FR3131487A1 - Method for reconfiguring a communication network - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for reconfiguring a communication network A computer-implemented method for reconfiguring a communication network (2), the communication network (2) comprising a plurality of network elements (6, 8, 10), each network element (6, 8, 10) having parameters defining a communication capacity of this network element (6, 8, 10) to implement communications within the communication network (2), the method of reconfiguration comprising a reception phase of at least one communication need from the communication network (2) defining a network element (6, 8, 10), said element to be modified, to be added to the communication network (2) or whose said communication capability is to be modified; the reconfiguration method further comprising a design phase and an implementation phase, the design phase comprising steps of determining a generic model (14) and of verification. Figure for abstract: Figure 1

Description

Process for reconfiguring a communications network

The present invention relates to a method for reconfiguring a computer-implemented communications network.

The invention also relates to a computer program product.

Communication network configurations are, for example, modified according to a user's communication needs. Such needs are characterized for example by information to be transmitted by the user at a given time, the presence of a node at a specific position, etc.

Such changes or reconfigurations are typically implemented by a network operator based on its experience and knowledge of the communications network. The operator thus manually modifies parameters within the network according to his experience.

However, such a reconfiguration has a number of drawbacks.

In particular, this reconfiguration is likely to lead to incompatibilities within the communication network resulting, for example, in communication failures and/or reduced performance of the communication network in terms of data transmission.

An aim of the present invention is thus to at least reduce these drawbacks.

In particular, an aim of the present invention is to obtain a method for reconfiguring a communication network allowing simple configuration, while guaranteeing consistency of the configuration of the communication network.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a method of reconfiguring a computer-implemented communications network, the communications network comprising a plurality of network elements, each network element having parameters defining a capacity of communication of this network element to implement communications within the communication network,

the reconfiguration method comprising a phase of reception of at least one communication need from the communication network defining a network element, said element to be modified, to be added to the communication network or of which said communication capacity is to be modified;

the reconfiguration method further comprising a design phase and an implementation phase, the design phase comprising steps of:

- determination of a generic model defining the parameters of the element to be modified and part of the parameters, called neighboring parameters, of at least a fraction of the network elements other than the element to be modified, each neighboring parameter being defined in function of said parameters of the element to be modified;

- verification, by simulation of the communication network, if the communication need is met by the communication network when applying, to the respective network elements, the parameters of the element to be modified and neighboring parameters;

when the need for communication is not met during the verification step, implementation of a step of receiving a request to modify the parameters of the element to be modified and/or neighboring parameters, and repetition determination and verification steps;

when the communication need is met during the verification stage, transition to the implementation phase,

the implementation phase comprising a step of generating a set of configuration files defining values of each parameter of the element to be modified and of each neighboring parameter.

The reconfiguration process makes it possible to reconfigure the communication network in a simple manner, while guaranteeing consistency in the configuration of the communication network, since the design phase makes it possible to take into account all of the parameters affected by the change, and thus avoid inconsistencies between network elements during reconfiguration.

The reconfiguration process is very simple because it makes it possible to implement a co-engineering process between several specialized operators for the reconfiguration of the network, for example between network experts and software or network management experts.

Also, the reconfiguration process makes it possible, for example, to prove, thanks to the steps of the process, that the reconfiguration does not call into question the availability of communication capacities of the communication network.

The reconfiguration method makes it possible to obtain a reconfiguration which is particularly rapid since the method is implemented by computer and thus makes it possible to very quickly reconfigure a communication network having a very high number of network elements.

According to other advantageous aspects of the invention, the reconfiguration method comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

- the design phase further comprises a step of selecting a model specific to the element to be modified from a set of predetermined models, defining constraints of the parameters of the element to be modified, and a step of adapting the parameters of the element to be modified and neighboring parameters according to said specific model;

- the generic model is stored in a database in the form of a file in a first computer language, preferably in XML, and in which the specific model is stored in the database in a second computer language, specific to the element to be modified and different from the first computer language;

- the generic model comprises a set of parameterization modules comprising the parameters of the element to be modified and the neighboring parameters, the generic model further comprising links between the parameterization modules defining a modification of a parameter among the parameters of the the element to modify and the neighboring parameters according to another of these parameters;

- during the determination step, at least one parameter of said parameters of the element to be modified and at least one parameter of said neighboring parameters comprises a name of the respective network element to form a naming plan of said network elements, and or

at least one parameter of said parameters of the element to be modified and at least one parameter of said neighboring parameters comprises an address of the respective network element to form an addressing plan of said network elements;

- the plurality of network elements comprises at least two network elements of different type from each other,

each network element being preferably chosen from the list consisting of: a node, a communication link, a network zone of said communication network;

- the verification step includes displaying to an operator data relating to the verification of the need for communication;

- the implementation phase includes a step of applying the values of each parameter of the element to be modified and of each neighboring parameter to the respective network elements in accordance with the set of configuration files, preferably in an order determined by the set of configuration files; And

- the generation step includes reception by a generation module of a portion of the values by entry via an entry interface, the generation module only authorizing the entry of values conforming to a syntax predetermined by the generic model and/or by the set of configuration files.

The invention also relates to a computer program product comprising a readable information medium, on which a computer program comprising program instructions is stored, the computer program being loadable on a data processing unit. information and implementing a reconfiguration method as described above when the computer program is implemented on the information processing unit.

These characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

there is a schematic view of a communications network and a reconfiguration system allowing the implementation of a method of reconfiguring the communications network;

there is a flowchart of an example of implementation of the reconfiguration method;

there is a schematic representation of an example of a generic model determined during the implementation of the reconfiguration process.

On the , a set 1 includes a communication network 2 and a reconfiguration system 4.

The communication network 2 comprises a plurality of network elements 6, 8, 10, for example at least 1000 network elements, preferably at least 1,000,000 network elements. Each network element 6, 8, 10 has parameters defining a communication capacity of this network element to implement communications within the communication network 2. In the example of the , the parameters are designated by the references P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9.

By “communication capacity” is meant the ability of the network element concerned 6, 8, 10 to implement specific communication. For example, communication capacity is a bandwidth, a signal transmission delay or a number of possible nodes in communication with a node concerned.

The communication network 2 comprises for example at least two network elements 6, 8, 10 of different types from each other. Each network element is for example a node 6 capable of implementing communications with other nodes 6 of the communication network 2, a communication link 8 allowing the establishment of communications between the nodes 6 or a network zone 10 defining for example a group of nodes 6 and/or communication links 8 forming for example a subnetwork and/or being arranged in a predefined geographical area.

The reconfiguration system 4 is capable of reconfiguring the communication network 2.

By “reconfigure” or “reconfiguration” is meant a modification of the communication capacity of at least one element among the network elements 6, 8, 10 of the communication network 2, and/or an addition of an element from network 6, 8, 10 to the communication network 2.

The reconfiguration system 4 includes a module 11 for receiving at least one communication need or a request to modify the parameters P1, ... P9 of the network element(s) 6, 8, 10.

By “need for communication” is meant the need for a communication capacity, that is to say a need for the ability of a network element concerned 6, 8, 10 to implement communication specific. The need for communication is for example defined by an operator, not shown.

The communication need defines a network element 6, 8, 10, called element to be modified in the following, to be added to the communication network 2 or whose communication capacity is to be modified.

The reconfiguration system 4 further comprises a determination module 12 of a generic model 14, a selection module 16 of a specific model 18, an adaptation module 20 of the parameters P1, ... P9, a verification module 22 of the communication need, a generation module 23 of a set of configuration files 24 and an application module 26.

In the example of the , the reconfiguration system 4 comprises a computer 28 comprising an information processing unit 29 formed for example by a memory 30 and a processor 32 associated with the memory 30. The computer 28 comprises an input interface 34, such as a keyboard, configured to capture operator input data. The calculator 28 further comprises a display module 36 configured to display information in particular from the information processing unit 29.

The configuration system 4 for example further comprises a communication device 38 configured to exchange signals with at least part of the network elements 6, 8, 10. These signals include in particular the parameters P1, ... P9 of the network elements 6 , 8, 10 and/or values of these parameters P1, … P9.

In the example of the , the reception module 11, the determination module 12, the selection module 16, the adaptation module 20, the verification module 22, the generation module 23 and the application module 26 are each produced in the form of software, or a software brick, for example stored on memory 30 and executable by processor 32.

According to an example, the generic model 14, the specific models 18, two of which are illustrated on the , and 24 configuration files, two of which are shown on the , are stored on memory 30, for example in a database 40 of memory 30.

In a variant not shown, the generic model 14, each specific model 18 and each configuration file 24 are each stored in a respective database.

When the configuration system 4 is produced in the form of one or more software programs, that is to say in the form of a computer program, it is also capable of being recorded on a readable medium, not shown by computer. The computer-readable medium is, for example, a medium capable of storing electronic instructions and of being coupled to a bus of a computer system. For example, the readable medium is an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a ROM memory, a RAM memory, any type of non-volatile memory (for example EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH, NVRAM), a magnetic card or an optical card. In particular, the readable media is integrated into a static solid-state drive or SSD (Solid-State Drive).

A computer program comprising software instructions is then stored on the readable medium.

In the example of the , the reception module 11, the determination module 12, the selection module 16, the adaptation module 20, the verification module 22, the generation module 23 and the application module 26 are embedded within the single information processing unit 29, that is to say within the same and single electronic computer.

As a variant, not shown, the reception module 11, the determination module 12, the selection module 16, the adaptation module 20, the verification module 22, the generation module 23 and the application module 26, are embedded within several distinct and separate electronic computers.

An example of implementation of a reconfiguration method 100 is now described with reference to the .

In the example described below, the reconfiguration method is implemented by the reconfiguration system 4. In particular, the reconfiguration method 100 is implemented at least partially, preferably entirely, by the computer 28, i.e. is implemented by computer.

The reconfiguration method 100 comprises a reception phase 110, a design phase phase 120 and an implementation phase 130.

During the reception phase 110, the computer 28 receives the communication requirement from the communication network 2.

For example, the reception module 10 receives the operator's communication requirement by input via the input interface 34, preferably in the form of a text file.

As an illustration, the communication requirement indicates “I want to add a node to the communication network capable of communicating with three other nodes in the communication network”. This example is called “adding a node example” below.

According to another example, the communication need indicates "I wish to create a communication link 8 between a first and a second node of the communication network". This example is called “communication link creation” below.

In another example, the communication requirement indicates "I want to associate a third node with a specific network area 10". This example is referred to as “node to zone association” below.

The design phase 120 includes a determination step 140, a selection step 150, an adaptation step 160, a verification step 170, and a request reception step 180.

During the determination step 140, the determination module 12 determines the generic model 14.

The generic model 14 is for example stored in the database 40 of the memory 30 in the form of a file in a predetermined computer language, preferably in XML (Extensible Markup Language).

Generic model 14 defines the parameters P1, … P9 of the element to be modified.

The generic model 14 further defines part of the parameters P1, ... P9 of at least a fraction of the network elements 6, 8, 10 other than the element to be modified.

The expression “at least a fraction of the network elements” corresponds in particular to at least certain network elements of all the network elements 6, 8, 10, namely the network elements 6, 8, 10 including the parameters P1 , … P9 are likely to be modified by the reconfiguration of the communication network 2.

The network elements 6, 8, 10 belonging to this fraction are for example determined by predefined rules of the generic model 14, and/or according to a command received from the operator via the input interface 34.

By the expression “part of the parameters”, it is notably understood that the generic model 14 defines only certain parameters among all the parameters of each network element 6, 8, 10 of the fraction. These parameters are called neighboring parameters.

The neighboring parameters are in particular the parameters among the totality of parameters which are likely to be modified by the reconfiguration of the communication network 2.

The generic model 14 includes, for example, rules defining whether a parameter is a neighboring parameter or not.

In particular, each neighboring parameter is defined according to the parameters P1, … P9 of the element to be modified.

In reference to the , the generic model 14 comprises for example a set of parameterization modules 42, 43, 44, comprising the parameters of the element to be modified and the neighboring parameters.

The generic model 14 also includes, for example, links 45, 46 between the parameterization modules 42, 43, 44 defining a modification of a parameter P1, ... P9 as a function of another of these parameters P1, ... P9.

According to one example, each parameterization module 42, 43, 44 generates, during the determination step 140, a list of certain parameters P1, ... P9 of the element to be modified and the neighboring parameters.

Examples of the parameters are described in the following.

According to a first example, the parameters P1, ... P9 include a name of the element to be modified and names of the other network elements 6, 8, 10. The determination module 12 determines, for example by predetermined rules and/or upon receipt of a command from the operator, these names. The determination module 12 then determines a naming plan for these network elements and records it in the corresponding parameter setting module 42, 43, 44. This naming plan is for example displayed to the operator via the display module 36 and/or used during adaptation step 160.

According to a second example, the parameters P1, ... P9 include an address of the element to be modified and addresses of the other communication network elements 2. The addresses are for example IP addresses (from the English "Internet Protocol") . The determination module 12 determines these addresses, to obtain an addressing plan, and to record this addressing plan in the corresponding parameterization module 42, 43, 44. The addressing plan is for example displayed to the operator via the display module 36 and/or used during the adaptation step 160.

According to the aforementioned example of adding a node, and with reference to the example of the , during the determination step 140, the determination module 12 determines a first, second and third parameterization module 42, 43, 44. The first parameterization module 42 includes the parameter P1 indicating a name of the node to be added, and the parameters P2, P3 indicating names of nodes with which the node to be added is likely to exchange data, called neighboring nodes. The second parameterization module 43 includes the parameter P4 indicating an address of the node to be added, and the parameters P5, P6 indicating addresses of the neighboring nodes. The third parameterization module 44 includes the parameters P7, P8, P9 indicating communication links 8, for example a type and/or a capacity of link, between the node to be added and the neighboring nodes.

According to the example of adding a node, the determination module 12 further determines the link 46 between the third module 44 and the second module 43. For example, the addition or modification of the parameter P7 in the third module 44 involves the modification of the addresses, according to the parameters P4, P5, P6 in the second module 43, since the modification of the communication link 8 according to the parameter P7 implies a change of the addresses.

According to the aforementioned example of creating a communication link, the parameters P1, ... P9 indicate the communication capacity of the link, as well as the names and addresses of the nodes 6 connected by the link.

According to the aforementioned example of node association with a zone, the parameters P1, ... P9 indicate the number of nodes in network zone 10, their addresses and their geographical positions.

During the selection step 150, the selection module 16 selects a model 18 specific to the element to be modified from a set of predetermined models.

The specific model 18 defines constraints of the parameters of the element to be modified.

The specific model 18 is for example stored in the database 40 in a computer language which is specific to the element to be modified and different from the computer language of the generic model 14.

According to the example of adding a node, this node includes for example a router from the company “Cisco” (registered trademark). In this case, the selection module 16 selects the specific model 18 which corresponds to this router. The specific model 18 defines constraints such as for example a maximum number of communication ports of the router equal to 16.

According to the aforementioned example of creating a communication link, the selection module 16 selects the specific model 18 which corresponds to the TCP/IP protocol.

During the adaptation step 160, the adaptation module 20 adapts the parameters P1, ... P9 of the element to be modified and the neighboring parameters according to the specific model 18 selected during the selection step 150.

According to the example of adding a node, the specific model 18 selected indicates a maximum number of ports of 16. When for example the addressing plan of the generic model 14 provides for the addition of 12 ports to the node to be added, the adaptation module 20 adapts the parameters P1, … P9 of these ports. However, when the addressing plan provides for the addition of 20 ports to the node to be added, the adaptation module 20 does not adapt the parameters P1, ... P9 of the ports or only adapts the 16 ports according to the specific model 18, in the absence of the addition of the remaining four ports.

During the verification step 170, the verification module 22 checks, by simulation of the communication network 2, whether the communication need is fulfilled by the communication network 2 during application, to the respective network elements 6, 8, 10, parameters P1, … P9 of the element to modify and neighboring parameters.

For example, the verification module 22 sends a test message by simulation via the communication network 2, and monitors reception of this message in accordance with the communication need.

According to one example, the verification module 22 generates a display command, and the display module 36 displays a display following the command, to the operator. The display includes data relating to the verification of the need for communication, for example “Successful transmission of the test message. The need for communication is fulfilled. ", or "Problem transmitting the test message. The need for communication is not met. ".

Those skilled in the art understand that, according to one example, other information is included in the display.

When the communication need is not met during the verification step 170, the reconfiguration method 100 comprises the implementation of the request reception step 180, followed by a repetition of the determination steps 140, of selection 150, adaptation 160 and verification 170.

During the request reception step 180, the reception module 11 receives a request to modify the parameters P1, ... P9 of the element to be modified and/or neighboring parameters.

The modification request depends in particular on the data relating to the verification of the need for communication. For example, if the communication need is not met, the modification request includes the modification of at least one of the parameters P1, ... P9.

The reception module 11 receives the modification request in a predefined programming language, for example in Groovy.

According to the example of adding a node, the modification request includes the addition of an additional router to allow the addition of 20 ports according to the communication need, since a single router only allows the addition of 16 ports according to the example.

For example, the reception module 11 receives the modification request from the operator via the input interface 34.

According to another example, the reception module 11 receives the modification request by an additional module, not shown, capable of determining the request according to the data relating to the verification of the need for communication.

The implementation phase 130 is implemented when the communication need is met during the verification step 170.

The implementation phase 130 includes a generation step 190 and an application step 200.

During generation step 190, generation module 23 generates the set of configuration files 24 defining values of each parameter P1, … P9 of the element to be modified and values of each neighboring parameter P1, … P9 .

According to the example of adding a node, the generation module 23 generates the IP address of the node to be added, for example "192.168.178.1", and the IP addresses of the neighboring parameters of the fraction of other network elements 6, 8, 10. The IP addresses are then added to the corresponding configuration file 24.

In particular, the generation module 23 generates the set of configuration files 24 according to the generic model 14 and according to the specific model 18 selected. For example, generation module 23 applies the addressing plan.

According to one example, during generation step 190, generation module 23 receives part of the values by entry via input interface 34 from the operator. For example, the generation module 23 generates a visual interface displayed by the display module 36, allowing the operator to enter this part of the values.

Preferably, the generation module 23 only authorizes the entry of values by the operator which conform to a syntax predetermined by the generic model 14 and/or by the set of configuration files 24.

For example, when entering an IP address by the user, the generation module 23 only authorizes the entry of numbers and periods for this IP address, and not letters.

When the generation module 23 receives several values from the operator, the generation module 23 only authorizes the entry of values which are consistent with each other in particular according to the links 45, 46 of the generic model 14. For example, when adding of a node having 16 communication ports, the generation module does not authorize the entry of a value for a ^17th port.

During the application step 200, the application module 26 applies the values of each parameter P1, ... P9 of the element to be modified and of each neighboring parameter to the respective network elements 6, 8, 10 in accordance with set of configuration files 24, for example by the emission of corresponding signals by the communication device 38 to the respective network elements 6, 8, 10.

According to one example, the application module 26 applies the values according to an order determined by the set of configuration files 24, in particular in an iterative manner. This is illustrated by the R loop on the .

In particular, the application module 26 applies one of the values or a group of values to the respective network elements 6, 8, 10, and then implements a check whether the applied values conform to the generic model 14, before the application of other values.

The selection steps 150 and adaptation 160 are optional steps.

Application step 200 is an optional step.

Of course, other embodiments can be considered.

Claims (10)

Method for reconfiguring (100) a computer-implemented communications network (2), the communications network (2) comprising a plurality of network elements (6, 8, 10), each network element (6 , 8, 10) presenting parameters (P1, … P9) defining a communication capacity of this network element (6, 8, 10) to implement communications within the communication network (2),
the reconfiguration method (100) comprising a reception phase (110) of at least one communication need from the communication network (2) defining a network element (6, 8, 10), said element to be modified, to be added to the communication network (2) or whose said communication capacity is to be modified;
the reconfiguration method (100) further comprising a design phase (120) and an implementation phase (130), the design phase (120) comprising steps of:
- determination (140) of a generic model (14) defining the parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified and a part of the parameters (P1, … P9), called neighboring parameters, of at least a fraction network elements (6, 8, 10) other than the element to be modified, each neighboring parameter being defined as a function of said parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified;
- verification (170), by simulation of the communication network (2), if the communication need is met by the communication network (2) during application, to the respective network elements (6, 8, 10), parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified and neighboring parameters;
when the communication need is not met during the verification step (170), implementation of a step of receiving (180) a request to modify the parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified and/or neighboring parameters, and repetition of the determination (140) and verification (170) steps;
when the communication need is met during the verification step (170), transition to the implementation phase (130),
the implementation phase (130) comprising a step of generating (190) a set of configuration files (24) defining values of each parameter (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified and of each neighboring parameter . Reconfiguration method according to claim 1, in which the design phase (120) further comprises a step of selecting (150) a model specific (18) to the element to be modified from a set of predetermined models (18) , defining constraints of the parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified, and a step of adaptation (160) of the parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified and neighboring parameters according to said model specific (18). Reconfiguration method according to claim 2, in which the generic model (14) is stored in a database (40) in the form of a file in a first computer language, preferably in XML, and in which the specific model ( 18) is stored in the database (40) in a second computer language, specific to the element to be modified and different from the first computer language. Reconfiguration method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the generic model (14) comprises a set of parameterization modules (42, 43, 44) comprising the parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified and the neighboring parameters, the generic model (14) further comprising links (45, 46) between the parameterization modules (42, 43, 44) defining a modification of a parameter among the parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to modify and neighboring parameters according to another of these parameters (P1, … P9). Reconfiguration method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which, during the determination step (140), at least one parameter of said parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified and at least one parameter of said neighboring parameters includes a name of the respective network element (6, 8, 10) to form a naming scheme of said network elements (6, 8, 10), and/or
at least one parameter of said parameters (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified and at least one parameter of said neighboring parameters comprises an address of the respective network element (6, 8, 10) to form an addressing plan said network elements (6, 8, 10). Reconfiguration method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the plurality of network elements (6, 8, 10) comprises at least two network elements of different type relative to each other,
each network element (6, 8, 10) being preferably chosen from the list consisting of: a node (6), a communication link (8), a network zone (10) of said communication network (2). Reconfiguration method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the verification step (170) comprises displaying to an operator data relating to the verification of the need for communication. Reconfiguration method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the implementation phase (130) comprises a step of application (200) of the values of each parameter (P1, … P9) of the element to be modified and of each parameter neighboring the respective network elements (6, 8, 10) in accordance with the set of configuration files (24), preferably in an order determined by the set of configuration files (24). Reconfiguration method according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the generation step (190) comprises the reception by a generation module (23) of a portion of the values by entry via an entry interface (34), the generation module (190) only authorizing the entry of values conforming to a syntax predetermined by the generic model (14) and/or by the set of configuration files (24). Computer program product comprising a readable information medium, on which a computer program comprising program instructions is stored, the computer program being loadable on an information processing unit (29) and implementing a reconfiguration method (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 when the computer program is implemented on the information processing unit (29).