically recurring network traffic pattern during consecutive execution instances of said first-level network diagnostic queries.

14. The network management system of claim 13 wherein:

said instructions for executing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query include instructions for accessing an algorithm associated with said one first-level network diagnostic query and instructions for performing said at least one second-level network diagnostic query in accordance with the algorithm;

the prescribed query execution timeframe is a prescribed duration of time; and

said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries being automatically implemented under control of a network management system of the network.

15. A network diagnostic tool, comprising:

a plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries each configured for determining if a respective prescribed type of operational condition exists within a network, wherein said first-level network diagnostic queries are executed in a rate-controlled manner such said first-level network diagnostic queries are issued for execution at a rate whereby such issuance rate does not cause unacceptable network resource utilization as a result of execution of said first-level network diagnostic queries;

a plurality of second-level network diagnostic queries each configured for determining diagnostic information specific to the respective prescribed type of operational condition corresponding to at least one of said first-level network diagnostic query; and

a plurality of algorithms, wherein each one of said algorithms is associated with a respective one of said first-level network diagnostic queries such that, in response to one of said first-level network diagnostic queries determining that the respective prescribed type of operational condition exists within the network, said one algorithm associated with said one first-level network diagnostic query automatically implements execution of at least one of said second-level network diagnostic queries that is configured for determining diagnostic information specific to the respective prescribed type of operational condition corresponding to said one first-level network diagnostic query.

16. The network diagnostic tool of claim 15 wherein the prescribed query execution timeframe is a prescribed duration of time.

17. The network diagnostic tool of claim 15 wherein said execution of the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries is automatically implemented under control of a network management system of the network.

18. The network diagnostic tool of claim 15 wherein execution of the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes:

said first-level network diagnostic queries being executed in a first sequence during a first execution instance, and;

said first-level network diagnostic queries being executed in a second sequence different than the first sequence during a second execution instance thereby limiting the potential for a certain one of said first-level network diagnostic queries being synchronized with a periodically recurring network traffic pattern during consecutive execution instances of said first-level network diagnostic queries.

19. The network diagnostic tool of claim 15 wherein:

the prescribed query execution timeframe is a prescribed duration of time;

said execution of the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries is automatically implemented under control of a network management system of the network;

execution of the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries includes said first-level network diagnostic queries being executed in a first sequence during a first execution instance and said first-level network diagnostic queries being executed in a second sequence different than the first sequence during a second execution instance thereby limiting the potential for a certain one of said first-level network diagnostic queries being synchronized with a periodically recurring network traffic pattern during consecutive execution instances of said first-level network diagnostic queries.

20. The network diagnostic tool of claim 15 wherein said rate-controlled execution of the first-level queries includes facilitating execution of said first-level network diagnostic queries in a sampled manner such that less than all of said first-level network diagnostic queries are applied to a specified collection of network elements of the network during each one of a plurality of instances of said executing the plurality of first-level network diagnostic queries being performed and such that all of said first-level network diagnostic queries are applied to the specified collection of network elements in accordance with a prescribed query execution timeframe