# US 2013/0159486 A1 · Network architecture for minimalistic connected objects > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0159486 A1 - Document ID: US20130159486A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/331,776 - Filed: 2011-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Cisco Technology, Inc. - Inventors: Jean-Philippe Vasseur - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130159486A1 ## CPC - H04L 45/42: Centralised routing - H04L 41/00: Arrangements for maintenance, administration or management of data switching networks, e.g. of packet switching networks - H04L 45/64: using an overlay routing layer - H04W 40/24: Connectivity information management, e.g. connectivity discovery or connectivity update - H04L 43/00: Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks - H04L 47/782: {Hierarchical allocation of resources, e.g. involving a hierarchy of local and centralised entities} - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract In one embodiment, a network architecture comprises minimalistic connected objects (MCOs), distributed intelligence agents (DIAs), and central intelligence controllers (CICs). MCOs have limited intelligence sufficient to perform their respective designated task, securely join computer networks, and provide nominal state information. The MCOs are not configured to perform complex application-specific data processing, or complex networking tasks, such as making QoS decisions, participating in CAC operations, providing TE services, executing sophisticated reliability protocols, or extrapolating network management information. DIAs are configured to provide a computer network edge for the MCOs, and are responsible for intelligent networking management and for performing complex application-specific data processing for the MCOs. CICs operate within the computer network and are in communication with the DIAs to perform complex tasks for overarching control of MCO/DIA operation, and are also configured to provide one or more interfaces to receive a set of user-defined rules for MCO/DIA operation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: one or more minimalistic connected objects (MCOs), each MCO having limited intelligence sufficient to perform its respective designated task, securely join a computer network, and provide nominal state information, wherein the MCOs are not configured to perform complex application-specific data processing and complex networking tasks; one or more distributed intelligence agents (DIAs) configured to provide an edge to the computer network for the MCOs, the DIAs responsible for intelligent networking management for the MCOs and for performing complex application-specific data processing for the MCOs; and one or more central intelligence controllers (CICs) within the computer network in communication with the DIAs, the CICs configured to perform complex tasks for overarching control of MCO and DIA operation and also configured to provide one or more interfaces to receive a set of user-defined rules for the MCO and DIA operation. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the complex networking tasks are selected from making quality of service (QoS) decisions, participating in call admission control (CAC) operations, providing traffic engineering (TE) services, executing sophisticated reliability protocols, and extrapolating network management information; and wherein DIAs are further responsible for the MCOs for at least one of the following: making QoS decisions, participating in CAC operations, providing TE services, and extrapolating network management information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein complex application-specific data processing by the DIAs comprises at least one of interpreting data from the MCOs, aggregating data from the MCOs, dropping data from the MCOs, and triggering local actuation at the MCOs. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the DIAs are configured to perform at least one of deep packet inspection and Internet Protocol flow information export (IPFIX) operations. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the DIAs are configured to provide behavioral change instructions to the MCOs. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system as in claim 5, wherein behavioral changes are selected from a group consisting of: forwarding decisions; activation of quality of service (QoS) functionality to mark packets; activation of QoS functionality to apply priority to packets; configuration of call admission control (CAC); activation of data generation; and management of data generation. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the DIAs are configured to provide instructions to the one or more CICs to update MCO operation. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein one or more of the CICs reside locally on one or more of the DIAs. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein nominal state information provided by the MCOs comprises at least one of resource availability, MCO functionality, and MCO capability. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein the designated task of each MCO is selected from a group consisting of: a sensor; an actuator; a tag; and a degenerated router. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system as in claim 1, wherein complex tasks for overarching control of MCO and DIA operation performed by the CICs comprise at least one of security operations, performance monitoring, and service level agreement (SLA) management. ### Claim 12 An apparatus, comprising: a processor adapted to execute one or more processes; a memory configured to store a distributed intelligence agent (DIA) process executable by the processor; one or more network interfaces to communicate with one or more minimalistic connected objects (MCOs), each MCO having limited intelligence sufficient to perform its respective designated task, securely join a computer network, and provide nominal state information, wherein the MCOs are not configured to perform complex application-specific data processing and complex networking tasks; one or more network interfaces to communicate with one or more central intelligence controllers (CICs) within the computer network, the CICs configured to perform complex tasks for overarching control of MCO and DIA operation and also configured to provide one or more interfaces to receive a set of user-defined rules for the MCO and DIA operation; and is wherein the DIA process when executed is operable to: provide an edge to the computer network for the MCOs; provide intelligent networking management for the MCOs; and perform complex application-specific data processing for the MCOs. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the complex networking tasks are selected from making quality of service (QoS) decisions, participating in call admission control (CAC) operations, providing traffic engineering (TE) services, executing sophisticated reliability protocols, and extrapolating network management information; and wherein the DIA process when executed is further operable to at least one of the following: make QoS decisions for the MCOs; participate in CAC operations for the MCOs; provide TE services for the MCOs; and extrapolate network management information for the MCOs. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein complex application-specific data processing comprises at least one of interpreting data from the MCOs, aggregating data from the MCOs, dropping data from the MCOs, and triggering local actuation at the MCOs. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the DIA process when executed is further operable to perform at least one of deep packet inspection and Internet Protocol flow information export (IPFIX) operations. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the DIA process when executed is further operable to: provide behavioral change instructions to the MCOs. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The apparatus as in claim 16, wherein behavioral changes are selected from a group consisting of: forwarding decisions; activation of quality of service (QoS) functionality to mark packets; activation of QoS functionality to apply priority to packets; management of call admission control (CAC); activation of data generation; and management of data generation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 12) The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the DIA process when executed is further operable to: provide instructions to the one or more CICs to update MCO operation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 12) The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the memory is configured to store a CIC process executable by the processor to perform CIC operations. ### Claim 20 (depends on 12) The apparatus as in claim 12, wherein the designated task of each MCO is selected from a group consisting of: a sensor; an actuator; a tag; and a degenerated router. ### Claim 21 An apparatus, comprising: a processor adapted to execute one or more processes; a memory configured to store a minimalistic connected object (MCO) process executable by the processor, the MCO process when executed operable to: perform a designated MCO task; securely join a computer network; and provide nominal state information, wherein the MCO process is not operable to perform complex application-specific data processing and complex networking tasks; one or more network interfaces to communicate with other MCOs; and one or more network interfaces to communicate with one or more distributed intelligence agents (DIAs) configured to provide an edge to the computer network for MCOs, the DIAs responsible for intelligent networking management for MCOs and for performing complex application-specific data processing for MCOs, the DIAs further configured to communicate with one or more network interfaces to communicate with one or more central intelligence controllers (CICs) within the computer network, the CICs configured to perform complex tasks for overarching control of MCO and DIA operation and also configured to provide one or more interfaces to receive a set of user-defined rules for the MCO and DIA operation. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the complex networking tasks are selected from making quality of service (QoS) decisions, participating in call admission control (CAC) operations, providing traffic engineering (TE) services, executing sophisticated reliability protocols, and extrapolating network management information. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) The apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the MCO process when executed is further operable to: receive behavioral change instructions from the DIAs, wherein behavioral changes are selected from a group consisting of: forwarding decisions; activation of quality of service (QoS) functionality to mark packets; activation of QoS functionality to apply priority to packets; management of call admission control (CAC); activation of data generation; and management of data generation. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) The apparatus as in claim 21, wherein the designated task is selected from a group consisting of: a sensor; an actuator; a tag; and a degenerated router. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) The apparatus as in claim 21, wherein nominal state information provided by the MCO process comprises at least one of resource availability, MCO functionality, and MCO capability.