Managing internal configuration of a communication node

A computer implemented method for generating a policy for managing a configuration of internal components of a communication network node, wherein the communication network node is operable to process an input data flow, the method, performed by a training node, comprising:

• obtaining performance data for the communication network node during a period of operation;
• generating a model of the communication network node using the obtained performance data, the model representing an operational state of the communication network node for a given input data flow, wherein the operational state of the communication network node comprises a combined state formed from operational states of internal components of the communication network node;
• using the model of the communication network node to generate a first data set comprising:
• for a given input data flow to the communication network node, and for given configurations of internal components of the communication network node:
• a representation of the operational state of the communication network node, and
• an observed measure of performance of the communication network node;
• extracting, from the first data set:
• a set of conditional probabilities of operational state transition for the communication network node;
• and
• a set of conditional probabilities of changes in observed measure of performance for the communication network node;
• combining the extracted sets of conditional probabilities with a reward function for the communication network node performance to form a configuration model for the communication network node;
• and
• generating a solution to the configuration model, the solution comprising a policy that is operable to propose a change in configuration of an internal component of the communication network node based on an observed measure of performance of the communication network node.