IntentAI Overview

IntentAITM is an advanced AI-driven solution designed to autonomously manage and optimize network performance. It leverages cutting-edge AI technologies to ensure seamless connectivity, reliability, and efficiency. By utilizing fundamental network intents, IntentAI dynamically adapts to changing network conditions and user needs, providing optimal performance and operational goals based on user-defined preferences. Network intent refers to a high-level objective that defines the desired performance trade-offs and operational goals for the network. These intents guide the autonomous configuration, optimization, and management of the network based on user-defined preferences. They ensure that the network adapts dynamically to changing conditions and user needs, providing a seamless and efficient experience.

AI-Driven Features and Integration

IntentAI integrates AI-powered features to autonomously manage and optimize wireless networks using intent-based directives. These features enable real-time adjustments to ensure network performance aligns with user-defined goals. By leveraging AI algorithms and machine learning, IntentAI interprets and executes high-level intents, optimizing resource allocation, enhancing security, and adapting to changing network conditions. It continuously monitors the network, detecting deviations in behavior or performance and proactively adjusting configurations to maintain optimal performance. Key challenges addressed include channel planning in various environments, RF optimization, management traffic reduction in high-density networks, and security enhancements with features like Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) handling. The AI features integrated by IntentAI include:
  • AI-Driven Radio Resource Management (RRM): A centralized AI algorithm that minimizes co-channel interference by optimizing channel reuse, bandwidth, and AP transmit power, ensuring the least interfering links for access points. For more information, refer to AI-Driven RRM.
  • EquiFlex: An AI-driven solution that optimizes Wi-Fi performance in high-density environments by intelligently managing probe responses. For more information, refer to EquiFlex.
  • AI Operations: A compilation of AI-driven recommendations, enhancing network performance by automating management tasks, reducing manual intervention, and streamlining adjustments to changing conditions. For more information, refer to AI Operations.

Defining the Network Intents

In the IntentAI framework, AI-driven features provide network optimization recommendations through a Natural Language Style Priority Selection Model. This model enables you to make configuration choices that align with specific network priorities, effectively defining the network intent.

These configuration choices allow you to determine the primary focus of the network in terms of performance trade-offs. For example, you may choose between prioritizing high client density (supporting more connected devices) or high throughput (optimized performance for fewer devices). Once the intent priority is specified, IntentAI automatically adjusts the network configuration to honor the selected priority, autonomously optimizing the network in real-time.

For the complete list of supported AI-feature-specific intents, corresponding priorities that define the intent, and the scope of the intent, refer to AI Feature-specific Intents, Network Priorities, and Scope.

User Control and Flexibility

By allowing administrators to set network priorities, IntentAI provides you the flexibility to override the default recommendation and implement alternative configurations tailored to specific requirements. This ensures that, even though the system is highly autonomous, you retain control over the network’s operations, allowing for personalized performance adjustments.

How IntentAI Works

At the core of IntentAI is its capability to continuously monitor real-time network conditions. By analyzing network usage patterns, performance metrics, and configuration settings, IntentAI identifies sub-optimal network configurations or performance issues. Whenever an opportunity to improve upon a sub-optimal configuration is detected, the system generates a recommendation in the form of an 'Intent', representing a potential network optimization. The newly generated intent appears on the IntentAI page with a status labeled New.

At this point, IntentAI expects manual input to proceed, and you can decide how to implement the proposed recommendation. There are two methods by which you can apply the intent to optimize the network:
  • 1-Click Optimize: This option offers a quick, hands-off approach, where the system automatically applies the default AI-recommended configuration based on the prioritized intent, optimizing the network with minimal manual input. For more information on how to apply an intent using this option, refer to Applying an Intent Using the 1-Click Optimize Option.
  • Optimize: This option launches a detailed workflow wizard that guides you through an in-depth analysis of the intent and provides an opportunity to review key performance indicators (KPIs), visual charts, trade-offs, and configuration choices. The system typically presents two configuration options based on specific network priorities that define the user intent. While IntentAI recommends the best course of action, you can override this recommendation and select the alternative intent based on your desired goal for network optimization. For more information on how to apply an intent using this option, refer to Applying an Intent Using the Optimize Option.

In both optimization methods, you can schedule the intent by specifying the date and time for its initial application. The system retains this scheduled time for future use, which IntentAI leverages daily to implement any necessary adjustments. If any subsequent network configuration changes are detected, the intent will be automatically applied at the user-specified time, ensuring consistent optimization based on the latest network conditions.

Once an intent is applied, its status changes from New to Active. At this stage, IntentAI autonomously manages the network configuration, continuously optimizing it without further manual input. In the Active state, the system continuously monitors KPIs, analyzes changes in network conditions, and adjusts configurations as needed to maintain optimal performance. This persistent process continues until either an error is encountered or the administrator chooses to revert or pause the recommendation. If the administrator chooses to pause the intent, all automation workflows are halted, and the network remains in its current state without triggering any configuration changes. During this paused state, KPI monitoring, ML model generation, recommendation updates, and configuration changes are suspended, ensuring no further adjustments occur until the intent is resumed. If reverted, the original configuration is restored.

If the status of the intent becomes Verified, it signifies that IntentAI has validated the venue configurations and no further changes are currently recommended. It will continue to monitor the venue and raise a recommendation if an improvement is required. For more information on the full list of statuses and corresponding actions, refer to Table 1.

Through a combination of advanced AI algorithms, continuous monitoring, and flexible automation workflows, IntentAI streamlines network management. By autonomously managing configurations and providing actionable insights, it empowers network administrators to focus on higher-level tasks while ensuring optimal network performance.

Note:

IntentAI Overview. This video provides an introduction to the IntentAI solution.

Click to play video in full screen mode.