INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN SYSTEM AND INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN METHOD

An infrastructure design system includes an infrastructure design apparatus configured to generate infrastructure design information including information regarding a server infrastructure in which an application of a solution service is installed and a wireless communication infrastructure that connects the server infrastructure with a place where the solution service is used. The infrastructure design apparatus manages provision cost information regarding each of the wireless communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure, calculates estimated latency at a time of providing the solution service, on the basis of a communication delay between a solution service usage environment and the server infrastructure and a processing delay of the application, selects a combination of the wireless communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure on the basis of the estimated latency and a provision cost, and outputs the combination as infrastructure design information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to an infrastructure design system and an infrastructure design method.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the introduction of fifth-generation (5G) mobile communication, such wireless communication that has low latency, is broadband, and is highly reliable has been available. As a result, it becomes possible to integrate various existing networks at sites where operation technology (OT) work is carried out, to thereby provide digital transformation (DX) solution services aimed at streamlining business, which has been difficult with the conventional wireless communication, while reducing costs for network construction and operation. In particular, in a manufacturing industry or logistics industry where there is a labor shortage or customer needs are diversified, for example, there is a desire to streamline business by introducing new solutions such as real-time work instructions using high-definition video analysis, device control that enables persons and robots to work collaboratively, and remote control that gives an operator a sense of actually being there.

In order to provide such solution services as described above, it is necessary to select, according to performance requirements for each solution service and a usage scale thereof, ones from among computational infrastructures such as edge servers (multi-access edge computing (MEC)) or cloud servers for executing an application and communication infrastructures such as local/public 5G, long-term evolution (LTE), and Wi-Fi for connecting the computational infrastructure with a site where the solution service is used, such that a provision cost, e.g., a construction cost, becomes optimal, and perform infrastructure design.

An example of the performance requirements for a solution service is latency. To provide a solution service, it is necessary to perform infrastructure design while taking into account provision costs regarding various combinations of computational infrastructures and communication infrastructures that can satisfy a latency requirement for the solution service.

It is conceivable that, if a system engineer performs such infrastructure design manually, for example, a lead time required to provide a service may be lengthened, and it may take time to redesign the infrastructure in a case where the scale of the service used by a customer has changed, increasing costs of the solution provision. For these reasons, it is necessary to provide an infrastructure design system capable of, while taking provision costs into account, promptly and easily designing such communication and computational infrastructures that can satisfy a latency requirement for a solution.

JP-2020-140276-A (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 1) discloses a method of creating network setting contents for a control apparatus that constructs a network by using a network requirement generated through an analysis of a service requirement inputted by a user. JP-2020-184745-A (hereinafter, referred to as Patent Document 2) discloses a method in which a resource orchestrator allocates, while minimizing data center migration and satisfying a guaranteed delay level, communication and computational resources to a mobile user who is moving along a predicted route.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the method disclosed in Patent Document 1, network design information is generated on the basis of the service requirement. However, the details of selection of a connection destination server to which an application is to be deployed, and allocation of computational resources are not given in Patent Document 1. In contrast, according to the method disclosed in Patent Document 2, for a site where the solution is used, a server to which an application is to be deployed can be selected from among a plurality of servers while a delay limit is taken into account.

In the related art, however, it has been considered that infrastructure design information regarding a communication infrastructure and a computational infrastructure cannot be provided by appropriately taking the latency and the provision cost into account.

A typical example of the invention disclosed in the present application is as follows. That is, there is provided an infrastructure design system that includes an infrastructure design apparatus configured to generate infrastructure design information including information regarding a server infrastructure in which an application of a solution service is installed and a wireless communication infrastructure that connects the server infrastructure with a place where the solution service is used. The infrastructure design apparatus includes a processor and a storage unit. The storage unit manages provision cost information regarding each of the wireless communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure. The processor calculates estimated latency at a time of providing the solution service, on the basis of a communication delay between the place where the solution service is used and the server infrastructure and a processing delay of the application, selects a combination of the wireless communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure on the basis of the estimated latency and a provision cost managed by the storage unit, and outputs the combination as infrastructure design information. Note that the infrastructure design apparatus may be an infrastructure design server and that the infrastructure design server may output infrastructure design information to a terminal of the infrastructure design server via a communication interface.

A typical example of the invention disclosed in the present application is as follows. That is, there is provided an infrastructure design method of generating, by an infrastructure design apparatus including a processor and a storage unit, infrastructure design information including information regarding a server infrastructure in which an application of a solution service is installed and a wireless communication infrastructure that connects the server infrastructure with a place where the solution service is used. The method includes managing, by the storage unit, provision cost information regarding each of the wireless communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure, calculating, by the processor, estimated latency at a time of providing the solution service, on the basis of a communication delay between the place where the solution service is used and the server infrastructure and a processing delay of the application, and selecting, by the processor, a combination of the wireless communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure on the basis of the estimated latency and a provision cost and outputting the combination as infrastructure design information.

According to the present invention, the infrastructure design information regarding the communication infrastructure and the computational infrastructure can be provided by appropriately taking the latency and the provision cost into account. Note that the abovementioned problem, configuration, and effect will be clarified by the description of the following embodiments.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. The embodiments are examples for explaining the present invention, and omissions and simplifications are made thereon as appropriate in order to clarify the explanation. The present invention can also be implemented in various other forms. Unless otherwise specified, each component may be a single component or multiple components.

Positions, sizes, shapes, ranges, etc., of the components illustrated in the drawings may be different from actual positions, sizes, shapes, ranges, etc., in order to facilitate understanding of the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not necessarily limited to the positions, sizes, shapes, ranges, etc., disclosed in the drawings.

In the following description, various items of information are expressed as a “table,” a “list,” a “queue,” etc., but may also be expressed as any other data structure. For example, various items of information expressed as an “XX table,” an “XX list,” an “XX queue,” etc., may also be expressed as “XX information.” While “identification information,” an “identifier,” a “name,” an “ID,” a “number,” etc., are used in the following description to explain identification information, these terms can mutually be interchanged.

In a case where a plurality of components have the same or similar function, they are denoted by the same reference sign with different suffixes added thereto. However, if they do not need to be distinguished from each other, they are denoted by the same reference sign without suffixes.

In the following description of the embodiments, processing is performed by a program being executed, in some cases. In such a case, a calculator uses a processor (for example, a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphics processing unit (GPU)) to execute a program and performs processing defined in the program, with the use of a storage resource (for example, a memory) or an interface device (for example, a communication port), for example. Accordingly, a subject which performs processing by executing a program may be the processor. Similarly, the subject which performs the processing by executing the program may be a controller, an apparatus, a system, a calculator, or a node having a processor. The subject which performs the processing by executing the program is only required to be a computing unit, and may include a dedicated circuit that performs specific processing. Here, the dedicated circuit is, for example, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a complex programmable logic device (CPLD).

A program may be installed in a calculator from a program source. The program source may be a program distribution server or a storage media that can be read by a calculator, for example. In a case where the program source is the program distribution server, the program distribution server may include a processor and a storage resource that stores a program to be distributed, and the processor of the program distribution server may distribute, to another calculator, the program to be distributed. In addition, in the embodiments, two or more programs may be provided as one program, and one program may be provided as two or more programs.

In the embodiments, a technique for designing, while taking latency into account, a computational infrastructure and communication for a system required to provide a solution service will be described. This technique can contribute to the service provision from an economic perspective. Here, the latency is broadly divided into two types of delay: a communication delay between a site where a solution service is used and a server on which an application operates; and a processing delay of the application that operates on the server. The communication delay is determined by, for example, a type of communication infrastructure to be used or a communication distance, and the processing delay is determined by, for example, computational resources such as the number of CPU cores or a memory that is allocated to the application on the server.

First Embodiment

With reference toFIG.1throughFIG.13, an infrastructure design system according to a first embodiment will be described below.

FIG.1is a block diagram illustrating an example of an infrastructure configuration pattern that is for providing solution services and that is designed by an infrastructure design server1of the infrastructure design system according to the present embodiment. The infrastructure design server1determines, as an infrastructure for allowing a user to use a solution service, a combination of a wireless communication infrastructure and a server infrastructure50(reference signs50-A through50-C inFIG.1) or a server infrastructure60(reference signs60-A through60-C inFIG.1), and generates design information.

A wireless communication infrastructure40(reference signs40-A through40-C inFIG.1) is a network infrastructure for connecting a user terminal71of a user, which is present in a solution service usage environment70, to the server infrastructure50or the server infrastructure60via a wireless interface. Examples of the wireless communication infrastructure40include a local 5G network, a public 5G network, and a Wi-Fi network. The wireless communication infrastructure40has a base station41(reference signs41-A through41-C inFIG.1) that implements an access point function according to an employed wireless method, and a network management server42(reference signs42-A through42-C inFIG.1) for setting the network and performing user management.

The server infrastructure50is provided on a cloud and is connected to the user terminal71via the wireless communication infrastructure40and a public network80. The server infrastructures50-A,50-B, and50-C represent different clouds. The respective clouds may be present in physically different areas, and the physical distance to the solution service usage environment70may possibly be different among the clouds. In addition, the server infrastructure50includes a cloud server51(reference signs51-A through51-C inFIG.1) that provides computational resources for executing a solution service application, and a cloud management server52(reference signs52-A through52-C inFIG.1) for setting the cloud server51and monitoring a usage situation thereof. The cloud management server52monitors communication between the cloud server51and the user terminal71and enables measurement of a communication delay for each solution service and measurement of a processing delay of a solution service application executed on the cloud server51.

Meanwhile, the server infrastructure60is provided on an edge cloud that is directly connected to the wireless communication infrastructure40. The server infrastructure60includes an edge server61(reference signs61-A through61-C inFIG.1) that provides computational resources for executing a solution service application, and an edge management server62(reference signs62-A through62-C inFIG.1) for setting the edge server61and monitoring a usage situation thereof. The edge management server62monitors communication between the edge server61and the user terminal71and enables measurement of a communication delay for each solution service and measurement of a processing delay of a solution service application executed on the edge server61.

Next, with reference toFIG.2, an example of a functional configuration of the infrastructure design server1will be described.FIG.2is a block view illustrating an example of the functional configuration of the infrastructure design server1according to the present embodiment. The infrastructure design server1includes an operator input/output unit10, a service requirement generation unit11, an infrastructure design unit12, a service template database (DB)20, a wireless communication infrastructure information DB21, a server infrastructure information DB22, and an inter-area delay information DB23.

The operator input/output unit10generates a service provision information input screen700(described later inFIG.12) for allowing an operator2to input service provision information, receives input of the service provision information, and outputs the service provision information to the service requirement generation unit11. The service provision information includes, for example, a solution service name of a service to be provided, the number of users using the service, and a service provision area in which the service is provided. The operator input/output unit10also generates an infrastructure design information output screen800(described later inFIG.13) for outputting infrastructure design information generated by the infrastructure design unit12, and outputs the infrastructure design information output screen800to the operator2. Further, the operator input/output unit10outputs, to the operator2, a service template table100that is managed by the service template DB20, a wireless communication infrastructure information table200that is managed by the wireless communication infrastructure information DB21, a server infrastructure information table300that is managed by the server infrastructure information DB22, and an inter-area delay information table400that is managed by the inter-area delay information DB23. In addition, the operator input/output unit10receives, from the operator2, information for registering, correcting, or deleting an entry in each table, and executes registration, correction, or deletion of the entry in each table. Note that the details of the service template table100, the wireless communication infrastructure information table200, the server infrastructure information table300, and the inter-area delay information table400will be described later by usingFIG.4,FIG.5,FIG.6, andFIG.7.

When receiving the service provision information from the operator input/output unit10, the service requirement generation unit11generates service requirement information by referring to the service template table100managed by the service template DB20, and outputs the service requirement information to the infrastructure design unit12. The details of the service requirement information will be described later.

When receiving the service requirement information from the service requirement generation unit11, the infrastructure design unit12generates infrastructure design information on the basis of the service requirement information by referring to the wireless communication infrastructure information table200managed by the wireless communication infrastructure information DB21, the server infrastructure information table300managed by the server infrastructure information DB22, and the inter-area delay information table400managed by the inter-area delay information DB23, and outputs the infrastructure design information to the operator input/output unit10.

The service template DB20is a database that manages the service template table100.

The wireless communication infrastructure information DB21is a database that manages the wireless communication infrastructure information table200.

The server infrastructure information DB22is a database that manages the server infrastructure information table300.

The inter-area delay information DB23is a database that manages the inter-area delay information table400.

Next, with reference toFIG.3, an example of a hardware configuration of the infrastructure design server1will be described.FIG.3is a block view illustrating an example of the hardware configuration of the infrastructure design server1. The infrastructure design server1according to the present embodiment is configured by a calculator that has a processor30, a memory31, an auxiliary storage device32, an input device33, an output device34, a communication interface35, and a bus36.

The processor30is an arithmetic device that executes a program stored in the memory31. The processor30executes various programs to thereby execute functions of the respective units (for example, the operator input/output unit10, the service requirement generation unit11, the infrastructure design unit12, etc.) of the infrastructure design server1. Note that part of the processing performed by the processor30executing a program may be executed by other hardware, i.e., another arithmetic device, such as an ASIC or an FPGA.

The memory31includes a read-only memory (ROM), which is a non-volatile storage element, and a random-access memory (RAM), which is a volatile storage element. The ROM stores a program or the like (for example, a basic input/output system (BIOS)) that does not change. The RAM is a high-speed volatile storage element such as a dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), and temporarily stores a program executed by the processor30and data used when the program is executed.

The auxiliary storage device32(a storage unit) is a large-capacity non-volatile storage device such as a magnetic storage device (a hard disk drive (HDD)) or a flash memory (a solid-state drive (SSD)), for example. In addition, the auxiliary storage device32stores data (for example, the service template table100, the wireless communication infrastructure information table200, etc.) used when the processor30executes a program, and a program that is executed by the processor30. In other words, each of the functions of the infrastructure design server1is implemented when a program is read out from the auxiliary storage device32, loaded into the memory31, and executed by the processor30.

The input device33is an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse. The output device34is an interface which is connected to an output device such as a display or a printer is connected and which outputs a result of executing a program in a format that an operator can visually recognize. Note that an operator terminal connected to the infrastructure design server1via a network may serve as an input device and an output device. In this case, the infrastructure design server1may have a web server function, and the operator terminal may access the infrastructure design server1according to a predetermined protocol (for example, http).

The communication interface35is a network interface device that controls communication with another apparatus (for example, a terminal of the infrastructure design server1) according to a predetermined protocol.

The bus36is a communication channel for transmitting and receiving data to and from each piece of hardware.

Next, with reference toFIG.4, an example of a service template table will be described.FIG.4illustrates an example of the service template table100managed by the service template DB20. The service template table100according to the present embodiment includes a solution service name101, a latency limit102, a per-unit requested bandwidth103, and a per-unit processing delay104. The solution service name101is a service name for uniquely identifying a solution service, and differs among entries in the service template table100. The latency limit102is maximum latency that is acceptable at a time of providing the solution service. The latency in the present embodiment is defined as the sum of a communication delay from the user terminal71to the cloud server51or the edge server61and a processing delay of an application executed by the cloud server51or the edge server61. Alternatively, the latency may be defined as the sum of a round-trip communication delay from the user terminal71to the cloud server51or the edge server61and a processing delay. The per-unit requested bandwidth103is a communication bandwidth of the wireless communication infrastructure40which is necessary for the number of users per unit who use the solution service, and is a value that enables calculation of a necessary communication bandwidth according to the number of users to whom the service is provided. The per-unit processing delay104is a processing delay in a case where the application is executed with an amount of computational resources per unit which are to be provided, with respect to the number of users per unit who use the solution service, and is a value that enables calculation of a processing delay according to the number of users to whom the service is provided and an amount of computational resources for executing the application.

Next, with reference toFIG.5, an example of a wireless communication infrastructure information table will be described.FIG.5is an example of the wireless communication infrastructure information table200managed by the wireless communication infrastructure information DB21. The wireless communication infrastructure information table200according to the present embodiment includes a communication infrastructure name201, a communication method202, a provision area203, a bandwidth204, a wireless network section delay205, and a provision cost206. The communication infrastructure name201is a name for uniquely identifying a wireless communication infrastructure that is to be provided, and differs among entries in the wireless communication infrastructure information table200. The communication method202indicates a communication method used by a wireless communication infrastructure of a corresponding entry, and includes information such as local 5G, public 5G, or Wi-Fi, for example. The provision area203includes information regarding an area where the communication infrastructure of the corresponding entry can be provided. The bandwidth204indicates a maximum communication bandwidth that the wireless communication infrastructure of the corresponding entry can provide. The wireless network section delay205indicates a maximum communication delay in a network section provided by the wireless communication infrastructure of the corresponding entry. The provision cost206indicates a provision cost at a time of providing the wireless communication infrastructure of the corresponding entry. The provision cost206is, for example, a fee for providing the corresponding wireless communication infrastructure. In another example, the provision cost206is an amount of carbon dioxide emitted in a case of using the corresponding wireless communication infrastructure. For example, the provision cost206may be set to a value based on the communication method202, the bandwidth204, the wireless network section delay205, and the like.

Next, with reference toFIG.6, an example of a server infrastructure information table will be described.FIG.6is an example of the server infrastructure information table300managed by the server infrastructure information DB22. The server infrastructure information table300according to the present embodiment includes a server infrastructure name301, a server type302, cloud location information303, a usable wireless communication infrastructure304, the number of CPU cores305, a memory306, and a provision cost307. The server infrastructure name301is a name for uniquely identifying a server infrastructure that is to be provided, and differs among entries in the server infrastructure information table300. The server type302is information regarding whether a server infrastructure of a corresponding entry is provided on a cloud or an edge cloud. The cloud location information303indicates information regarding a location where the server infrastructure of the corresponding entry is present. In a case where the server type302of the server infrastructure is “cloud,” the cloud location information303includes information regarding an area representing a classification of a location where the server infrastructure is present. In a case where the server type302is “edge,” the cloud location information303includes information indicating that the server infrastructure is present on an edge cloud. The usable wireless communication infrastructure304indicates a wireless communication infrastructure name201of a wireless communication infrastructure that can be selected as being used in combination with the server infrastructure of the corresponding entry. For example, in a case of a server infrastructure provided on an edge cloud owned by a communication provider that provides a wireless communication infrastructure, the usable wireless communication infrastructure may be limited to the wireless communication infrastructure provided by the communication provider. The number of CPU cores305indicates information regarding the number of CPU cores that are provided as a computational resource by the server infrastructure of the corresponding entry. The memory306indicates information regarding a size of memory that is provided as a computational resource by the server infrastructure of the corresponding entry. The provision cost307is a provision cost at a time of providing the corresponding server infrastructure, and indicates information similar to the provision cost in the wireless communication infrastructure information table200. In other words, the provision cost307is a fee, for example, or is an amount of emitted carbon dioxide in another example. In addition, the provision cost307may be set to a value based on the number of CPU cores305and the memory306, for example.

Next, with reference toFIG.7, an example of an inter-area delay information table will be described.FIG.7is an example of the inter-area delay information table400managed by the inter-area delay information DB23. The inter-area delay information table400includes information regarding a communication delay in a section of the public network80in a case of performing communication between an area in which the solution service usage environment70is present and an area in which the server infrastructure50provided on a cloud is present.

Next, with reference toFIG.8, an example of an operation performed by the infrastructure design server.FIG.8is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation of performing infrastructure design by the infrastructure design server1according to the present embodiment.

First, the operator input/output unit10displays a service input screen to the operator2, receives input of service provision information (S101), and outputs the service provision information to the service requirement generation unit11(S102). The service provision information includes information regarding a solution service name, the number of service-provided users, and a service provision area. The service requirement generation unit11refers to the service template table100on the basis of the service provision information received from the operator input/output unit10, generates service requirement information (S103), and outputs the service requirement information to the infrastructure design unit12(S104). The details of the processing for generating the service requirement information (S103) will be described later by usingFIG.9.

The infrastructure design unit12refers to the wireless communication infrastructure information table200and the server infrastructure information table300on the basis of the received service requirement information, extracts combinations of wireless communication infrastructures and server infrastructures such that the sum of the communication delay and the processing delay is equal to or less than the latency limit for the solution service to be provided, selects, from among the extracted combinations, a combination for which the provision cost is a minimum, and generates infrastructure design information (S105). For example, the infrastructure design information includes a solution service name, the number of service-provided users, a communication infrastructure name of the selected wireless communication infrastructure, a server infrastructure name of the selected server infrastructure, and a total provision cost of the communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure. The details of the processing for generating the infrastructure design information (S105) will be described later by usingFIG.10andFIG.11. The infrastructure design unit12transmits the generated infrastructure design information to the operator input/output unit10(S106). The operator input/output unit10generates an output screen on the basis of the received infrastructure design information, and outputs the output screen to the operator2(S107).

Next, with reference to the flow chart inFIG.9, an example of the operation of generating the service requirement information by the service requirement generation unit11(S103) will be described in detail. When the service requirement generation unit11receives service provision information from the operator input/output unit10(S110), the service requirement generation unit11first searches the service template table100by using, as a search key, a solution service name included in the service provision information, to thereby identify a corresponding entry (S111). Next, the service requirement generation unit11calculates requested bandwidth from the number of service-provided users included in the service provision information and the per-unit requested bandwidth103of the identified entry. For example, in a case where the per-unit requested bandwidth103indicates requested bandwidth for every five users and where the number of users included in the service provision information is 10, the requested bandwidth is two times the per-unit requested bandwidth. Similarly, the service requirement generation unit11calculates a processing delay per unit-computational resource from the number of service-provided users included in the service provision information and the per-unit processing delay104of the identified entry (S112). Then, the service requirement generation unit11generates service requirement information which includes the solution service name, the number of service-provided users, the service provision area, the latency limit included in the identified entry, and the calculated requested bandwidth and processing delay per unit-computational resource (S113).

Next, with reference to the flow chart inFIG.10, an example of the operation of generating the infrastructure design information by the infrastructure design unit12of the infrastructure design server1(S105) will be described in detail. When receiving service requirement information from the service requirement generation unit11(S120), the infrastructure design unit12first refers to the wireless communication infrastructure information table200(S121), searches for entries in which the provision area203corresponds to a service provision area included in the service requirement information and in which the bandwidth204is equal to or greater than requested bandwidth (S122), and extracts, as communication infrastructure candidates, all entries satisfying these conditions (S123). Next, the infrastructure design unit12refers to the server infrastructure information table300(S124), compares the usable wireless communication infrastructures304with the communication infrastructure candidates, and verifies whether there is a combination that can be provided (S125). In a case where there is a combination that can be provided, the infrastructure design unit12calculates estimated values of the communication delay and the processing delay for all combinations of the communication infrastructure candidates and server infrastructures that can be provided, and calculates the sum of the estimated values of the communication delay and the processing delay as an estimated value of the latency (S126). Note that a detailed flow chart of this process (S126) will be described later by usingFIG.11. Then, the infrastructure design unit12verifies whether there is a combination whose estimated value of the latency is equal to or less than the latency limit for the solution service to be provided (S127), and calculates a total provision cost, which is the sum of the provision costs of the wireless communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure, for each combination of the wireless communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure whose estimated value of latency is equal to or less than the latency limit (S128). Then, the infrastructure design unit12selects a combination having the lowest total provision cost, and generates infrastructure design information on the basis of the service requirement information and the entry corresponding to the selected combination in the wireless communication infrastructure information table200and the server infrastructure information table300(S129). In a case where there is no wireless communication infrastructure satisfying the provision area and the requested bandwidth in S122, where there is no server infrastructure that can be provided in reference to the communication infrastructure candidates in S125, or where there is no combination whose estimated value of latency is equal to or less than the latency limit for the solution service in S127, on the other hand, the infrastructure design unit12generates infrastructure design information indicating that the infrastructure is unable to be provided (S130).

Next, with reference to the flow chart inFIG.11, an example of the operation of calculating an estimated value of latency by the infrastructure design unit12of the infrastructure design server1for a combination of a communication infrastructure candidate and a server infrastructure (S126) will be described in detail. First, regarding the server infrastructure included in the combination, in a case where the server type302of the corresponding entry in the server infrastructure information table300is “cloud” (S131), the infrastructure design unit12refers to the cloud location information303and identifies a location information of the cloud (S132). On the basis of the service provision area included in the service requirement information and the location information of the cloud, the infrastructure design unit12refers to the inter-area delay information table400to thereby calculate a communication delay in a public-network section between the service provision area and the cloud (S133). Further, the infrastructure design unit12acquires the wireless network section delay205of the corresponding entry in the wireless communication infrastructure information table200, calculates the sum of the wireless network section delay205and the communication delay in the public-network section, and calculates the communication delay for the combination (S134). In a case where the server type302is “edge” in S131, on the other hand, the infrastructure design unit12acquires the wireless network section delay205of the corresponding entry in the wireless communication infrastructure information table200, and calculates the wireless network section delay205as the communication delay for the combination (S135). Next, the infrastructure design unit12calculates a processing delay from the processing delay per unit-computational resource included in the service requirement information, as well as the number of CPU cores305and the memory306, in the server infrastructure information table300, of the entry corresponding to the server infrastructure included in the combination. For example, in a case where the number of CPU cores and the memory of a unit-computational resource are 32 and 32 GB, respectively, and where the number of CPU cores and the memory of the corresponding entry are 64 and 64 GB, respectively, the processing delay is calculated as half of the processing delay per unit-computational resource (S136). Finally, the infrastructure design unit12calculates the sum of the communication delay and the processing delay as an estimated value of the latency for the corresponding combination (S137).

Next, with reference toFIG.12, an example of a display of a service provision information input screen will be described.FIG.12illustrates an example of a display of a service provision information input screen generated by the operator input/output unit10of the infrastructure design server1. The service provision information input screen700according to the present embodiment serves as an interface for allowing the operator2to select or input a solution service name, the number of users, and a service provision area and execute infrastructure design, for example.

Next, with reference toFIG.13, an example of a display of an infrastructure design information output screen will be described.FIG.13is an explanatory view illustrating an example of a display of an infrastructure design information output screen generated by the operator input/output unit10of the infrastructure design server1. The infrastructure design information output screen800according to the present embodiment includes, for example, a solution service name, the number of service-provided users, a communication infrastructure name of the selected wireless communication infrastructure, a server infrastructure name of the selected server infrastructure, and a total provision cost of the communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure.

According to the first embodiment described above, it is possible to provide an infrastructure design system that can promptly and easily generate design information regarding a wireless communication infrastructure and a computational infrastructure, such that a provision cost becomes optimal, while satisfying a latency requirement which includes a communication delay and a processing delay at a time of providing a solution service.

Second Embodiment

With reference toFIG.14throughFIG.20, an infrastructure design system according to a second embodiment will be described below. In the description of the second embodiment, configurations or functions that are the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference signs, and description thereof is omitted in some cases. In addition, description similar to that of the first embodiment is omitted in some cases.

The infrastructure design system according to the present embodiment is capable of performing, for a solution service being provided for which infrastructure design has been performed by using this system, the infrastructure design again when the number of service-provided users has changed or the measured latency has exceeded the latency limit for the solution service. Note that, since it requires a large fee to change the wireless communication infrastructure, only the server infrastructure is to be changed when the infrastructure design is performed again.

FIG.14is a block view illustrating an example of a functional configuration of an infrastructure design server3according to the second embodiment. The infrastructure design server3includes an operator input/output unit13, a service requirement generation unit14, an infrastructure design unit15, an infrastructure usage situation monitoring unit16, the service template DB20, the wireless communication infrastructure information DB21, the server infrastructure information DB22, the inter-area delay information DB23, and a service provision information DB24.

In addition to the function of the operator input/output unit10according to the first embodiment, the operator input/output unit13has a function of, when outputting infrastructure design information generated by the infrastructure design unit15to the operator2, receiving input from the operator2as for whether to accept or reject the infrastructure design information, and registering the infrastructure design information in a service provision information table500which is managed by the service provision information DB24, when receiving the input of acceptance, but discarding the infrastructure design information when receiving the input of rejection. The operator input/output unit13also has a function of outputting the service provision information table500acquired from the service provision information DB24to the operator2, and when the operator2selects an entry to be corrected and sends a request to perform a redesign including a change in the number of service-provided users, receiving the request from the operator2and outputting service provision information to the service requirement generation unit14. Further, the operator input/output unit13has a function of, when an entry to be redesigned is selected and the latency exceeds the latency limit, receiving a request to perform a redesign and outputting the service provision information to the service requirement generation unit14.

When receiving the service provision information from the operator input/output unit13, the service requirement generation unit14generates service requirement information by referring to the service template table100managed by the service template DB20, and outputs the service requirement information to the infrastructure design unit15. The details of the service requirement information for performing the infrastructure design again in the present embodiment will be described later.

When receiving the service requirement information from the service requirement generation unit14, the infrastructure design unit15generates infrastructure design information on the basis of the service requirement information by referring to the wireless communication infrastructure information table200managed by the wireless communication infrastructure information DB21, a server infrastructure information table600managed by the server infrastructure information DB22, the inter-area delay information table400managed by the inter-area delay information DB23, and the service provision information table500managed by the service provision information DB24, and outputs the infrastructure design information to the operator input/output unit10.

The infrastructure usage situation monitoring unit16has a function of connecting to the cloud management server52and the edge management server62, acquiring measurement values of a communication delay and a processing delay in a solution service being provided, calculating an average value of latency in a certain length of time, for example, on the basis of these measurement values, and registering the average value of the latency as measured latency510in the service provision information table500managed by the service provision information DB24.

The service provision information DB24is a database that manages the service provision information table500.

Next, with reference toFIG.15, an example of a service provision information table will be described.FIG.15is an example of the service provision information table500managed by the service provision information DB24in the second embodiment. The service provision information table500includes a service ID501, a solution service name502, the number of users503, a service provision area504, a latency limit505, a communication infrastructure name506, a server infrastructure name507, a server type508, the measured latency510, and a total provision cost511. The service ID501is an ID for uniquely identifying an entry in the service provision information table500and is given to an entry which is added when the operator2performs infrastructure design to provide a solution service and accepts the generated infrastructure design information. The solution service name502is a service name for uniquely specifying a solution service. The number of users503and the service provision area504are the number of service-provided users and a service provision area which are inputted when the operator2executes infrastructure design related to the entry. The latency limit505is a latency limit at a time of providing the solution service. The communication infrastructure name506, the server infrastructure name507, and the server type508are the communication infrastructure name, the server infrastructure name, and the server type that are included in the infrastructure design information generated when infrastructure design corresponding to the entry is executed. The measured latency510is a measurement value of latency based on the information regarding the communication delay and the processing delay in each service, which has been acquired by the infrastructure usage situation monitoring unit16from the network management server42, the cloud management server52, and the edge management server62. The total provision cost511is the total provision cost of the communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure.

Next, with reference toFIG.16, an example of a server infrastructure information table will be described.FIG.16is an example of the server infrastructure information table600managed by the server infrastructure information DB22in the second embodiment. Similarly to the server infrastructure information table300in the first embodiment, the server infrastructure information table600includes a server infrastructure name601, a server type602, cloud location information603, a usable wireless communication infrastructure604, the number of CPU cores605, a memory606, and a provision cost607, and also includes a provision vendor608, a same-vendor migration cost609, and a different-vendor migration cost610. The provision vendor608indicates a vendor for providing a server infrastructure. The same-vendor migration cost609is a value used to calculate the cost in a case of migrating between server infrastructures in the same provision vendor. The different-vendor migration cost610is a value used to calculate the cost in a case of migrating between server infrastructures in different provision vendors.

Next, with reference toFIG.17, an example of an operation performed by the infrastructure design server.FIG.17is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation of, by the infrastructure design server3according to the present embodiment, correcting the number of service-provided users and performing the infrastructure design again for a solution service being provided.

First, the operator input/output unit13displays the service provision information table500to the operator2. When the operator2selects an entry to be corrected, the operator input/output unit13receives a request to execute a redesign including a change in the number of service-provided users (S201), and outputs service provision information to the service requirement generation unit14(S202). The service provision information includes information regarding the service ID of the entry selected by the operator2in the service provision information table500, the solution service name, the changed number of service-provided users, and the service provision area. Similarly to S103, the service requirement generation unit14refers to the service template table100on the basis of the service provision information received from the operator input/output unit13, generates service requirement information (S203), and outputs the service requirement information to the infrastructure design unit15(S204). The service requirement information includes the service ID of the entry selected by the operator2in the service provision information table500, the solution service name, the changed number of service-provided users, the service provision area, the latency limit included in the identified entry, the calculated requested bandwidth, and the processing delay per unit-computational resource.

The infrastructure design unit15refers to the wireless communication infrastructure information table200and the server infrastructure information table600on the basis of the received service requirement information, extracts combinations of server infrastructures and the wireless communication infrastructure used by the solution service being provided, such that the sum of the communication delay and the processing delay is equal to or less than the latency limit for a solution service to be provided, selects, from among the extracted combinations, a combination having the lowest total cost, which is the sum of the provision cost and the migration cost, and generates infrastructure design information (S205). For example, the infrastructure design information includes the solution service name, the number of service-provided users, the communication infrastructure name of the wireless communication infrastructure, the server infrastructure name of the selected server infrastructure, and the total provision cost of the communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure. The details of the processing for generating the infrastructure design information (S205) will be described later by usingFIG.18. The infrastructure design unit15then transmits the generated infrastructure design information to the operator input/output unit13(S206). The operator input/output unit13generates an output screen on the basis of the received infrastructure design information, and outputs the output screen to the operator2(S207). Further, in a case where the operator2has made input to accept the infrastructure design information, the operator input/output unit13corrects a corresponding entry in the infrastructure design information table (service provision information table500) according to the infrastructure information (S208).

Next, with reference to the flow chart inFIG.18, an example of the operation of generating the infrastructure design information by the infrastructure design unit15of the infrastructure design server3(S205) will be described in detail. First, when the infrastructure design unit15receives service requirement information from the service requirement generation unit14(S210), the infrastructure design unit15refers to the wireless communication infrastructure information table200(S211), and verifies whether the wireless communication infrastructure being provided satisfies the requested bandwidth (S212). In a case where the requested bandwidth is satisfied, the infrastructure design unit15refers to the server infrastructure information table600(S213), calculates estimated values of the communication delay and the processing delay for all combinations of the communication infrastructure being provided and server infrastructure that can be provided, and calculates the sum of the estimated values of the communication delay and the processing delay as an estimated value of latency (S214). This processing (S214) is similar to the processing described by usingFIG.11in the first embodiment. Then, the infrastructure design unit15verifies whether there is a combination whose estimated value of latency is equal to or less than the latency limit for the solution service to be provided (S215), and calculates the total cost, which is the sum of the provision cost and the migration cost, for the server infrastructure included in the combination whose estimated value of latency is equal to or less than the latency limit (S216). To calculate the total cost, the provision vendors608of a corresponding server infrastructure and the server infrastructure being provided are compared with each other, and when they are the same, the same-vendor migration cost609is used as the migration cost. When they are different from each other, on the other hand, the different-vendor migration cost610is used as the migration cost. As a result, the cost required to migrate between server infrastructures provided by the same provision vendor can be estimated to be lower. Then, the infrastructure design unit15selects a combination having the lowest provision cost and generates infrastructure design information on the basis of the service requirement information and the entry corresponding to the selected combination in the wireless communication infrastructure information table200and the server infrastructure information table300(S217). In a case where the wireless communication infrastructure being provided does not satisfy the requested bandwidth in S212or where there is no combination whose estimated value of latency is equal to or less than the latency limit for the solution service in S215, on the other hand, the infrastructure design unit15generates infrastructure design information indicating that the infrastructure is unable to be provided (S218).

As described above, even if the number of users using the solution service being provided increases or decreases and requirements for the requested bandwidth and the latency limit are thus changed, it is possible to deal with such a change and promptly and easily execute a redesign of a server infrastructure such that the cost is optimal.

Next, with reference toFIG.19, an example of an operation performed in a case where the measured latency is exceeding a latency limit will be described.FIG.19is a sequence diagram illustrating an example of an operation of performing the infrastructure design again by the infrastructure design server3according to the present embodiment for a solution service being provided, in a case where the measured latency is exceeding a latency limit. First, the operator input/output unit13displays the service provision information table500to the operator2. When the operator2selects an entry to be redesigned and sends a request to execute a redesign due to the latency exceeding the latency limit, the operator input/output unit13receives the request (S221) and outputs service provision information to the service requirement generation unit14(S222). The service provision information includes the service ID of the entry selected by the operator2in the service provision information table500, the solution service name, the service provision area, and a latency limit exceeded flag indicating that a redesign is required due to the latency exceeding the latency limit. Similarly to S103, the service requirement generation unit14refers to the service template table100on the basis of the service provision information received from the operator input/output unit13, generates service requirement information (S223), and outputs the service requirement information to the infrastructure design unit15(S224). The service requirement information includes the service ID of the entry selected by the operator2in the service provision information table500, the solution service name, the service provision area, the latency limit included in the identified entry, the calculated requested bandwidth, the processing delay per unit-computational resource, and the latency limit exceeded flag.

The infrastructure design unit15refers to the service provision information table500on the basis of the received service requirement information, calculates, as a changed latency limit, a value obtained by subtracting an excess of the measured latency510with respect to the latency limit505from the latency limit505, refers to the wireless communication infrastructure information table200and the server infrastructure information table600, extracts combinations of server infrastructures and the wireless communication infrastructure used by the solution service being provided, such that the sum of the communication delay and the processing delay is equal to or less than the changed latency limit, selects, from among the extracted combinations, a combination having the lowest total cost, which is the sum of the provision cost and the migration cost, and generates infrastructure design information (S225). For example, the infrastructure design information includes the solution service name, the number of service-provided users, the communication infrastructure name of the wireless communication infrastructure, the server infrastructure name of the selected server infrastructure, and the total provision cost of the communication infrastructure and the server infrastructure. The details of the processing for generating the infrastructure design information (S225) will be described later by usingFIG.20. The infrastructure design unit15then transmits the generated infrastructure design information to the operator input/output unit13(S226). The operator input/output unit13generates an output screen on the basis of the received infrastructure design information and outputs the output screen to the operator2(S227). Further, in a case where the operator2has made input to accept the infrastructure design information, the operator input/output unit13corrects a corresponding entry in the infrastructure design information table (service provision information table500) according to the infrastructure information (S228).

Next, with reference to the flow chart inFIG.20, an example of the operation of generating the infrastructure design information by the infrastructure design unit15of the infrastructure design server3(S225) will be described in detail. First, when the infrastructure design unit15receives service requirement information from the service requirement generation unit14(S230), the infrastructure design unit15refers to the wireless communication infrastructure information table200and the server infrastructure information table600(S231), calculates estimated values of the communication delay and the processing delay for all combinations of the communication infrastructure being provided and server infrastructures that can be provided, and calculates the sum of the estimated values of the communication delay and the processing delay as an estimated value of latency (S232). This processing (S232) is similar to the processing described by usingFIG.11in the first embodiment. Then, the infrastructure design unit15verifies whether there is a combination whose estimated value of latency is equal to or less than the changed latency limit for the solution service to be provided (S233), and calculates the total cost, which is the sum of the provision cost and the migration cost, for the server infrastructure included in the combination whose estimated value of latency is equal to or less than the latency limit (S234). To calculate the total cost, the provision vendors608of a corresponding server infrastructure and the server infrastructure being provided are compared with each other, and when they are the same, the same-vendor migration cost609is used as the migration cost. When they are different from each other, on the other hand, the different-vendor migration cost610is used as the migration cost. Then, the infrastructure design unit15selects a combination having the lowest provision cost and generates infrastructure design information on the basis of the service requirement information and the entry corresponding to the selected combination in the wireless communication infrastructure information table200and the server infrastructure information table600(S235). In a case where there is no combination whose estimated value of latency is equal to or less than the latency limit for the solution service in S233, on the other hand, the infrastructure design unit15generates infrastructure design information indicating that the infrastructure is unable to be provided (S236).

As described above, even in a case where the latency exceeds a latency limit in the solution service being provided, the excess can be eliminated by reducing the processing delay, and a redesign of a server infrastructure can promptly and easily be executed such that the cost is optimal.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and includes various modifications and configurations equivalent to those described above within the spirit of the attached claims. For example, the embodiments have been described above in detail in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, but the present invention is not necessarily limited to one including all configurations described above. Further, part of the configuration of one embodiment may be replaced by the configuration of another embodiment. In addition, the configuration of one embodiment may be added to the configuration of another embodiment. Moreover, addition of another configuration, deletion, and replacement may be made on part of the configuration of each embodiment.

For example, even in a case where the server infrastructure50is located in a remote location such as a foreign country and there is a great distance to the place where the service is used, a proper evaluation can be carried out through the processing by taking into account the physical distance between the server infrastructure and the solution service usage environment70.

In the embodiments described above, the infrastructure design server has been described as an example of an infrastructure design apparatus which is a computer for performing infrastructure design. However, it is sufficient if appropriate processing can be performed, and the infrastructure design apparatus may be a computer that does not provide data or the like to another computer, for example.