Topics in network and service management

This is the seventh issue of the series on Network and Service Management that is published twice a year, typically in April and October, although the previous issue had to be published in May (i.e., it was delayed by a month). The series provides articles on the latest developments in this wel established discipline, highlighting recent research achievements and providing insight into both theoretical and practical issues related to the evolution of the discipline from different perspectives. The series provides a forum for the publication of both academic and industrial research, addressing the state of the art, theory, and practice in network and service management.     

Integrated network and service management for the NCIH

To support the North Carolina Information Highway network and its services, GTE has developed new capabilities for the integrated management of broadband networks. These include: functionally integrated network management, enabling GTE to monitor and control ATM, SONET, and other related networks in real time, these capabilities are provided by the TelOps Network Integrated Control System (TONICS); and automated service management, enabling GTE to provide service-level configuration and fault management for new broadband services, these capabilities are provided by the broadband service management system (BSMS). Together, TONICS and BSMS provide a complete and integrated solution for managing broadband networks such as the NCIH     

Supporting network management through distributed directory service

Directory systems have become a field of interest within the context of open systems. This is due to the various requirements raised by the scale of currently interconnected networks. The paper addresses several issues related to applying the X.500 directory service to network management. These include a comparison between the management information base (MIB) for management systems and the directory information base (DIB) for the directory services, a specification of how certain management information is incorporated into the underlying data model of the directory and an information exchange model for ensuring information accessibility to management activities. Some interesting benefits can be realized through integrating the X.500 directory into management systems. A concrete example of using a distributed directory service (DDS) in management illustrates the proposal     

Projecting advanced enterprise network and service management toactive networks

Active networks is a promising technology that allows us to control the behavior of network nodes by programming them to perform advanced operations and computations. Active networks are changing considerably the scenery of computer networks and, consequently, affect the way network management is conducted. Current management techniques can be enhanced and their efficiency can be improved, while novel techniques can be deployed. This article discusses the impact of active networks on current network management practice by examining network management through the functional areas of fault, configuration, accounting, performance and security management. For each one of these functional areas, the limitations of the current applications and tools are presented, as well as how these limitations can be overcome by exploiting active networks. To illustrate the presented framework, several applications are examined. The contribution of this work is to analyze, classify, and assess the various models proposed in this area, and to outline new research directions     

Customer network management: a service provider's view

Experience in providing network management for the 1986 Pan American (Pan Am) Games in Indianapolis USA are described. The situation called for an integrated solution that could manage the 5000 voice, data, and video circuits residing within several different networks providing communications for 6500 data terminals and 143 computers spanning 40 locations. The scope of network management is examined, separating it into two parts: management of the specific local exchange carrier services and integrating that with the management of all other products and services. The driving forces behind the need for customer network control are discussed. A two-stage approach to achieving that control is presented     

Machine learning-based zero-touch network and service management: a survey

The exponential growth of mobile applications and services during the last years has challenged the existing network infrastructures. Consequently, the arrival of multiple management solutions to cope with this explosion along the end-to-end network chain has increased the complexity in the coordinated orchestration of different segments composing the whole infrastructure. The Zero-touch Network and Service Management (ZSM) concept has recently emerged to automatically orchestrate and manage network resources while assuring the Quality of Experience (QoE) demanded by users. Machine Learning (ML) is one of the key enabling technologies that many ZSM frameworks are adopting to bring intelligent decision making to the network management system. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of the state-of-the-art application of ML-based techniques to improve ZSM performance. To this end, the main related standardization activities and the aligned international projects and research efforts are deeply examined. From this dissection, the skyrocketing growth of the ZSM paradigm can be observed. Concretely, different standardization bodies have already designed reference architectures to set the foundations of novel automatic network management functions and resource orchestration. Aligned with these advances, diverse ML techniques are being currently exploited to build further ZSM developments in different aspects, including multi-tenancy management, traffic monitoring, and architecture coordination, among others. However, different challenges, such as the complexity, scalability, and security of ML mechanisms, are also identified, and future research guidelines are provided to accomplish a firm development of the ZSM ecosystem.     

Semantic context dissemination and service matchmaking in future network management

The ever‐increasing size, complexity and heterogeneity of telecommunications networks necessitate the introduction of autonomic elements that assist providers in managing and configuring the network's resources. To tackle this increased complexity, it is expected that many specialized autonomic elements will take part in the management process. It becomes necessary for them to collaborate and communicate in order to achieve high‐level, human‐specified, management goals. Therefore, the need for a scalable mechanism to facilitate the interactions between autonomic elements has arisen. This article presents a communications bus, augmented with semantics through the use of ontologies and semantic reasoning, which governs the communication and collaboration between autonomic elements. It supports filtering of context based on meaning. Additionally, it facilitates matchmaking of autonomic element goals with management services using semantic definitions of their inputs, outputs, preconditions and effects. Furthermore, the delay introduced by semantic reasoning was evaluated through an implemented prototype and was shown to be limited to only a few milliseconds. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

CORBA for network and service management in the TINA framework

The Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) specification defines interfaces and services to support interoperability and distribution transparencies for building distributed applications. The Telecommunications Information Networking Architecture (TINA) defines a framework for development of service and network management applications which relies on the use of a distributed processing platform such as CORBA. This approach is presented in the article, which discusses also the interoperation with the current TMN infrastructure     

Topics in network and service management [Series Editorial]

This is the eighth issue of the series on Network and Service Management that is published twice a year, typically in April and October. This issue, however, is being published in July, having been delayed by three months for logistical reasons, and the next issue will be published in November. The series provides articles on the latest developments in this well established discipline, highlighting recent research achievements and providing insight into both theoretical and practical issues related to the evolution of the discipline from different perspectives. The series provides a forum for the publication of both academic and industrial research, addressing the state of the art, theory, and practice in network and service management.     

Customer control of network management from the service provider'sperspective

The current status of Japanese business communications and private network management is discussed, covering requirements, functions, and standardization of network management. The gap between user needs and technology as well as the issue of introduction and operating costs of management systems are examined. Technological elements that are essential to customer control of management functions are discussed, they are: an open interface, an object-oriented operation principle, and the synchronization of online database information     

非线性编辑网络中心管控服务系统的安全测试

重点介绍了非编网络中心管控服务系统中硬件冗余、中心存储安全、数据库系统安全、服务器切换的测试方案以及测试案例,通过网络带宽、软件功能、使用流程、系统安全等各项测试来检验非编网络系统的安全性,并针对某些薄弱环节制定相应的故障处置方案.     

面向业务管理中业务层与管理层接口研究与设计

针对面向业务网络管理系统中业务层与网络层之间没有统一接口规范的情况,详细讨论相关业务对象的抽象方法和手段;描述业务对象的属性;根据抽象的业务时象的属性以及面向业务管理的分层结构,在业务层和网络层之间设计一个统一的接口层;详细讨论该接口层的描述和实现;在基于主动网络技术的面向业务网管原型系统中,该接口层实现并实际应用,结果表明该接口层能使业务层与网络层方便地交互,提高网管系统的可扩展性.     

Virtual network approach to scalable IP service deployment and efficient resource management

As the Internet evolves into a global all-service communication infrastructure, a key consideration is providing quality of service guarantees over IP with efficient resource utilization in a scalable, flexible, and automatic way. In this article we present a virtual network (VN) based architecture for scalable IP service deployment and efficient network resource management. Particularly considering a DiffServ/MPLS III transport network supporting multiple VNs, we propose a dynamic approach for efficient bandwidth sharing among VNs. The bandwidth sharing is service-level-agreement-based; the spare capacity in underloaded VNs is adaptively and efficiently utilized, and SLA compliance for all the VNs involved is always guaranteed.     

可重构柔性网络资源管理与服务映射方法研究

提出了基于资源重组的可重构柔性网络(RFNet)。RFNet中的网络服务是构件的有机组合,并且能够根据新的业务需求,利用构件复用思想,从软硬件出发重构出满足需求的新的网络服务。首先介绍RFNet的体系结构,然后提出RFNet的"资源管理—承载网映射—网络服务映射"的流程机制。经过评估,提出的RFNet"资源管理—承载网映射—网络服务映射"机制能够很好地支持差异化服务的构建与共存,并且基于负载均衡的可重构服务承载网映射算法RSCNM在网络构建成功率、最大节点强度、平均链路利用率和构建平均收益上具有明显的优势。     

嵌入式仪器网管代理服务系统的设计与实现

计算机技术与网络技术的高速发展和广泛普及,使得网络化仪器测控技术得到了人们高度的关注,将测试测量技术、计算机技术、互联网技术融合在一起的网络仪器系统是今后仪器的发展方向。文章对简单网络管理协议及其相关操作进行深入的分析研究,提出了一套切实可行的仪器代理服务系统的构建方案,然后基于现有的软硬件资源,搭建系统运行所需的开发环境。     

探讨基于QoS管控的差异化4G网络服务

随着高流量4G计划的普及以及在线游戏,在线视频,即时消息等移动互联网应用的快速发展,4G网络负载变得越来越繁重。在网络资源不足的情况下,电信运营商必须为不同类型的用户和服务提供差异化的网络服务,以吸引和留住高价值用户,提高网络的竞争力。本文尝试以无线资源利用率为触点,联动核心网与无线侧能力,通过实施基于Qo S(Quality Of Service)管控的差异化调度方案,在无线网络资源不足时,为不同类型的4G用户提供不同的网络感知服务。     

下一代光无源网络(NG-PON)主流技术

FTTH是未来宽带接入网发展的必然趋势,无源光网络(PON)技术以其纯介质网络特性获得越来越广泛的认可及部署,被认为是FTTH的最佳解决方案.文章综述了下一代无源光网NG-PON,扼要地介绍、分析了10G EPON、WDM-PON的工作原理和实现方案,提出了NG-PON的演进思路.     

基于营配信息集成的客户服务管理平台设计与应用

供电企业提供的传统服务机制已越来越不能满足客户需求,客户服务工作模式欠缺主动,获取客户需求能力差,现有的系统之间和各远程服务渠道之间的信息数据缺乏共享性,带来数据应用障碍。对此,引入客户服务管理平台,一方面实现现有系统和各远程服务渠道之间的数据共享,另一方面运用共享的数据引入大数据分析技术实现敏感词预警监控。     

A cognitive network management system to improve QoE in stereoscopic IPTV service

New Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) services are including new technologies such as Stereoscopic TV and three‐dimensions (3D) HDTV. As well, increased ubiquitous networking and promoting in smart devices have led to high demand IPTV (over networks). Stereoscopic content required higher data flow to support these emerging TV services, and there are higher requirements at the network layer to provide good quality of service and quality of experience to the end users in delivering stereoscopic IPTV. In this paper, we propose a new concept of cognitive network management algorithm and protocol based on 3D coding techniques for delivering of stereoscopic IPTV service. The proposed approach explains how the management algorithm observes the network performance to guarantee the quality of the stereoscopic IPTV services, by measuring the performance of quality of service (QoS) parameters (delay, jitter, and packets loss) and quality of experience (QoE) metrics such as Peak Signal‐to‐Noise Ratio (PSNR), Moving Image Videography (MIV), and Mean Opinion Score (MOS). Those parameters are monitored in order to take appropriate codification decision for IPTV service provider. Moreover, the codification decision uses K‐mean classification to select the better codification for the end users. Therefore, both kinds of 3D coding formats such as Stereo Video Coding (SVC) format and 2D + Z Coding format (2D‐plus‐Depth) are selected in our experiments. As a result, our proposal successfully ensures the appropriate quality of service and quality of experience to the end users when the service of stereoscopic IPTV is being delivered.