# US 12,771,601 B2 · Network device and method for tracing device configurations > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,771,601 B2 - Document ID: US12771601B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 19/012,637 - Filed: 2025-01-07 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Granted: 2026-10-20 - Earliest claimed: 2022-07-07 - Assignees: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Jean Quilbeuf; Benoit Claise - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12771601B2 ## CPC - H04L 41/085: Retrieval of network configuration; Tracking network configuration history - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract Devices and methods for tracking device configuration changes in a network are provided. The network comprises a client adapted to generate, in response to configuration data, a device configuration change. Then, the client pushes the device configuration change, along with a unique ID and a client ID to a server. The unique ID may be a transaction ID. The client stores the unique ID as a southbound ID in combination with metadata of the configuration data in its configuration history. Correspondingly, the server stores the unique ID received from the client as a northbound ID in combination with the client ID and metadata of the received device configuration change in its configuration history. In this way, the device configuration change pushed to the server can be traced based on the unique ID and the client ID. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A configuration sending device, comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and having processor-executable instructions stored thereon, which upon execution of the processor, facilitate the configuration sending device to: generate a device configuration based on configuration data; generate configuration metadata of the configuration data; generate a unique identifier (ID) associated with the configuration metadata; store the configuration metadata in combination with the unique ID; and send the device configuration, the unique ID, and a configurator ID identifying the configuration sending device to a configuration receiving device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The configuration sending device according to claim 1, wherein the unique ID comprises a transaction ID. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The configuration sending device according to claim 1, wherein the configuration data comprises a service request. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The configuration sending device according to claim 1, wherein the configuration metadata comprises one or more of: a configuration ID, a timestamp, user information, and a method for performing the device configuration. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The configuration sending device according to claim 1, wherein the configuration sending device is a network orchestration entity adapted to send the device configuration to a network controller as the configuration receiving device. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The configuration sending device according to claim 1, wherein the configuration sending device is a network controller adapted to send the device configuration to a network element as the configuration receiving device. ### Claim 7 A configuration receiving device, comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled to the processor and having processor-executable instructions stored thereon, which upon execution of the processor, facilitate the configuration sending device to: receive, from a configuration sending device, a device configuration, a unique identifier (ID) associated with the device configuration, and a configurator ID identifying the configuration sending device; generate configuration metadata of the device configuration; and store the configuration metadata in combination with the unique ID and the configurator ID. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The configuration receiving device according to claim 7, wherein the unique ID comprises a transaction ID. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The configuration receiving device according to claim 7, wherein the configuration metadata comprises one or more of: a configuration ID, a timestamp, user information, and a method for performing the device configuration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The configuration receiving device according to claim 7, wherein the configuration receiving device is a network controller adapted to receive the device configuration from a network orchestration entity as the configuration sending device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The configuration receiving device according to claim 7, wherein the configuration receiving device is a network element adapted to receive the device configuration from a network controller as the configuration sending device. ### Claim 12 A method comprising: generating, by a configuration sending device, a device configuration based on configuration data; generating, by the configuration sending device, a configuration metadata of the configuration data; generating, by the configuration sending device, a unique identifier (ID) associated with the configuration metadata; storing, by the configuration sending device, the configuration metadata in combination with the unique ID; and sending, by the configuration sending device, the device configuration, the unique ID, and a configurator ID identifying the configuration sending device to a configuration receiving device. ### Claim 13 A method comprising: receiving, by a configuration receiving device from a configuration sending device, a device configuration, a unique identifier, ID, associated with the device configuration, and a configurator ID identifying the configuration sending device; generating, by the configuration receiving device, a configuration metadata of the device configuration; and storing, by the configuration receiving device, the configuration metadata in combination with the unique ID and the configurator ID. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) A computer program comprising a program code for performing the method according to claim 12, when executed on a computer. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A computer program comprising a program code for performing the method according to claim 13, when executed on a computer.