Autonomic Networks

Introduction xv

Chapter 1. Artificial Intelligence and Monitoring of Telecommunications Networks1
Hassine MOUNGLA

1.1. Introduction 1

1.2. Network management goals 2

1.3. Monitoring needs of telecommunications networks 3

1.4. The telecommunications management network (TMN) 6

1.4.1. TMN management functions 6

1.4.2. TMN architecture 7

1.5. Control in telecommunications networks 7

1.6. Some AI techniques for monitoring telecommunications networks 9

1.6.1. Chronos: an expert system generator for monitoring telecommunications networks 9

1.6.2. Monitoring with model-based techniques 11

1.6.3. Agent technology 12

1.6.4. Example of agent-based telecommunications network monitoring architecture 14

1.6.5. Telecommunications network management with mobile agents 15

1.7. Conclusion 18

1.8. Bibliography 18

Chapter 2. Adaptive and Programmable Management of IP Quality of Service 23
Miguel CASTRO, Dominique GAÏTI, Abdallah M’HAMED and Djamal ZEGHLACHE

2.1. Introduction 23

2.2. Open and programmable network technology 24

2.3. Active and programmable QoS management over IP 25

2.3.1. Programmable modules 28

2.4. Architecture for adaptive and programmable management 31

2.4.1. Legacy mechanisms 33

2.4.2. MMB 33

2.4.3. MAPI 34

2.4.4. Management kernel 34

2.4.5. Core control 34

2.4.6. Hardware 35

2.5. CLAM: a new language for adaptive and programmable management 35

2.6. Related studies 36

2.6.1. Behavioral networks 36

2.6.2. Smart packets 36

2.6.3. SENCOMM 37

2.6.4. General evaluation 38

2.7. Case studies 39

2.7.1. Case study 1: web service optimization 39

2.7.2. Case study 2: maximization of a given objective function 45

2.7.3. Case study 3: adaptive control of equity 49

2.8. Conclusion and perspectives 57

2.9. Bibliography 58

Chapter 3. Software Agents for IP Management 61
Anneli LENICA

3.1. Introduction 61

3.2. IP networks and their management 62

3.2.1. IP networks 62

3.2.2. IP network evolution and associated problems 63

3.2.3. IP network management 65

3.3. The multi-agent paradigm 66

3.3.1. What is an agent? 66

3.3.2. When should MAS be used? 68

3.4. MAS for IP network management 71

3.4.1. MAS for specific network problems 71

3.4.2. Existing applications 72

3.5. Perspectives and conclusion 78

3.6. Bibliography 79

Chapter 4. The Use of Agents in Policy-based Management 83
Francine KRIEF

4.1. Introduction 83

4.2. Policy-based management 85

4.2.1. The policies 85

4.2.2. Information model 86

4.2.3. Architecture 87

4.2.4. COPS protocol 88

4.2.5. Advantages and challenges 89

4.2.6. The agents and their advantage in network management 90

4.3. Provisioning and service control 91

4.3.1. Dynamic QoS provisioning in wired networks 92

4.3.2. Dynamic QoS provisioning in wireless networks 95

4.3.3. Prediction layer 95

4.3.4. Adaptation layer 96

4.3.5. Monitoring layer 96

4.3.6. Mobile agents for policy-based QoS provisioning 97

4.3.7. Dynamic service provisioning for mobile users 98

4.3.8. Intelligent agents for dynamic security control 99

4.4. Agents and service contract negotiation 100

4.4.1. Service contract 100

4.4.2. An intelligent negotiation interface 101

4.4.3. Client-provider dynamic negotiation 104

4.4.4. Dynamic negotiation between providers 105

4.4.5. Dynamic services negotiation for mobile users 107

4.5. Management of emerging services 107

4.5.1. Emerging services 108

4.5.2. Dynamic management of emerging services 109

4.5.3. Dynamic management of group multimedia services 110

4.6. Conclusion 111

4.7. Bibliography 112

Chapter 5. Multi-agent Platforms 117
Zeina EL FERKH JRAD

5.1. Introduction 117

5.2. Towards a standardization of multi-agent technology 118

5.2.1. FIPA model 118

5.2.2. KAOS model 121

5.2.3. General Magic model 122

5.3. Characteristics of a multi-agent platform 122

5.3.1. Methodological requirements for a multi-agent simulation platform 123

5.3.2. Other forms of requirements for an agent platform 124

5.4. Multi-agent platform evaluation 125

5.5. Examples of MAS platforms 127

5.5.1. Platforms for simulation 127

5.5.2. Implementation platforms 131

5.5.3. Mobility platforms 138

5.6. Conclusion 139

5.7. Bibliography 140

Chapter 6. Behavioral Modeling and Multi-agent Simulation 143
Leila MERGHEM-BOULAHIA

6.1. Introduction 143

6.2. Traditional network modeling and simulation approaches 144

6.2.1. Queuing theory 145

6.2.2. Modeling by Petri nets 145

6.2.3. Modeling by process algebra 145

6.2.4. Limits 146

6.3. Multi-agent modeling and simulation 147

6.3.1. Multi-agent simulation steps 147

6.3.2. Contributions 148

6.4. Behavioral modeling 149

6.4.1. Principle 149

6.4.2. Contributions 150

6.5. Two-level behavioral model of a network node 151

6.5.1. Introduction 151

6.5.2. Role of the two behavioral levels 153

6.5.3. Agents 154

6.5.4. Model of two behavioral levels. 154

6.5.5. Ensuring adaptability 156

6.6. Perspectives and conclusion 158

6.7. Bibliography 159

Chapter 7. Behavioral Modeling and Simulation: An Example in Telecommunications Networks 163
Leila MERGHEM-BOULAHIA

7.1. Introduction 163

7.2. Basic behaviors adapted to networks 164

7.2.1. Queue management basic behaviors 164

7.2.2. Scheduling basic behaviors 167

7.2.3. Routing basic behaviors 168

7.3. Metabehaviors 169

7.3.1. Queue management metabehavior 169

7.3.2. Scheduling metabehavior 170

7.3.3. Routing metabehavior 171

7.4. Simulation components and parameters 171

7.4.1. Objects 171

7.4.2. Agents 172

7.4.3. Parameters 173

7.5. A few results 174

7.5.1. Impact of queue management basic behaviors 174

7.5.2. Impact of scheduling basic behaviors 176

7.5.3. Impact of queue management metabehavior rules 178

7.5.4. Impact of scheduling metabehavior rules 179

7.6. Discussion 179

7.7. Conclusion and perspectives 181

7.8. Bibliography 182

Chapter 8. Multi-agent System in a DiffServ Network: Behavioral Models and Platform 185
Nada MESKAOUI

8.1. Introduction 185

8.2. Quality of service – existing solutions and their problems 186

8.2.1. RTP/RTCP 186

8.2.2. IntServ/RSVP 187

8.2.3. DiffServ 187

8.3. Agents, multi-agent systems and architectures 188

8.3.1. Agents 188

8.3.2. MAS 190

8.4. Towards intelligent and cooperative telecommunications networks 191

8.4.1. Node structure 192

8.4.2. Agent components 193

8.4.3. Agent behavioral model 194

8.5. Simulation – platform, topology and results 200

8.5.1. Platform 200

8.5.2. Topology and configuration 201

8.5.3. Simulation results 203

8.6. Conclusion 209

8.7. Bibliography 209

Chapter 9. Intelligent Agent Control Simulation in a Telecommunications Network 213
Hugues LECARPENTIER

9.1. Introduction 213

9.2. Network management and control by intelligent software agents 215

9.2.1. Agent-based admission control 215

9.2.2. Project Tele-MACS 215

9.2.3. Project Hybrid 215

9.2.4. Route selection by mobile agents 216

9.2.5. Cooperative mobile agents for network mapping 216

9.2.6. Project MAGNA 216

9.3. Simulating the behavior of intelligent agents in a communication network 217

9.3.1. Simulation of behavioral quality of service network control 217

9.3.2. Intelligent control simulation of a DiffServ network 217

9.3.3. Comparison and choice of a platform 218

9.4. Detailed simulator presentation 218

9.4.1. Structure of an INET node 219

9.5. Software agent architecture 224

9.5.1. Events monitor 226

9.5.2. Cleaner 227

9.5.3. Message interface 227

9.5.4. Task interface 229

9.5.5. Manager 229

9.6. Illustration 229

9.6.1. Quality of service control for voice over IP 229

9.6.2. Presentation of agents and routers used 230

9.7. Conclusion 231

9.8. Bibliography 231

Chapter 10. Agents and 3rd and 4th Mobile Generations 233
Badr BENMAMMAR

10.1. Introduction 233

10.2. Agent technology 234

10.2.1. Definition of an agent 234

10.3. Introduction to UMTS 238

10.3.1. VHE 239

10.3.2. Application of agents in UMTS 241

10.4. Introduction to WLAN 253

10.4.1. Application of agents in wireless networks 254

10.4.2. Problems related to the application of MAS in wireless environments 256

10.5. 4th generation mobile network 256

10.5.1. Definition of 4th generation 256

10.5.2. User expectations for mobile 4G networks 257

10.5.3. Technical conditions to achieve 4th mobile generation 258

10.5.4. Application of agents in 4G mobile networks 258

10.6. Conclusion 263

10.7. Bibliography 264

Chapter 11. Learning Techniques in a Mobile Network 267
Sidi-Mohammed SENOUCI

11.1. Introduction 267

11.2. Learning 269

11.2.1. Unsupervised learning 269

11.2.2. Supervised learning 269

11.2.3. Reinforcement learning 270

11.3. Call admission control 275

11.3.1. Problem formulation 275

11.3.2. Implementation of algorithm 276

11.3.3. Experimental results 278

11.4. Dynamic resource allocation 280

11.4.1. Problem formulation 281

11.4.2. Algorithm implementation 282

11.4.3. Experimental results 283

11.5. Conclusion 284

11.6. Bibliography 286

Chapter 12. An Experimental Example of Active Networks: The Amarrage Project 289
Nadjib ACHIR, Yacine GHAMRI-DOUDANE and Mauro FONSECA

12.1. Introduction 289

12.2. Description of the Amarrage project 291

12.2.1. Objectives 291

12.2.2. Contributions 292

12.3. Active networks: active architecture example for the control and management of DiffServ networks 296

12.3.1. DiffServ 298

12.3.2. Policy-based control 300

12.3.3. Description of architecture components 302

12.3.4. Capsule filtering at the level of data plan 305

12.3.5. Active router resource monitoring 305

12.3.6. Definition of QoS policies 306

12.3.7. Definition and deployment of TCB 307

12.3.8. Sensor deployment 309

12.3.9. Implementation of DACA architecture 310

12.3.10. Evaluation of DACA architecture behavior 312

12.4. Conclusion 315

12.5. Bibliography 315

List of Authors 317

Index 319