Conflict-free change deployment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10958517-B2
Application number	US-201916277347-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 15, 2019
Priority date	Feb 15, 2019
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

A new scalable approach to conflict-free deployment of changes across networks. The conflict rules or constraints may be modeled using policies and algorithms to determine an optimized schedule for change deployment.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A server comprising:
a processor; and
a memory coupled with the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:
obtaining a request for a network change for a network function in a network, wherein the request comprises a proposed time period to execute the network change, wherein the network function is a virtual network function;
obtaining information associated with a network change of a plurality of network devices in the network, wherein the information associated with the network change of the plurality of network devices comprises a capacity constraint, a loader constraint, or order constraint;
determining, based on the request and the information, a schedule for implementing the network change of the network function, wherein the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function is determined to not conflict with the network change of the plurality of network devices; and
sending a message to a device, wherein the message comprises the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function.

2. The server of claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a constraint based on a threshold survivability of an operation of the network function in a region.

3. The server of claim 1 , wherein the network change for the network function comprises a software upgrade of the network function.

4. The server of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function is further based on information associated with the network change of a plurality of network functions in the network.

5. The server of claim 1 , wherein the determining of the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function is further based on information associated with the network change of a plurality of network functions in the network, wherein the information associated with the network change of the plurality of network functions comprises a group constraint of a subset of the plurality of network functions of the same type.

6. The server of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the network change of the plurality of network devices comprises a constraint based on an expected weather event.

7. The server of claim 1 , wherein the information associated with the network change of the plurality of network devices comprises a constraint based on an expected sporting event.

8. A computer readable storage medium that is not a signal storing computer executable instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to effectuate operations comprising:
obtaining a request for a network change for a network function in a network, wherein the request comprises a proposed time period to execute the network change, wherein the network function is a virtual network function;
obtaining information associated with a network change of a plurality of network devices in the network;
determining, based on the request and the information, a schedule for implementing the network change of the network function, wherein the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function is determined to not conflict with the network change of the plurality of network devices; and
sending a message to a device, wherein the message comprises the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function.

9. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the request comprises a constraint based on a threshold survivability of an operation of the network function in a region.

10. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the network change for the network function comprises a reconfiguration of parameters software for the network function.

11. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the determining of the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function is further based on information associated with the network change of a plurality of network functions in the network.

12. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the determining of the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function is further based on information associated with the network change of a plurality of network functions in the network, wherein the information associated with the network change of the plurality of network functions comprises a group constraint of a subset of the plurality of network functions of the same type.

13. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the request comprises a constraint based on a weather event.

14. The computer readable storage medium of claim 8 , wherein the request comprises a constraint based on a sporting event.

15. A method comprising:
obtaining, by a virtual machine, a request for a network change for a network function in a network, wherein the request comprises a proposed time period to execute the network change;
obtaining, by the virtual machine, information associated with a network change of a plurality of network devices in the network;
based on the request and the information, determining, by the virtual machine, a schedule for implementing the network change of the network function, wherein the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function is determined to not conflict with the network change of the plurality of network devices; and
sending, by the virtual machine, a message to a device, wherein the message comprises the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the device is a mobile device.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the request comprises a loader constraint.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the determining of the schedule for implementing the network change of the network function is further based on information associated with the network change of a plurality of network functions in the network.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the information associated with a network change of the plurality of network devices comprises a constraint based on an expected weather event.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the information associated with a network change of the plurality of network devices comprises a constraint based on an expected sporting event.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp
• At & T Mobility Ii Llc

Inventors

• Mahimkar Ajay
• Sinha Rakesh
• De Andrade Carlos Eduardo
• Zhang Weiyi
• Riding Robert

Classifications

• H04L41/0813 Primary

  characterised by the conditions triggering a change of settings · CPC title

• H04N21/26291 Primary

  for providing content or additional data updates, e.g. updating software modules, stored at the client (deployment, distribution, installation, update of software G06F8/65; error detection or correction during software upgrading G06F11/1433; arrangements for updating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/25) · CPC title

• H04L41/0873

  Checking configuration conflicts between network elements · CPC title

• H04L41/085

  Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history · CPC title

• H04L41/12

  Discovery or management of network topologies · CPC title