Automated on-line business bandwidth planning methodology

Abstract

Closed-loop control is applied to the field of automated on-line business bandwidth planning tools by comparing measured business bandwidth with a baseline for providing a difference indication, changing the baseline according to the difference, and reporting the change as an event relating to a service level agreement.

1 . Method for bandwidth management, comprising the steps of:
 measuring, in a measurement domain of an apparatus, a parameter relating to business bandwidth currently provided according to a service level agreement and providing a current bandwidth parameter signal having a magnitude indicative thereof,   comparing, in said measurement domain of said apparatus, the current bandwidth parameter signal with a baseline signal for providing a difference signal,   providing, from a bandwidth profile domain of said apparatus, a validation signal in response to the difference signal for modifying the baseline signal by simulation analysis in a simulation domain of said apparatus, wherein instead of the simulation domain directly modifying the baseline signal by said simulation analysis in response to the difference signal, a results notification signal is provided by said simulation domain in response to the difference signal for providing a learning feedback signal to the bandwidth profile domain for modifying bandwidth profiles, wherein the validation signal is provided in response to modification of the bandwidth profiles for then   modifying the baseline signal by said simulation analysis in response to said validation signal provided by said bandwidth profile domain of said apparatus to said simulation domain of said apparatus upon said modification of the bandwidth profiles.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said modifying comprises bandwidth capacity/flow control. 
     
     
         3 . Apparatus, configured to:
 measure a parameter relating to bandwidth and provide a current bandwidth parameter signal having a magnitude indicative thereof,   compare the current bandwidth parameter signal with a service level agreement baseline signal and provide a difference signal, and   modify the baseline signal in response to the difference signal.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the modification of the baseline signal comprises bandwidth capacity/flow control. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the measurement is carried out in a measurement domain of the apparatus, and the measurement is of a parameter relating to business bandwidth currently provided according to said service level agreement and the measurement results in provision of a current bandwidth parameter signal having a magnitude indicative thereof,   the comparison is carried out in said measurement domain of said apparatus, wherein the current bandwidth parameter signal is compared with said baseline signal for providing said difference signal,   wherein said apparatus provides, from a bandwidth profile domain of said apparatus, a validation signal in response to the difference signal for modifying said baseline signal by simulation analysis in a simulation domain of said apparatus, wherein instead of the simulation domain directly modifying said baseline signal by said simulation analysis in response to the difference signal, a results notification signal is provided by said simulation domain in response to the difference signal for providing a learning feedback signal to the bandwidth profile domain for modifying bandwidth profiles, wherein the validation signal is provided in response to modification of the bandwidth profiles so that said apparatus then   modifies the baseline signal by said simulation analysis in response to said validation signal provided by said bandwidth profile domain of said apparatus to said simulation domain of said apparatus upon said modification of the bandwidth profiles.