Method and a controller device for configuring a software-defined network

A method for configuring one or more network elements of a software-defined network on the basis of relation data items and action policy rules, each relation data item expressing a pair of entities of the network and a relationship between the entities, and each action policy rule expressing a network-related event and one or more network-related actions to be carried out in response to the event, the method comprising:

• receiving and storing, at a controller device, the relation data items;
• at the controller device, using the relation data items to derive and store implicit relation data items expressing implicit relations between pairs of the entities,
• whereby a first one of the implicit relations is derived on the basis of first and second ones of the relation data items,
• the first one of the relation data items expressing a relationship between first and second ones of the entities,
• the second one of the relation data items expressing a relationship between the second one and a third one of the entities, and
• the first one of the implicit relations expressing a relationship between the first and third ones of the entities;
• generating and storing, at the controller, the configuration data on the basis of the relation data items, the action policy rules, and the derived implicit relations;
• and
• at the controller, transmitting, as network data receivable and operable by the one or more network elements, the configuration data to the one or more network elements.

A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a computer program for configuring one or more network elements of a software-defined network on the basis of relation data items and action policy rules, each relation data item expressing a pair of entities of the network and a relationship between the entities, and each action policy rule expressing a network-related and one or more network-related actions to be carried out in response to the event, the computer program comprising computer executable instructions that, upon execution by a programmable processor, causes the programmable processor to:

• receive and store, via a data interface, the relation data items;
• derive and store implicit relation data items that express implicit relations between pairs of the entities, on the basis of the relation data items,
• whereby a first one of the implicit relations is derived on the basis of first and second ones of the relation data items,
• the first one of the relation data items expressing a relationship between first and second ones of the entities,
• the second one of the relation data items expressing a relationship between the second one and a third one of the entities, and
• the first one of the implicit relations expressing a relationship between the first and third ones of the entities;
• generate and store configuration data for the one or more network elements on the basis of the relation data items, the action policy rules, and the derived implicit relation;
• and
• via a network interface, transmit, as network data receivable and operable by the one or more network elements, the configuration data to the one or more network elements.

A communications network, comprising:

• one or more network devices;
• and
• a controller device for transmitting configuration data to the one or more network devices so as to configure the one or more network devices,
• wherein the controller device comprises:
• a data interface that receives relation data items and action policy rules, each relation data item expressing a pair of entities of the network and a relationship between the entities, and each action policy rule expressing a network-related event and one or more network-related actions to be carried out in response to the event;
• a network interface that transmits and receives data to and from the network;
• and
• a processor that generates the configuration data for the one or more network devices, and
• wherein the processor of the controller device is configured to:
• derive and store implicit relation data items expressing implicit relations between pairs of the entities on the basis of the received relation data items,
• whereby a first one of the implicit relations is derived on the basis of first and second ones of the relation data items,
• the first one of the relation data items expressing a relationship between first and second ones of the entities,
• the second one of the relation data items expressing a relationship between the second one and a third one of the entities, and
• the first one of the implicit relations expressing a relationship between the first and third ones of the entities,
• generate and store the configuration data for the one or more network devices on the basis of the relation data items, the action policy rules, and the derived implicit relations, and
• cause the network interface to transmit, as network data receivable and operable by the one or more network elements, the configuration data to the one or more network devices.