nmts

README

Network Model for Temporospatial Systems (NMTS)

Inspired by Google's Multi-Abstraction-Layer Topology (MALT; see NSDI 2020 site for paper, slides, and recorded presentation), this collection of protobuf definitions and supporting code aims to make feasible richer communications network modeling of time-dynamic elements.

As in the MALT paper, this is an Entity-Relationship system where each have "kinds" but only Entities have attributes.

The primary purpose of this data model is to support constructing a graph of a network with its temporo-spatial dynamic aspects suitable for:

1. evaluating whether and how a requested service might be built atop the network, and
2. issuing instructions to selected elements necessary to enact the service.

In other words, this data model is in service of a Network Digital Twin of the style depicted in draft-irtf-nmrg-network-digital-twin-arch:

        +---------------------------------------------------------+
        |   +-------+   +-------+          +-------+              |
        |   | App 1 |   | App 2 |   ...    | App n |   Application|
        |   +-------+   +-------+          +-------+              |
        +-------------^-------------------+-----------------------+
                      |Capability Exposure| Intent Input
                      |                   |
        +-------------+-------------------v-----------------------+
        |                        Instance of Digital Twin Network |
        |  +--------+   +------------------------+   +--------+   |
        |  |        |   | Service Mapping Models |   |        |   |
        |  |        |   |  +------------------+  |   |        |   |
        |  | Data   +--->  |Functional Models |  +---> Digital|   |
        |  | Repo-  |   |  +-----+-----^------+  |   | Twin   |   |
        |  | sitory |   |        |     |         |   | Network|   |
        |  |        |   |  +-----v-----+------+  |   |  Mgmt  |   |
        |  |        <---+  |  Basic Models    |  <---+        |   |
        |  |        |   |  +------------------+  |   |        |   |
        |  +--------+   +------------------------+   +--------+   |
        +--------^----------------------------+-------------------+
                 |                            |
                 | data collection            | control
        +--------+----------------------------v-------------------+
        |                      Real Network                       |
        |                                                         |
        +---------------------------------------------------------+

          Figure 2: Reference Architecture of Digital Twin Network

It aims to facilitate use by an SDN Controller.

Documentation

• Entity-Relationship model