Network System of Systems Manager

For several decades, the L3Harris Mission Networks organization has perfected the design, deployment, operations, and management of enterprise-level networks for safety-critical missions using a managed service framework. L3Harris has successfully constructed geographically large and technologically diverse Local Area Network (LAN)/Wide Area Network (WAN) solutions for State and Federal customers by selecting, optimizing, and integrating Commercial off the Shelf (COTS) products and services into an integrated or homogeneous solution meeting exacting performance requirements. These purpose-built network solutions ensure performance and resilience through tailored provisioning and the configuration of highly reliable (e.g., through adaptive redundancy) architectures, diverse service connections and equipment, ubiquitous bandwidth allocation and an unparalleled telecommunication provider governance by a centralized operational support system.Over this same period, there have been key advances in the networking industry which signal the need to evolve beyond our centralized managed services model. These advances include the rapid industry transition from a dedicated Time-division Multiple Access (TDMA)-based solution to multifunction IP-based networks with Quality of Service (QoS) support, the growing deployment of Software Defined Everything (SDE), AI-assisted advanced modeling and simulation, near-universal adoption of cloud-based Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), design patterns and deployment solutions with the increasing presence of wireless services such as 5G (both fixed and mobile), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Geostationary Orbit (GEO), Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and Medium Earth Orbit (MEO).Within these evolving technologies, network management solutions can move from centralized to federated architectures with the promise of effortless scalability, dynamic adaptability, and seamless collaboration. A federated hierarchical architecture offers organizations a blueprint allowing coordinated management, interoperability of data, resources and processes across heterogeneous systems, locations, and organizational boundaries. To take maximum advantage of such an architecture, we believe there is an opportunity to streamline and optimize network designs through an implementation of a Network System of Systems Manager (NSoSM). The NSoSM is a centralized system used to ingest network telemetry data across one or more networks, process data via AI/ML algorithms, to make informed decisions to improve the delivery of prioritized customer data and improve the usability of mission critical customer applications.The federated architecture construct, consisting of loosely coupled constituent databases for sharing and data exchange, has evolved beyond its origin and the set of standards facilitating its integration. The use of an Open Platform Communications (OPC) Unified Architecture (UA) [01], the International Society of Automation (ISA)-95 model [02], the Manufacturing Enterprise Solutions Association (MESA) Business to Manufacturing Markup Language (B2MML) [03], and message exchange models have improved integration and scalability, resulting in wide adoption in manufacturing environments.The adoption of a federated architecture in enterprise-level, mission critical networks present several challenges. The solution to these challenges can be addressed with three primary capabilities: 1) Integrated Situational Awareness; 2) Integration Gateway, and 3) AI Augmentation and Automated Orchestration, carrying independent value and, when fused together, achieve a NSoSM which autonomously supports a federated ecosystem:Integrated Situational Awareness. Adapting to the increasing volume of technological solutions, the need for highly customized service integrator solutions evolves from a centralized integration of disparate platforms to an enterprise orchestration of integrated System-of-Systems (SoS). This is achieved through creating a hyperconverged monitoring and data collection capability of system logs, synthetic network probes, streaming telemetry and real-time channel performance metrics collected by Fault Management Systems, Network Performance Monitoring and Diagnostics Systems, and Application Performance Monitoring systems. Integrating these COTS solutions, together with Situational Awareness, offer end-to-end (E2E) planning, fault analysis, and command and control (C
²
) of regulated network environments.Integration Gateway. Of critical importance in the NSoSM model is the need to create a homogeneous, clear user experience across a heterogeneous collection of federated systems. This involves the definition and harmonization of the exchanged data and the technologies used for sending and receiving the exchanged data with intelligent markers to incorporate customer and mission-defined, protections. This involves both the harmonization of data from dissimilar heterogeneous end-systems to a common operating picture and to convert it back to native system languages when suggested configurations are being recommended to optimize customer service performance.AI Augmentation and Automated Orchestration (AIA
²
O). This capability is comprised of three primary and sequential functions: Datasets, Frameworks and Procedure Validation for AIOps and Command and Control (C
²
) Orchestration. Data from the Integration Gateway is interpreted into logical threads where Artificial Intelligence (AI)/Machine Learning (ML) algorithms and models apply insight to optimizations required for an improved User Experience (UX), via autonomous orchestration, reducing and sometimes eliminating the human-in-the-loop delay not only reducing the decision chain but also reducing human error. Insights and procedures are validated in a digital twin representation followed by the orchestration of optimizations in a production environment.The Federal Aviation Administration’s publication of Initial Concept of Operations for an Info-Centric National Airspace System asserts that "The integrated information environment, providing data services including data integration from various sources, allows federated actors to reconcile, contextualize, and share relevant information’’. Additionally, value is perceived by enabling "multiple entities to provide a federated set of xTM services for flights operating within the same airspace". Implementing and operating NSoSM capabilities, comprised of an integrated gateway, integrated situational awareness, and AI augmentation and automated orchestration are at the core of where mission critical, enterprise-level networks and SDE are evolving for State, Federal, and Department of Defense (DoD) organizations. L3Harris’ approach to the design of a NSoSM solution provides a limitless overlay adapting to emerging and evolving technologies, meanwhile reduce operating expenses (OpEx) via an ever-growing AI community, enabling independent systems to collectively deliver value that cannot be achieved independently.