Service level agreement (SLA) based provisioning and management

• US 9,191,282 B2
• Filed: 11/29/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cellco Partnership, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.), Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Kakadia, Deepak, Polehn, Donna L., Kotecha, Lalit R., Macias, John F., Lam, Maria G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yi, David X
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khan, Atta
• Application Number:
  US14/093,194
• Publication Number:
  US 20150156082A1
• Time in Patent Office: 718 Days
• Field of Search: 709/223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0893 Assignment of logical groups to network elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0894 Policy-based network configuration management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5006 Creating or negotiating SLA contracts, guarantees or penalties
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5009 Determining service level performance parameters or violations of service level contracts, e.g. violations of agreed response time or mean time between failures [MTBF]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5019 Ensuring fulfilment of SLA
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/2458 Modification of priorities while in transit
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/30 in combination with information about buffer occupancy at either end or at transit nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/50 Queue scheduling

Abstract

Service level agreement (SLA) based monitoring and configuration of a path for transmission of data is achieved by identifying an SLA associated with the data and determining transmission requirements associated with the SLA. A status of a network element in the path, such as data occupancy of a data queue included in the network element, may be determined and used to select one of a high bandwidth portion or a low bandwidth portion of the pathway. The occupancy of the queue may be used to estimate a transmission delay, and the estimated transmission delay is used to select between the high bandwidth portion and the low bandwidth portion. The data may be directed to the selected bandwidth portion by changing a quality of service (QoS) value or other attribute associated with the data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying, by a processor, a service level agreement (SLA) associated with transmitting data between a first device and a second device, wherein the data is transmitted via a path through a first network and a second network, wherein at least one of the first network and the second network is a wireless network, wherein a portion of the path through the first network includes a network element that is associated with a first pathway having a first bandwidth and a second pathway having a second bandwidth lower than the first bandwidth, wherein the path includes one of the first pathway or the second pathway, and wherein identifying the SLA includes;

determining a feature associated with the data, wherein the feature associated with the data includes at least one of a format associated with the data, a network address associated with the data, an application associated with the data, or a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the data, and

identifying the SLA from a plurality of SLAs based on the feature;

identifying, by the processor and based on the SLA, a desired delay associated with transmitting the data between the first device and the second device;

determining, by the processor, a first occupancy of a first queue and a second occupancy of a second queue included in the network element, wherein the first queue is associated with the first pathway and the second queue is associated with the second pathway;

estimating, by the processor and based on the first occupancy, the second occupancy, the first bandwidth, and the second bandwidth, a first expected delay associated with transmitting the data through the first network via the one of the first pathway or the second pathway;

identifying, by the processor, a second expected delay associated with transmitting the data through the second network;

determining, by the processor and based on the first expected delay and the second expected delay, a composite delay associated with transmitting the data between the first device and the second device via the path and using the one of the first pathway or the second pathway;

comparing, by the processor, the composite expected delay and the desired delay; and

configuring, by the processor, the network element to transmit the data based on comparing the composite expected delay and the desired delay, wherein configuring the network element includes;

when the composite expected delay satisfies the desired delay and the composite expected delay and the desired delay differ by less than a threshold amount, causing the data to be transmitted via the one of the first pathway or the second pathway,

when the composite expected delay satisfies the desired delay and the composite expected delay and the desired delay differ by at least the threshold amount, causing the data to be transmitted via the second pathway, and

when the composite expected delay does not satisfy the desired delay;

determining whether the desired delay would be satisfied if the data is transmitted through the first network via the first pathway,

causing the data to be transmitted through the first network via the first pathway based on determining that the desired delay would be satisfied when the data is transmitted through the first network via the first pathway, and

causing the data to be transmitted through the first network via a different network element based on determining that the desired delay would not be satisfied when the data is transmitted through the first network via the first pathway.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the network element includes:

modifying a size of the queue based on comparing the desired delay and the composite expected delay.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the path passes through a plurality of network elements that include the network element,

the plurality of network elements are associated with a plurality of high bandwidth pathways and a plurality of low bandwidth pathways, and

the method further comprises;

determining respective occupancies of queues associated with the plurality of network elements; and

selecting, based on the respective occupancies, a particular combination of pathways from the plurality of high bandwidth pathways and the plurality of low bandwidth pathways, wherein a delay associated with transmission of the data via path and through the particular combination of pathways is expected to satisfy the desired delay.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein selecting the particular combination of pathways includes:

identifying a plurality of possible combinations of pathways from the plurality of high bandwidth pathways and the plurality of low bandwidth pathways, wherein transmissions of the data via the plurality of possible combinations of pathways are expected to satisfy the requirement;

identifying respective costs associated with transmitting the data via the plurality of possible combinations of pathways; and

selecting the particular combination of pathways, from the plurality of possible combinations of pathways based on the respective costs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, based on the SLA, a desired number of dropped packets associated with transmitting the data; and

estimating, based on the first occupancy, the second occupancy, the first bandwidth, and the second bandwidth, expected numbers of dropped packets associated with transmitting the data via the first pathway or the second pathway,

wherein configuring the network element further includes;

causing the data to be transmitted via the first pathway further based on determining that the expected number of dropped packets satisfies the desired number of dropped packets and that the expected number of dropped packets and the desired number of dropped packets differ by less than the other threshold amount when the data is transmitted via the first pathway;

causing the data to be transmitted via the second pathway further based on determining that the expected number of dropped packets satisfies the desired number of dropped packets and when the data is transmitted via the second pathway; and

causing the data to be transmitted through the first network via a different network element further based on determining that the expected number of dropped packets does not satisfy the desired number of dropped packets when the data is transmitted through the first network via the first pathway.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first occupancy and the second occupancy includes:

measuring occupancies of the first queue and the second queue during a plurality of time periods; and

determining the first occupancy and the second occupancy based on the occupancies of the first queue and the second queue during the plurality of time periods.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the data to be transmitted through the first network via the first pathway further includes:

causing other data, scheduled for delivery via the first pathway, to be transmitted via the second pathway.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the data to be transmitted via the second pathway further includes:

causing other data, scheduled for delivery via the second pathway, to be transmitted via the first pathway.

7. A device comprising:

a memory configured to store information identifying a requirement associated with a service level agreement (SLA), wherein the requirement includes a desired delay for transmissions between a first device and a second device; and

a processor configured to;

identify data associated with the SLA, wherein the data is to be transmitted between the first device and the second device via a path passing through a first network and a second network, wherein at least one of the first network and the second network is a wireless network, wherein a portion of the path through the first network includes by a network element using one of a first pathway or a second pathway, wherein the second pathway has a lower bandwidth than the first pathway, wherein the path includes one of the first pathway or the second pathway, and wherein the processor, when identifying the data associated with the SLA, is further configured to;

determine a feature associated with the data, wherein the feature associated with the data includes at least one of a format associated with the data, a network address associated with the data, an application associated with the data, or a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the data, and

identify the SLA from a plurality of SLAs based on the feature,

determine a status of the network element, wherein the status includes a first occupancy of a first queue associated with the first pathway and a second occupancy of a second queue associated with the second pathway,

estimate, based on the status of the network element, a first result associated with transmitting the data via the network element using the one of the first pathway or the second pathway, wherein estimating the first result includes identifying a first delay associated with transmitting the data via the network element using the one of the first pathway or the second pathway,

identify a second result associated with transmitting the data via the second network, wherein estimating the second result includes identifying a second delay associated with transmitting the data via the second network,

determine, based on the first result and the second result, a composite result associated with transmitting the data via the path, wherein the composite result includes a composite delay associated with transmitting the data via the first network and the second network using the one of the first pathway or the second pathway;

compare the requirement and the composite result, and

configure the network element to transmit the data based on comparing the requirement and the composite result, wherein the processor, when configuring the network element, is further configured to;

cause the data to be transmitted via the one of the first pathway or the second pathway when the composite expected delay satisfies the desired delay and the composite expected delay and the desired delay differ by less than a threshold amount,

cause the data to be transmitted via the second pathway when the composite expected delay satisfies the desired delay and the composite expected delay and the desired delay differ by at least the threshold amount, and

when the composite expected delay does not satisfy the desired delay;

determine whether the desired delay would be satisfied if the data is transmitted via the first pathway,

cause the data to be transmitted through the first network via the first pathway based on determining that the desired delay would be satisfied when the data is transmitted through the first network via the first pathway, and

cause the data to be transmitted through the first network via a different network element based on determining that the desired delay would not be satisfied when the data is transmitted through the first network via the first pathway.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein:

the path passes through a plurality of network elements that include the network element,

the plurality of network elements are associated with a plurality of high bandwidth pathways and a plurality of low bandwidth pathways, and

the processor is further configured to;

determine respective statuses of the plurality of network elements; and

select, based on the respective statuses, a particular combination of pathways from the plurality of high bandwidth pathways and the plurality of low bandwidth pathways, wherein transmission of the data via the particular combination of pathways is expected to satisfy the requirement associated with the SLA.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor, when identifying the first delay, is further configured to:

divide the first occupancy of the first queue by a bandwidth of the first pathway when the data is transmitted via the first pathway, and

divide the second occupancy of the second queue by a bandwidth of the second pathway when the data is transmitted via the second pathway.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the first network is associated with a first service provider and the second network is associated with a second service provider, wherein the device is associated with a the first service provider, and wherein the processor, when identifying the second delay associated with transmitting the data via the second network, is further configured to:

monitor traffic transmitted via the second network to identify delays associated with transmitting the traffic via the second network, and

determine the second delay based on the delays associated with transmitting the traffic via the second network.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the network element is a first network element, wherein the processor, when identifying the second delay associated with transmitting the data via the second network, is further configured to:

identify a second network element included in a portion of the path through the second network;

determine an occupancy of a queue associated with the second network element; and

determine the second delay based on the occupancy of the queue associated with the second network element.

15. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor, when causing the data to be transmitted via the first pathway, is further configured to increase a quality of service (QoS) value associated with the data, and

wherein the processor, when causing the data to be transmitted via the second pathway, is further configured to decrease a quality of service (QoS) value associated with the data.

18. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor, when causing the data to be transmitted through the first network via the first pathway, is further configured to:

cause other data, scheduled for delivery via the first pathway, to be transmitted via the second pathway.

19. The device of claim 7, wherein the processor, when causing the data to be transmitted via the second pathway, is further configured to:

cause other data, scheduled for delivery via the second pathway, to be transmitted via the first pathway.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable medium configured to store instructions, the instructions including:

one or more instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to be configured to;

store information identifying a requirement associated with a service level agreement (SLA), wherein the requirement includes a desired delay between a first device and a second device;

identify data associated with the SLA, wherein the data is to be transmitted between the first device and the second device via a path passing through a first network and a second network, wherein at least one of the first network and the second network is a wireless network, wherein a portion of the path through the first network includes a network element associated with a first pathway and a second pathway of lower bandwidth than the first pathway, and wherein the path includes one of the first pathway or the second pathway, and wherein the one or more instructions cause the processor, when identifying the data associated with the SLA, to;

determine a feature associated with the data, wherein the feature associated with the data includes at least one of a format associated with the data, a network address associated with the data, an application associated with the data, or a uniform resource locator (URL) associated with the data, and

identify the SLA from a plurality of SLAs based on the feature;

determine a status of the network element, wherein the status includes a first occupancy of a first queue associated with the first pathway and a second occupancy of a second queue associated with the second pathway;

estimate, based on the status of the network element, a first result associated with transmitting the data via the network element using the one of the first pathway or the second pathway, wherein estimating the first result includes identifying a first delay associated with transmitting the data via the network element using the one of the first pathway or the second pathway;

identify a second result associated with transmitting the data via the second network, wherein estimating the second result includes identifying a second delay associated with transmitting the data via the second network;

determine, based on the first result and the second result, a composite result associated with transmitting the data via the path, wherein the composite result includes a composite delay associated with transmitting the data via the first network and the second network using the one of the first pathway or the second pathway;

compare the requirement and the composite result; and

configure the network element to transmit the data using one of the first pathway or the second pathway based on comparing the requirement and the composite result, wherein the one or more instructions, further cause the processor, when configuring the network element, to;

cause the data to be transmitted via the one of the first pathway or the second pathway when the composite expected delay satisfies the desired delay and the composite expected delay and the desired delay differ by less than a threshold amount,

cause the data to be transmitted via the second pathway when the composite expected delay satisfies the desired delay and the composite expected delay and the desired delay differ by at least the threshold amount, and

when the composite expected delay does not satisfy the desired delay;

determine whether the desired delay would be satisfied if the data is transmitted via the first pathway,

cause the data to be transmitted through the first network via the first pathway based on determining that the desired delay would be satisfied when the data is transmitted through the first network via the first pathway, and

cause the data to be transmitted through the first network via a different network element based on determining that the desired delay would not be satisfied when the data is transmitted through the first network via the first pathway.

10. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 9, wherein:

the path passes through a plurality of network elements that include the network element,

the plurality of network elements are associated with a plurality of high bandwidth pathways and a plurality of low bandwidth pathways, and

the instructions further include one or more instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to be configured to;

determine respective statuses of the plurality of network elements; and

select, based on the respective statuses, a particular combination of pathways from the plurality of high bandwidth pathways and the plurality of low bandwidth pathways, wherein transmission of the data via the particular combination of pathways is expected to satisfy the requirement associated with the SLA.

11. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the one or more instructions to select the particular combination of pathways further include:

one or more instructions that, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to be configured to;

identify a plurality of possible combinations of pathways from the plurality of high bandwidth pathways and the plurality of low bandwidth pathways, wherein transmissions of the data via the plurality of possible combinations of pathways are expected to satisfy the requirement;

identify respective costs associated with transmitting the data via the plurality of possible combinations of pathways; and

select the particular combination of pathways, from the plurality of possible combinations of pathways based on the respective costs.