Technique for providing dynamic modification of application specific policies in a feedback-based, adaptive data network
First Claim
1. A method for providing dynamic feedback control of network elements in a data network, the data network including a plurality of network elements, each of said network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said method comprising:
- dynamically receiving information related to a first subset of network elements;
dynamically determining, using at least a portion of said received information, whether a performance of at least a portion of said network conforms with a predetermined criteria;
automatically reporting, by a device having at least one processor, results of said determining to an administration system for dynamically responding to said results, wherein the reporting is dynamically triggered in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria, wherein the response is selected to dynamically alter a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria; and
automatically and dynamically altering a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria;
wherein the predetermined criteria relates to a specified bandwidth usage.
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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, and updated control information may be generated. The updated control information may be fed back to selected network elements to thereby affect operation of the selected elements. In this way, the dynamic and automatic feedback control of network elements is provided. Events relating to changing conditions in the network may also be reported to selected elements. Additionally the adaptive, feedback-based network may include a network quality monitoring system for evaluating performance characteristics or other aspects of the network. 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.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method for providing dynamic feedback control of network elements in a data network, the data network including a plurality of network elements, each of said network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said method comprising:
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dynamically receiving information related to a first subset of network elements; dynamically determining, using at least a portion of said received information, whether a performance of at least a portion of said network conforms with a predetermined criteria; automatically reporting, by a device having at least one processor, results of said determining to an administration system for dynamically responding to said results, wherein the reporting is dynamically triggered in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria, wherein the response is selected to dynamically alter a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria; and automatically and dynamically altering a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria; wherein the predetermined criteria relates to a specified bandwidth usage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus comprising:
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at least one CPU; memory; and at least one interface for dynamically receiving information related to a first subset of network elements; the apparatus being configured to; dynamically determine, using at least a portion of said received information, whether a performance of at least a portion of said network conforms with a predetermined criteria; automatically report results of said determining to an administration system for dynamically responding to said results, wherein the reporting is dynamically triggered in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria, wherein the response is selected to dynamically alter a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria; and automatically and dynamically alter a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria; wherein the predetermined criteria relates to a specified bandwidth usage.
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16. A system for providing dynamic feedback control of network elements in a data network, the data network including a plurality of network elements, each of said network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said system comprising:
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at least one processor; at least one interface configured to provide a communication link to at least one other network device in the data network; and memory; the system being configured to; dynamically receive information related to a first subset of network elements; dynamically determine, using at least a portion of said received information, whether a performance of at least a portion of said network conforms with a predetermined criteria; automatically report results of said determining to an administration system for dynamically responding to said results, wherein the reporting is dynamically triggered in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria, wherein the response is selected to dynamically alter a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria; and automatically and dynamically alter a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria; wherein the predetermined criteria relates to a specified bandwidth usage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for providing dynamic feedback control of network elements in a data network, the data network including a plurality of network elements, each of said network elements having a plurality operating parameters associated therewith, said system comprising:
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a hardware network device operable to dynamically receive information related to a first subset of network elements; means for dynamically determining, using at least a portion of said received information, whether a performance of at least a portion of said network conforms with a predetermined criteria; means for automatically reporting results of said determining to an administration system for dynamically responding to said results, wherein the reporting is dynamically triggered in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria, wherein the response is selected to dynamically alter a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria; and means for automatically and dynamically altering a performance policy of the portion of the network to conform with the predetermined criteria in response to a determination that the performance of the portion of said network fails to conform with the predetermined criteria; wherein the predetermined criteria relates to a specified bandwidth usage. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification