Cross-network communication method applied to fttr, communication device and medium

Abstract

This application provides a cross-network communication method, communication device, and medium for FTTR (Fixed-Time Transmission). The method is applied to a first network device, which is a master device in a first FTTR network. The method includes communicating with a master device in a second FTTR network via a preset communication link. Both the first and second FTTR networks belong to a target network system. One of the master devices in the first and second FTTR networks is a global master node determined from the target network system. The communication link is a Layer 3 link between the global master node and master devices in other FTTR networks within the target network system. The global master node manages all FTTR networks in the target network system through the communication link. This application aims to achieve management and interoperability across FTTR networks.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of information processing technology, and in particular to a cross-network communication method, communication device and medium applied to FTTR. Background Technology

[0002] In large-scale environments, multiple independent FTTR networks are needed to cover the entire area. One approach is to downgrade multiple FTTR networks into a single FTTR network, but this may disrupt the original network topology and fail to provide effective unified management of multiple LANs. Another approach uses Virtual Scalable LAN (VLAN) technology to achieve inter-LAN communication, but this only solves the data forwarding problem and lacks overall network management. How to achieve management and interoperability across FTTR networks is a pressing issue that needs to be discussed and resolved. Summary of the Invention

[0003] This application provides a cross-network communication method, communication device, and medium for FTTR, aiming to achieve management and interoperability across FTTR networks.

[0004] In a first aspect, embodiments of this application provide a cross-network communication method for FTTR, applied to a first network device, the first network device being a master device in a first FTTR network; the method includes: communicating with a master device of a second FTTR network through a preset communication link, wherein both the first FTTR network and the second FTTR network belong to a target network system; one of the master devices of the first network device and the second FTTR network is a global master node determined from the target network system, the communication link being a Layer 3 link between the global master node and master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system, the global master node being used to manage all FTTR networks in the target network system through the communication link.

[0005] In a second aspect, embodiments of this application provide a communication device, comprising: at least one processor; at least one memory for storing at least one program; and, when at least one of the programs is executed by at least one of the processors, implementing the cross-network communication method applied to FTTR as described in the first aspect.

[0006] Thirdly, embodiments of this application provide a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the cross-network communication method applied to FTTR as described in the first aspect.

[0007] Fourthly, embodiments of this application provide a computer program product, including a computer program or computer instructions, the computer program or computer instructions being stored in a computer-readable storage medium, a processor of a computer device reading the computer program or computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium, and the processor executing the computer program or computer instructions to cause the computer device to perform the cross-network communication method applied to FTTR as described in the first aspect.

[0008] In this embodiment, within a target network system comprising multiple FTTR networks, one master device from each FTTR network is designated as the global master node. This global master node establishes Layer 3 communication links with the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system. The global master node can communicate with these other FTTR network master devices through these Layer 3 communication links, thereby enabling centralized management of all FTTR networks within the target network system. By determining the global master node and establishing Layer 3 communication links, unified management and interoperability of multiple independent FTTR networks are achieved without altering the original internal topology of each FTTR network.

[0009] Other features and advantages of this application will be set forth in the following description and will be apparent in part from the description or may be learned by practicing the application. The objectives and other advantages of this application may be realized and obtained by means of the structures particularly pointed out in the description, claims and drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 A flowchart illustrating a cross-network communication method applied to FTTR provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the architecture of multiple FTTR networks provided as an example in this application; Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of the master device of an FTTR network provided as an example in this application; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of the module structure of a slave device in an FTTR network provided as an example in this application; Figure 5 A schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between master devices in a three-layer network, as provided as an example in this application; Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between a master device and a slave device in a Layer 2 network, as an example provided in this application. Figure 7 This application provides an example of an interaction diagram illustrating the indirect management of a peer slave device by a master device. Figure 8This application provides an example of a tree-shaped FTTR network topology. Figure 9 This application provides an example of a star topology for an FTTR network. Figure 10 A schematic diagram illustrating the process of assembling a Layer 2 network and a Layer 3 network as an example of this application; Figure 11 An interactive diagram illustrating the tunnel established between master devices as an example provided in this application; Figure 12 An interactive diagram illustrating the three-layer network topology and configuration synchronization provided as an example in this application; Figure 13 This is an example of an interaction diagram for message transmission between master devices provided in this application; Figure 14 A schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between a master device and a slave device indirectly configured as an example of this application; Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Detailed Implementation

[0011] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of this application clearer, the following detailed description is provided in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative and not intended to limit the scope of this application.

[0012] It should be noted that although functional modules are divided in the device schematic diagram and a logical order is shown in the flowchart, in some cases, the steps shown or described may be performed in a different order than the module division in the device or the order in the flowchart. The terms "first," "second," etc., in the specification, claims, and the aforementioned drawings are used to distinguish similar objects and are not necessarily used to describe a specific order or sequence.

[0013] In the description of the embodiments of this application, unless otherwise expressly limited, terms such as setting, installing, and connecting should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in the embodiments of this application in combination with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0014] In this application, the terms "furthermore," "exemplarily," or "optionally" are used as examples, illustrations, or descriptions and should not be construed as being more preferred or advantageous than other embodiments or designs. The use of terms such as "furthermore," "exemplarily," or "optionally" is intended to present the relevant concepts in a specific manner.

[0015] Before providing a further detailed description of the embodiments of this application, the nouns and terms used in the embodiments of this application are explained, and the nouns and terms used in the embodiments of this application shall be interpreted as follows: FTTR (Fiber to the Room): is a whole-house high-speed network coverage solution based on fiber optic technology. It achieves high-speed and stable network connection in every corner of the house by laying fiber optic cables directly to each room or area.

[0016] MFU (Main FTTR Unit): The core control device in a fiber-to-the-room network, usually deployed at the network entrance, is responsible for establishing internet connections and distributing signals to various slave devices via fiber optic cables, thereby enabling network management and control.

[0017] SFU (Sub FTTR Unit): A network access device installed in each room or area, connected to the main device, providing wireless fidelity signals and Ethernet interfaces to end users, and acting as a high-speed access point for that room.

[0018] IEEE 1905 standard: A communication standard protocol for device discovery and management in home networks.

[0019] Upper-layer gateway devices: Network devices located above the fiber-to-the-room network, such as optical line terminals, are responsible for forwarding data from external networks to the fiber-to-the-room network.

[0020] Layer 3 link: A communication link operating at the third layer of the Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model, namely the network layer, using Internet Protocol addresses for addressing and routing.

[0021] Vendor Specific field: Used to support vendor-defined extended attributes in network protocols, allowing vendors to add additional information specific to their products or services beyond standard protocols.

[0022] The technical solutions of this application can be applied to various FTTR (Fiber to the Room) network systems, such as: FTTR systems based on Passive Optical Network (PON) architecture, FTTR systems based on Ethernet protocol, all-optical home networks using Wavelength Division Multiplexing (WDM) technology, FTTR converged networking systems supporting Wi-Fi access, all-optical networking systems for enterprise campuses composed of multiple FTTR subnetworks, multi-story FTTR coverage systems in large shopping malls, and distributed FTTR networks where the master device and multiple slave devices are cascaded through optical fibers or copper cables, etc.

[0023] The technical solutions of this application can be applied to various network element devices in an FTTR network, such as: FTTR master unit (MFU), FTTR slave unit (SFU), management devices in an optical distribution network (ODN), home gateways or access points supporting the IEEE 1905 protocol, and wireless access points supporting the EasyMesh standard. This application does not limit the specific optical communication technology, transmission medium, or device form used in the FTTR network.

[0024] In related technologies, multiple FTTR networks need to be deployed in parallel to achieve network coverage for large-scale venues. However, the deployment and configuration process requires a lot of manpower and time, and the subsequent equipment maintenance also requires a lot of effort.

[0025] One approach is to unify the planning of multiple FTTR subnetworks and downgrade them into a single Layer 2 network for centralized management, so that all devices are in the same broadcast domain and the devices of the entire network are configured and maintained in a unified manner. However, the number of IP addresses that can be allocated to a single LAN is limited, which restricts the scale of end-user access. Furthermore, forcibly merging multiple FTTR networks into one FTTR network will disrupt the original network topology and limit the service isolation capabilities of different LANs.

[0026] Another approach is to extend the PON (Passive Optical Network) LAN group based on Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (VXLAN) technology, which enables interconnection between various LANs. However, a large number of configuration commands need to be issued before interconnection can be achieved. The whole process is highly dependent on manual intervention and only enables data forwarding between LANs, but cannot effectively manage the entire network.

[0027] To address the aforementioned issues, this application provides a cross-network communication method, communication device, and medium for FTTR. In a target network system comprising multiple FTTR networks, one master device from each FTTR network is designated as the global master node. This global master node establishes Layer 3 communication links with the master devices of other FTTR networks within the target network system. The global master node can communicate with the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system through these Layer 3 communication links, thereby enabling centralized management of all FTTR networks in the target network system. By determining the global master node and establishing Layer 3 communication links, unified management and interoperability of multiple independent FTTR networks are achieved without altering the original internal topology of each FTTR network.

[0028] The embodiments of this application will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Figure 1 This is a flowchart of a cross-network communication method for FTTR provided in an embodiment of this application. This cross-network communication method for FTTR can be applied to, but is not limited to, network devices supporting FTTR functionality, or executed on various types of network devices such as smart gateway devices, enterprise-level main optical modems, and routers supporting FTTR functionality. In this embodiment, the cross-network communication method for FTTR is applied to a first network device, which is the master device in a first FTTR network; it includes, but is not limited to, the following: Step 110: Communicate with the master device of the second FTTR network through a preset communication link. Both the first and second FTTR networks belong to the target network system. One of the master devices of the first network device and the second FTTR network is a global master node determined from the target network system. The communication link is a Layer 3 link between the global master node and the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system. The global master node is used to manage all FTTR networks in the target network system through the communication link.

[0030] The target network system refers to the overall network coverage system composed of multiple independent FTTR networks. For example, in a large shopping mall, multiple FTTR networks located on different floors or in different areas together constitute the mall's target network system. An FTTR network is a fiber-to-the-room network including one master device and at least one slave device, where the master device (i.e., the master FTTR unit) is the core management and control device of the FTTR network. The global master node is a master device selected from all the master devices of the FTTR networks in the target network system. The global master node is responsible for the unified management of all FTTR networks in the entire target network system. A communication link is a Layer 3 communication channel used to connect the global master node and other FTTR network master devices. The global master node and the master devices of each other FTTR network are connected via communication links, while the other FTTR networks are not connected to each other.

[0031] In step 110, the first network device communicates with the master device of the second FTTR network through a preset communication link. The establishment of this communication link enables master devices of different FTTR networks to interact with the global master node across their respective local area network boundaries. Since the communication link is a Layer 3 link, it does not change the original Layer 2 topology of each FTTR network; the original Layer 2 connection relationship between the master and slave FTTR units of each FTTR network remains unchanged, and the local area network segments of each network remain independent. The first network device, acting as the global master node, or the master device of the second FTTR network, can manage all FTTR networks in the target network system through this communication link, allowing each FTTR network to maintain its independent topology while accepting unified management and control. The communication between the global master node and the master devices of each FTTR network is based on a Layer 3 link, achieving unified management across networks while preserving the original topology and service isolation of each network.

[0032] In the embodiment of step 110 above, in a target network system containing multiple FTTR networks, one master device of each FTTR network is selected as the global master node. The global master node establishes a Layer 3 communication link with the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system. The global master node can communicate with the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system through the Layer 3 communication link, thereby enabling centralized management of all FTTR networks in the target network system. By determining the global master node and establishing the Layer 3 communication link, unified management and interoperability of multiple independent FTTR networks are achieved without changing the original internal topology of each FTTR network.

[0033] The above is a general description of step 110. The following is a detailed description of step 110 and the remaining specific implementation process of the cross-network communication method applied to FTTR.

[0034] In some embodiments, the communication link is a logical communication channel across a three-layer network, through which the first network device communicates with the master device of the second FTTR network.

[0035] The logical communication channel across three layers of a network refers to a logical communication channel that spans different IP network segments. By adding a new header to the outer layer of data packets, the packets can reach the peer device across different IP network segments. The logical communication channel in the target network system has the function of transmitting control and management messages and data packets across the FTTR network. The logical communication channel enables primary FTTR units that were originally located in different LAN segments to logically communicate with each other. That is, through encapsulation and decapsulation mechanisms, the three-layer network is logically simplified to two-layer communication, thereby supporting the cross-network transmission of control and management messages based on layer 2 protocols. For example, specific implementations of logical communication channels across three-layer networks include, but are not limited to: Virtual Extensible LAN (VXLAN), Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE), Ethernet Virtual Private Network (EVPN), Border Gateway Protocol-Link-State (BGP-LS) combined with Path Computation Element Communication Protocol (PCEP), two-layer virtual LAN QinQ, Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS), and other encapsulation technologies capable of communicating across three-layer networks.

[0036] The first network device communicates with the master device of the second FTTR network through a logical communication channel spanning three layers of the network. Because the logical communication channel can traverse different IP network segments, the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network can transmit messages through the logical communication channel even if they are in different local area networks (LANs). Simultaneously, the establishment of the logical communication channel is based on the IP network, without altering the internal Layer 2 topology of each FTTR network. The original LAN segments of each FTTR network remain independent, thus achieving cross-FTTR network communication while preserving the topology of multiple LANs coexisting.

[0037] For example, based on different encapsulation technologies, the communication link can be, but is not limited to, VXLAN tunnels, GRE tunnels, QinQ dual-layer VLAN Layer 2 links, MPLS LSP (Label Switched Path), etc., and no specific limitation is made here. For ease of description, the following embodiments / examples will use tunnels as an example for illustration.

[0038] In the above embodiments, cross-network communication between master devices in different FTTR networks is realized through a logical communication channel across three layers of the network. While maintaining the original topology of each FTTR network and the independence of the local area network segments, the global master node can uniformly manage all FTTR networks in the target network system.

[0039] In some embodiments, communicating with the master device of the second FTTR network through a preset communication link includes: synchronizing configuration information with the master device of the second FTTR network through the communication link, wherein the configuration information is sent by the global master node to the other of the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network, and the other of the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network is any device in the target network system.

[0040] Configuration information refers to various parameter data required for managing the operation of the FTTR network, which may include, but is not limited to, radio configuration parameters and roaming configuration parameters. For example, radio configuration parameters may include, but are not limited to, service set identifiers, encryption methods, and channel settings. For example, roaming configuration parameters may include, but are not limited to, roaming thresholds and roaming guidance policies. Synchronization of configuration information refers to the global master node transmitting unified configuration parameters to the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system, thus uniformly configuring the master devices of other FTTR networks. "Any device" refers to any network device in the target network system that has not been identified as the global master node.

[0041] The global master node sends configuration information to the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system, achieving synchronization of configuration information for all FTTR networks in the entire target network system. Since the global master node only needs to perform a configuration operation once, the configuration information can be transmitted to the master devices of all FTTR networks through the communication link, thus avoiding the tedious operation of manually configuring each FTTR network one by one, and realizing unified automated configuration of multiple FTTR networks.

[0042] In the above embodiments, the global master node sends configuration information to any device in the target network system through the communication link, enabling each FTTR network in the target network system to operate with unified configuration parameters. This achieves unified configuration management among multiple FTTR networks, avoids the tedious operation of manually configuring each FTTR network individually, improves deployment efficiency, and ensures the consistency of network services when the terminal moves across networks.

[0043] In some embodiments, the cross-network communication method applied to FTTR further includes: communicating with the master device of at least one FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from the master devices of all FTTR networks, wherein at least one FTTR network includes a second FTTR network.

[0044] The role election operation is a process in which master devices of each FTTR network in the target network system determine a unique global master node from all master devices according to preset rules through the exchange of message information. For example, at least one FTTR network is some or all of the FTTR sub-networks in the target network system participating in the role election operation. For example, the first network device and the master devices of at least one FTTR network can participate in the role election by sending and receiving probe messages.

[0045] The first network device communicates with the master device of at least one FTTR network in the target network system to perform a role election operation, electing a global master node from among the master devices of all participating FTTR networks. The elected global master node is responsible for managing all FTTR networks in the target network system through the communication link. Through the role election operation, the target network system can automatically determine a unified management node among multiple master devices, enabling centralized management of multiple FTTR networks in large-scale scenarios by a unified global master node.

[0046] In the above embodiments, since the first network device communicates with the master device of at least one FTTR network to perform role election operations to determine a global master node from the master devices of all FTTR networks, the target network system can automatically elect a unified management node from the master devices of multiple FTTR networks, realizing the automatic determination of the management node, avoiding the operation of manually specifying the management node, and improving the efficiency of FTTR networking.

[0047] In some embodiments, after communicating with the master device of at least one FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from the master devices of all FTTR networks, the above-described cross-network communication method applied to FTTR further includes: establishing a communication link with the master device of a second FTTR network, wherein the other of the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network is any device in the target network system.

[0048] Establishing a communication link involves building a Layer 3 link between the global master node and other FTTR network master devices in the target network system based on IP addresses and MAC addresses after role election. This link establishment operation can be initiated by the global master node to any device, or by any device to the global master node.

[0049] After the role election operation determines the global master node, a communication link is established between the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network. Once the communication link is established, the global master node can manage or communicate with all FTTR networks in the target network system through this link. By establishing a communication link after role election, the global master node has a stable Layer 3 communication channel with the master devices of other FTTR networks, thus providing a network foundation for subsequent configuration synchronization, data forwarding, and service management.

[0050] In the above embodiments, after the first network device communicates with at least one master device of an FTTR network, including the master device of the second FTTR network, to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from all the master devices of the FTTR networks, the global master node can automatically establish a Layer 3 communication channel with the master devices of other FTTR networks. This realizes automatic link establishment between the global master node and the master devices of other FTTR networks, providing a communication foundation for unified management and interoperability across FTTR networks, and improving the automation and efficiency of networking.

[0051] In some embodiments, communicating with a master device of at least one FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from among the master devices of all FTTR networks includes: communicating with the master device of at least one FTTR network to determine a second capability level of the master device of the at least one FTTR network, wherein the second capability level is used to characterize at least one of the load capacity, forwarding capacity, and number of downstream slave devices of the master device of the second FTTR network; and performing a role election operation based on a first capability level and a second capability level of a first network device to determine the network device with the highest capability level from among the master devices of all FTTR networks as the global master node, wherein the first capability level is used to characterize at least one of the load capacity, forwarding capacity, and number of downstream slave devices of the first network device.

[0052] The first capability level is a device capability evaluation index consisting of at least one of the load capacity, forwarding capacity, and number of downstream SFUs of the first network device. The second capability level is a device capability evaluation index consisting of at least one of the load capacity, forwarding capacity, and number of downstream SFUs of the master device of the second FTTR network. Load capacity is a relevant indicator characterizing the service processing performance of a network device. For example, load capacity may include, but is not limited to, the number of connected devices and the number of NAT sessions. Forwarding capacity is the processing capability of a network device to forward received data packets to the target port or target network. For example, forwarding capacity may include, but is not limited to, throughput rate, latency, and packet loss rate. The number of downstream SFUs is the number of SFUs in the FTTR network where the master device is located.

[0053] The first network device communicates with the master devices of at least one FTTR network to determine the second capability level of the master devices in at least one FTTR network. The first network device obtains its own first capability level and compares it with the second capability level. Based on the comparison result, it performs a role election operation to determine the network device with the highest capability level from all the master devices of the FTTR networks as the global master node. Since the network device with the highest capability level usually has stronger load capacity, stronger forwarding capacity, and / or more downstream SFUs, electing this device as the global master node can better assume the management responsibilities of the entire target network system, including handling a large number of management messages, forwarding data packets across the FTTR network, and managing more network devices. By performing role election based on capability level, it can be ensured that the elected global master node has the processing capabilities commensurate with its management responsibilities.

[0054] In the above embodiments, the first network device communicates with the master device of at least one FTTR network to determine the second capability level, and performs a role election operation based on the first capability level and the second capability level to determine the network device with the highest capability level from all the master devices of the FTTR network as the global master node. This allows the election of the global master node to be based on the actual management performance of the master device, with the device with stronger management performance serving as the global master node, thus ensuring the stability and reliability of the overall management of the target network system.

[0055] In some embodiments, if a network device goes offline after being selected as the global master node, after communicating with the master devices of at least one FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from among the master devices of all FTTR networks, the above-described cross-network communication method applied to FTTR further includes: after the first network device comes back online, determining the network device with the larger number of communication links between the first network device and the current global master node as the global master node based on the number of communication links created by the first network device and the number of communication links created by the current global master node.

[0056] In this context, "offline" refers to the state in which a network device loses its communication connection with other devices in the target network system due to power outages, malfunctions, or network interruptions. The current global master node is the one re-determined by the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system through a role election process after the first network device goes offline. The number of established communication links refers to the number of communication links that the network device has currently established and maintained with other FTTR network master devices.

[0057] After the first network device goes offline, the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system detect the loss of the global master node and trigger a re-election of the role election process to determine a current global master node from all remaining FTTR network master devices. When the first network device comes back online, it obtains the number of communication links it has created and compares it with the number of communication links created by the current global master node. Based on the comparison result, the master device with the more communication links is selected as the global master node. Since the number of created communication links reflects the master device's connectivity and management scope in the target network system, using the number of communication links as the decision-making basis for determining the global master node allows the master device with a wider connectivity range to be prioritized as the global master node, avoiding management interruptions caused by frequent switching of the global master node.

[0058] In the above embodiments, after the first network device, acting as the global master node, goes offline and comes back online, the system determines the master device with the larger number of communication links between the first network device and the newly elected global master node based on the number of communication links it has created and the number of communication links created by the current global master node. This ensures that after the original global master node recovers from an offline event, it can coordinate with the current global master node based on the actual communication connection range, avoiding frequent switching and permission conflicts of the global master node and ensuring the continuity and stability of unified management across the FTTR network.

[0059] In some embodiments, after communicating with at least one master device of an FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from all master devices of all FTTR networks, the above-described cross-network communication method applied to FTTR further includes: if a first network device is elected as a global master node according to the role election operation, in response to not receiving a probe message sent by a new master device of the FTTR network in the target network system within a preset time period, determining itself as a global master node; and sending an election result message to all master devices of the FTTR networks in the target network system other than the first network device, the election result message being used to indicate that the first network device is a global master node.

[0060] The preset time period is a pre-defined waiting time threshold used to determine whether there are any new FTTR network master devices in the target network system that have not yet participated in role election. A new FTTR network master device is a master device in the target network system that has not yet been discovered by the first network device or has not yet exchanged probe messages with the first network device during the role election process. The election result message is a control message sent by the global master node to the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system to notify the global master node of its identity and address information.

[0061] After being elected as the global master node through the role election process, the first network device enters a waiting state and continuously listens for probe packets from new FTTR network master devices in the target network system within a preset time period. If no probe packets are received from new FTTR network master devices within the preset time period, it indicates that all FTTR network master devices in the target network system have participated in the role election process and have not been confirmed as the global master node. The first network device then determines itself as the official global master node. After confirming itself as the global master node, the first network device sends an election result message to all FTTR network master devices in the target network system except for itself, notifying other devices that the first network device is the global master node. After receiving the election result message, other master devices establish communication links with the first network device. By waiting within the preset time period and confirming that no new devices have joined before officially confirming the global master node identity, it is possible to avoid missing subsequently online devices during the role election process. This ensures that all FTTR network master devices in the target network system participate in the election process before officially confirming the unified global master node, thereby avoiding frequent changes in the global master node and repeated tunnel reconstruction.

[0062] In the above embodiments, when the first network device is elected as the global master node according to the role election operation, it determines itself as the global master node after not receiving a probe message sent by a new master device of the FTTR network within a preset time period, and sends the election result message to all other master devices of the FTTR network. This enables the global master node to officially confirm its identity and notify other master devices after confirming that all master devices have participated in the election, ensuring the integrity of the role election and the reliability of the global master node's identity determination, and improving the stability and consistency of the FTTR network.

[0063] In some embodiments, communicating with the master device of at least one FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from the master devices of all FTTR networks includes: sending a probe request message to the master device of at least one FTTR network in the target network system; and determining itself as the global master node if the first network device continuously sends probe request messages a preset number of times and does not receive probe response messages for the probe request messages.

[0064] The probe request message is a message sent by the first network device to the master device of another FTTR network in the target network system to probe whether there are other master devices of FTTR networks in the network environment and request a reply. The probe reply message is a response message sent by the master device of the FTTR network in the target network system that receives the probe request message to the first network device. For example, the probe reply message may include, but is not limited to, the device's own capability level and role information. The preset number is a pre-set threshold for the maximum number of consecutive probe request messages sent.

[0065] The first network device sends a probe request message to the master device of at least one FTTR network in the target network system and waits to receive a probe response message after sending it. If the first network device sends a preset number of probe request messages and does not receive a probe response message for each of the probe request messages, it indicates that there are currently no other master devices in the target network system, or that other master devices exist but cannot communicate due to network isolation or other reasons. In this case, the first network device determines itself to be the global master node. By continuously sending a preset number of probe request messages and detecting the response, the global master node can be quickly determined even when there is only a single FTTR network in the target network system or the network environment is isolated.

[0066] In the above embodiments, the first network device sends a probe request message to the master device of at least one FTTR network in the target network system, and determines itself as the global master node after sending a preset number of probe requests without receiving a probe reply message. This enables the global master node to be quickly determined when there are few devices or the network is isolated, simplifies the role election process in a single network environment, and improves the efficiency and response speed of FTTR networking.

[0067] In some embodiments, the first network device is a global master node determined from the target network system, and the second FTTR network is any FTTR network in the target network system. The first network device communicates with the master device of the second FTTR network through a preset communication link, including: performing a keep-alive determination with the master devices of each second FTTR network; and deleting the communication link between the first network device and the master device of the deactivated second FTTR network if it is determined that a master device of a second FTTR network is deactivated.

[0068] Keep-alive is a mechanism used by the global master node and the master devices in each FTTR network to periodically send and receive keep-alive messages to detect each other's network connectivity status. Keep-alive messages are used to detect connectivity between devices and can be link measurement messages or other types of control messages. Deactivation refers to the state in which the master devices in the FTTR network lose their communication connection with the global master node due to power outages, faults, or network interruptions.

[0069] For example, after the first network device is identified as the global master node, it periodically sends keep-alive messages to the master devices of each FTTR network that is not part of the global master node in the target network system, and waits to receive keep-alive response messages from the master devices of each FTTR network to determine the keep-alive status of the master devices in each FTTR network. If the first network device sends multiple keep-alive messages to the master device of a certain FTTR network but still does not receive a return keep-alive response message, it determines that the master device of that FTTR network is inactive and deletes the communication link between the first network device and the inactive master device of the FTTR network. Through keep-alive determination, the first network device can promptly detect the abnormal status of other master devices in the network and delete the corresponding communication link after determining inactivity, avoiding resource waste caused by the global master node continuously sending management messages to inactive master devices, while maintaining the accuracy of the network topology.

[0070] In the above embodiments, the first network device, as the global master node, performs keep-alive checks with the master devices of each second FTTR network. If it is determined that a master device of a second FTTR network is inactive, the communication link is deleted. This enables the global master node to promptly detect abnormal states of other network devices and clean up invalid connections, ensuring the accuracy of the target network system's network topology and the effective utilization of management resources, and improving the stability and reliability of unified management across FTTR networks.

[0071] In some embodiments, the first network device is the master device of any FTTR network in the target network system, and the master device of the second FTTR network is a global master node determined from the target network system; communicating with the master device of the second FTTR network through a preset communication link includes: performing a keep-alive determination with the master device of the second FTTR network; deleting the communication link between the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network if it is determined that the master device of the second FTTR network is inactive; and communicating with the master device of at least one FTTR network in the target network system other than the second FTTR network to re-determine the global master node.

[0072] Keep-alive refers to the mechanism by which the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network periodically send and receive keep-alive messages to detect each other's network connection status. Deactivation refers to the state in which the master device of the second FTTR network loses its communication connection with the first network device due to power failure, malfunction, or network interruption. Re-determining the global master node refers to the process of re-electing a role among the remaining master devices of the target network system to determine a new global master node after the global master node has become deactivated.

[0073] For example, after the master device of the second FTTR network is determined to be the global master node, the first network device periodically sends keep-alive messages to the master device of the second FTTR network to perform keep-alive checks and waits to receive keep-alive response messages to perform keep-alive checks on the master device of the second FTTR network. If the first network device sends multiple keep-alive messages to the master device of the second FTTR network but still does not receive a return keep-alive response message, it determines that the master device of the second FTTR network is inactive, and the first network device deletes the communication link with the master device of the second FTTR network. The first network device communicates with the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system besides the second FTTR network to re-determine the global master node. By discovering and deleting invalid communication links with the inactive global master node through keep-alive checks, and actively communicating with the master devices of other remaining FTTR networks to re-elect the global master node, a new global master node can be automatically re-determined for unified management by the target network system after the global master node is inactive, avoiding the target network system from falling into an unmanaged state.

[0074] In the above embodiments, the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network, which is the global master node, perform a keep-alive judgment. After the global master node becomes inactive, the communication link is deleted and the device actively communicates with the master devices of other FTTR networks to re-determine the global master node. This avoids the target network system from falling into a situation without a global master node, realizes automatic disaster recovery switching of the global master node, and improves the reliability of unified management across FTTR networks.

[0075] In some embodiments, the first network device is a global master node determined from the target network system, and the second FTTR network is the FTTR network where the terminal is located after roaming; communicating with the master device of the second FTTR network through a preset communication link includes: when receiving a downlink data packet corresponding to the terminal, forwarding the downlink data packet to the master device of the second FTTR network through the communication link, so as to send the downlink data packet to the terminal through the master device of the second FTTR network.

[0076] In this context, the terminal is a user device, such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop, that accesses the FTTR network for data communication. The FTTR network after roaming refers to the new FTTR network the terminal switches from its original network during movement. Downlink data packets are data packets sent from the upper-layer gateway device to the terminal. The upper-layer gateway device is a network device located above the FTTR network, such as an OLT (Optical Line Terminal), responsible for forwarding data from external networks to the FTTR network.

[0077] The first network device, acting as the global master node, forwards the downlink data packet received from the terminal to the master device of the second FTTR network via the communication link. The master device of the second FTTR network then sends the downlink data packet to the terminal. The process of the first network device receiving the downlink data packet can be divided into two cases: Scenario 1: The terminal roams from the first FTTR network to the second FTTR network. The first network device is the master device and global master node of the first FTTR network. The upper-layer gateway device, unaware that the terminal has roamed, continues to send the corresponding downlink data packets to the master device of the first FTTR network, i.e., the first network device. As the global master node, the first network device, upon detecting that the terminal has roamed to the second FTTR network, forwards the downlink data packets to the master device of the second FTTR network via the communication link, and then the master device of the second FTTR network sends them to the terminal.

[0078] Scenario 2: The terminal roams from one FTTR network (other than the first and second FTTR networks) in the target network system to the second FTTR network. Upon detecting the terminal's departure, the master device of the other FTTR network where the terminal was previously located sends the received downlink data packet corresponding to the terminal to the global master node (the first network device) via the communication link. The first network device, acting as the global master node, forwards the downlink data packet to the master device of the second FTTR network via the communication link, and the master device of the second FTTR network then sends it to the terminal.

[0079] In the above embodiments, after receiving the downlink data packet corresponding to the terminal, the first network device, acting as the global master node, forwards the downlink data packet to the master device of the second FTTR network through the communication link, so as to send it to the roaming terminal. This ensures that the downlink data packets can arrive continuously during the roaming process of the terminal across FTTR networks, guarantees the data continuity of the terminal during the roaming process of the terminal across FTTR networks, and reduces the latency and packet loss rate of data transmission during the roaming process of the terminal.

[0080] In some embodiments, the first network device is a global master node determined from the target network system, and the second FTTR network is the FTTR network where the terminal was located before roaming; communicating with the master device of the second FTTR network through a preset communication link includes: when the terminal roams to the first network device, receiving downlink data packets corresponding to the terminal sent by the master device of the second FTTR network through the communication link; and sending the downlink data packets to the terminal.

[0081] Roaming to the first network device refers to the terminal moving from the second FTTR network and accessing the SFU connected to the first FTTR network, or the terminal moving from the second FTTR network and accessing the master device (i.e., the first network device) of the first FTTR network.

[0082] The first network device, acting as the global master node, receives downlink data packets corresponding to the terminal from the master device of the second FTTR network via a communication link when the terminal roams from the second FTTR network to the first network device. Since the upper-layer gateway device is unaware that the terminal has roamed, it continues to forward the downlink data packets corresponding to the terminal to the master device of the second FTTR network where the terminal was located before roaming. After the master device of the second FTTR network detects that the terminal has left, it forwards the downlink data packets corresponding to the terminal to the first network device via the communication link. The first network device, acting as the global master node, forwards the downlink data packets to the terminal that has now roamed to the first FTTR network. Because the first network device is the global master node and the master device of the FTTR network where the terminal is located after roaming, the first network device can both receive downlink data packets forwarded by the master devices of other FTTR networks via the communication link and directly (or via a downstream SFU) send downlink data packets to the terminal, achieving rapid data forwarding during terminal roaming.

[0083] In the above embodiments, when the terminal roams to the first network device, the first network device, acting as the global master node, receives the downlink data packets corresponding to the terminal sent by the master device of the second FTTR network through the communication link, and sends the downlink data packets to the terminal. This enables the terminal to quickly receive downlink data packets from the original network after roaming, ensuring the data continuity of the terminal during the cross-FTTR network roaming process and reducing the latency and packet loss rate of data transmission during the terminal roaming process.

[0084] In some embodiments, the first network device is the master device of any FTTR network in the target network system, and the master device of the second FTTR network is a global master node determined from the target network system; communicating with the master device of the second FTTR network through a preset communication link includes: in response to sensing that the terminal has left the first FTTR network, sending the received downlink data packet corresponding to the terminal to the master device of the second FTTR network through the communication link.

[0085] The process of sensing that a terminal has left the first FTTR network is the process by which the first network device detects that a terminal that was originally connected to the first FTTR network and connected to the SFU or the first network device itself has disconnected its wireless connection or whose signal strength is below a threshold.

[0086] The first network device, acting as the master device of any FTTR network in the target network system, after detecting that the terminal has left the first FTTR network, forwards the received downlink data packets corresponding to the terminal to the master device of the second FTTR network via the communication link. Since the master device of the second FTTR network is the global master node, the first network device, upon detecting the terminal's departure, forwards downlink data packets that cannot be sent to that terminal to the global master node via the communication link. Upon receiving the downlink data packet, the global master node further forwards the downlink data packet to the master device of the FTTR network where the terminal is currently located, based on the FTTR network it is currently in, and finally sends it to the terminal. By promptly forwarding downlink data packets to the global master node after detecting the terminal's departure, downlink data packets are prevented from accumulating or being dropped at the first network device, while ensuring data continuity for the terminal during roaming across FTTR networks.

[0087] In the above embodiments, after the first network device senses that the terminal has left the first FTTR network, it sends the received downlink data packets corresponding to the terminal to the master device of the second FTTR network, which is the global master node, through the communication link. This enables the downlink data packets after the terminal leaves to be forwarded to the global master node for subsequent processing in a timely manner, avoiding the loss or backlog of downlink data packets by the master device of the non-global master node after the terminal leaves, and ensuring the continuity and integrity of data packets during the terminal roaming process across FTTR networks.

[0088] In some embodiments, after a terminal roams to a first network device and sends an uplink data packet to an upper-layer gateway device through the first network device, in response to receiving a downlink data packet sent by the upper-layer gateway device, the downlink data packet is sent to the terminal.

[0089] Uplink data packets are data packets sent by the terminal to the external network and forwarded to the upper-layer gateway device through the first network device. Downlink data packets are data packets returned by the upper-layer gateway device based on the uplink data packets sent by the terminal.

[0090] After the terminal roams to the first network device, it sends uplink data packets to the upper-layer gateway device through the first network device. Upon receiving this uplink data packet, the upper-layer gateway device identifies that the terminal is currently located in the FTTR network where the first network device is located. When the upper-layer gateway device needs to send downlink data packets to the terminal, it directly sends the downlink data packets to the first network device. Upon receiving the downlink data packets from the upper-layer gateway device, the first network device sends the downlink data packets to the terminal. Because the terminal sent uplink data packets through the first network device, the upper-layer gateway device can update the terminal's location information accordingly, thereby switching the data link. This allows subsequent downlink data packets to be sent directly from the upper-layer gateway device to the first network device, without being forwarded through the master device or global master node of the FTTR network where the terminal was before roaming. Triggering the data link switch of the upper-layer gateway device through uplink data packets simplifies the transmission path of subsequent downlink data packets and reduces the load on the communication link.

[0091] In the above embodiments, after the terminal roams to the first network device and sends uplink data packets to the upper-layer gateway device through the first network device, the upper-layer gateway device can directly send downlink data packets to the first network device, and then the first network device sends them to the terminal. This enables the data link after roaming to switch to a suitable path in a timely manner, simplifies the transmission path of downlink data packets, reduces the load and transmission latency of the communication link, and improves the overall efficiency of data transmission during terminal roaming.

[0092] In some embodiments, the master device of the second FTTR network is a global master node determined from the target network system, and the first network device is any FTTR network in the target network system. The above-described cross-network communication method applied to FTTR further includes: receiving control management messages sent by the master device of the second FTTR network; and performing control management on each slave device in the first FTTR network according to the control management messages.

[0093] Control and management messages are messages sent by the global master node to the master devices of each FTTR network in the target network system to control and manage the network's operational status. For example, control and management messages may include, but are not limited to, configuration synchronization messages, device status query messages, and roaming guidance messages. The slave device of the first FTTR network is the SFU (System-Level Unit) connected to the first network device via optical fiber, responsible for providing network access services to terminals in the area corresponding to the SFU. Similarly, the slave devices of other FTTR networks are SFUs connected to the master device of their respective FTTR networks.

[0094] The master device of the second FTTR network of the global master node sends control and management messages to the first network device via the communication link. Upon receiving the control and management messages, the first network device manages and controls each slave device in the first FTTR network according to the messages. Since the global master node can send control and management messages to the master devices of all FTTR networks in the target network system via the communication link, and each FTTR network master device performs local management of its downstream SFUs upon receiving the messages, the global master node achieves indirect unified management of SFUs in all FTTR networks. Through the distribution of control and management messages, the global master node can achieve unified configuration, status monitoring, and service scheduling of all network devices.

[0095] In the above embodiments, the first network device, acting as the master device of any FTTR network, receives control and management messages sent by the master device of the second FTTR network, which is the global master node. Based on the control and management messages, the first network device controls and manages each SFU in the first FTTR network, enabling the global master node to indirectly and uniformly manage all SFUs in the network through the master devices of each FTTR network. This achieves unified device management and service scheduling across FTTR networks, improving the efficiency of target network system management.

[0096] The following examples provide a comprehensive and detailed description of the cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to this application. It is understood that the following embodiments are merely illustrative examples to better illustrate the cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to this application and are not intended to be specific or limiting.

[0097] Example 1: For example, Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the architecture of multiple FTTR networks provided as an example in this application. Figure 2 As shown, in the target network system, there are multiple independent FTTR subnetworks (such as...). Figure 2The network consists of subnetworks 1, 2, and 3. Each subnetwork comprises a master FTTR unit (MFU) and several slave FTTR units (SFUs). Each FTTR subnetwork connects to upper-layer network elements through its respective master unit, forming an all-optical FTTR network structure. Each master unit has an uplink optical port and a downlink optical port. The uplink optical port is used to connect to upper-level network devices or peer master units, while the downlink optical port is used to connect to downstream slave devices.

[0098] For example, in Figure 2 The network consists of three subnetworks: subnetwork 1, subnetwork 2, and subnetwork 3. Subnetwork 1 includes a master device (MFU1) and two slave devices (SFU1-1 and SFU1-2). MFU1 is connected to SFU1-1 and SFU1-2 via an optical splitter. Subnetwork 1 connects to upper-layer network elements through MFU1. The specific networking of subnetworks 2 and 3 is similar, refer to [reference needed]. Figure 2 As shown, it will not be elaborated further here.

[0099] When implementing a Layer 2 protocol, Layer 2 connectivity is required between the master and slave devices in each FTTR subnetwork. The master device sends probe messages to the slave device via the downlink optical port in a Layer 2 manner. The slave device responds upon receiving the probe messages, thereby establishing a Layer 2 communication link.

[0100] When implementing a Layer 3 protocol, the master devices in each FTTR subnetwork need to be able to achieve Layer 3 connectivity. The master devices send multicast probe messages to other master devices in a Layer 3 manner through the uplink optical port. By establishing Layer 3 links, such as tunnels, the Layer 3 network is simplified to a Layer 2 network, thereby enabling cross-gateway communication.

[0101] For example, Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of the master device in an FTTR network provided as an example in this application. Figure 3 As shown, the master device MFU may include, but is not limited to, four functional modules and a data packet area, specifically including: The perception module is used to perceive FTTR devices in the current FTTR network and to perform services such as role election and tunnel creation during the perception process.

[0102] The configuration synchronization module is used by the global master node to synchronize configurations with all FTTR devices in the deployment environment, including wireless configuration and roaming configuration.

[0103] The management module is used to maintain all network devices and connected terminal devices in the environment, and to manage specific services, such as wireless information collection and roaming guidance in roaming services. The management module is responsible for collecting status information from each master and slave device, as well as the connection status and location information of terminal devices.

[0104] The forwarding module forwards service management messages and data messages. Messages requiring Layer 3 forwarding are forwarded through a tunnel, while Layer 2 forwarding messages are forwarded directly without a tunnel. The forwarding module selects the appropriate forwarding path based on the message type and destination address.

[0105] The data packet area contains TCP (Transmission Control Protocol), UDP (User Datagram Protocol), and other data packet processing modules, which are used to process different types of network protocol data.

[0106] For example, Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the module structure of a slave device in an FTTR network provided as an example in this application. Figure 4 As shown, the slave device SFU does not require a management module; it only includes three modules: a sensing module, a configuration synchronization module, and a forwarding module, as well as a data packet area. The slave device establishes a connection with the master device through the sensing module, receives configurations from the master device through the configuration synchronization module, and forwards packets through the forwarding module.

[0107] In this example, a tunnel connection between master devices provides network layer support for unified management across gateways without altering the original network topology. Through the collaborative work of the four functional modules, the master device can independently perform functions such as device awareness, role election, configuration synchronization, and data forwarding, providing device-level support for unified management across gateways.

[0108] Example 2: For example, based on the module structure of the master and slave devices provided in Example 1 above, three basic networking methods are involved in the deployment of multiple FTTR networks, specifically including: Method 1: The main devices form a three-layer network with each other.

[0109] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between master devices in a three-layer network, as provided as an example in this application. Figure 5 As shown, the sensing module of master device A sends probe messages to the network environment. The probe messages contain data such as the role of master device A, Internet Protocol address, Media Access Control address, and the number of tunnels created.

[0110] At this point, a tunnel has not yet been established between master device A and master device B. Master device A's forwarding module directly sends probe packets to master device B through the uplink optical port. After receiving the probe packets through the uplink optical port, master device B's forwarding module forwards them to master device B's sensing module. Master device B's sensing module parses the messages in the probe packets and determines whether master device B is a global master node or a regular node using a role election algorithm. The result is then encapsulated in a probe reply packet and sent to master device A through master device B's forwarding module.

[0111] For example, the algorithm for role election can be to compare the capability level of master device A with that of master device B, and determine the master device with the highest capability level as the global master node; when the capability levels of master device A and master device B are the same, the MAC address size is compared, and the master device with the smaller MAC address is determined as the global master node. The capability level may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the master device's load capacity, forwarding capacity, and the number of downstream slave devices.

[0112] For example, suppose that after master device A and master device B perform a role election, master device A is determined to be the global master node. Master device B, after determining its role as a regular node, withdraws from the global master node competition and no longer actively sends probe messages. After receiving a probe reply message from master device B containing the role election results, and if no other probe messages are received for a period of time, master device A determines itself to be the true global master node. Then, master device A sets its own role as the global master node in its probe message, notifying master device B that the true global master node has been determined to be device A. When master device B receives the probe message sent by master device A via multicast, its forwarding module establishes a tunnel using the parsed message. After receiving the probe reply message, master device A's forwarding module begins establishing the other end of the tunnel. Once the tunnel is established, communication between master device A and master device B utilizes the tunnel transmission. Tunnels are created between global master nodes and regular nodes; no tunnels are created between regular nodes.

[0113] After the tunnel is established, the global master node's configuration synchronization module sends synchronization configurations to other master devices through the tunnel. At the same time, the global master node's management module also collects terminal and device information from other master or slave devices and performs business management through the tunnel.

[0114] Method 2: The master device and the slave device form a Layer 2 network.

[0115] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between a master device and a slave device in a Layer 2 network, as provided as an example in this application. Figure 6As shown, the master device's sensing module sends probe packets to the network environment. These packets contain data such as the master device's role, IP address, and MAC address. The master device's forwarding module then forwards the probe packets via the downlink optical port. The slave device's forwarding module receives the probe packets at the downlink optical port and forwards them to its sensing module. The slave device's sensing module parses the messages in the probe packets and encapsulates the information indicating its current role as a regular node into a probe reply packet, which is then sent to the master device via its forwarding module. Upon receiving the probe reply packet, the master device's configuration synchronization module, management module, and forwarding module perform configuration synchronization, service management, and data transmission with the slave device via optical fiber.

[0116] Method 3: The master device indirectly manages the slave device at the other end through another master device.

[0117] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between a master device and a peer slave device, provided as an example in this application. Figure 7 As shown, the probe messages sent by the sensing module of master device MFU_A are transmitted through optical fiber by the forwarding module of master device MFU_A. After receiving the probe messages, the forwarding module of master device MFU_B hands the probe messages over to the sensing module of master device MFU_B for processing. At the same time, the forwarding module of master device MFU_B also forwards the probe messages to slave device SFU_C for processing.

[0118] After the sensing module of the master device MFU_B completes its processing, it determines the role based on the role election operation (i.e., determines which of the master devices MFU_A and MFU_B is the global master node). Then, it encapsulates the determined role and its own information such as IP address and MAC address into the probe reply message, and sends it out through the forwarding module of the master device MFU_B using optical fiber.

[0119] The sensing module of the slave device SFU_C encapsulates the ordinary node role and its own information such as IP address and MAC address into a probe reply message. The slave device's forwarding module first sends it to the master device MFU_B through the optical fiber, and then the master device MFU_B's forwarding module sends it to the master device MFU_A through the optical fiber. If the tunnel has been established at this time, it is sent out through the tunnel.

[0120] After receiving the probe reply message, the forwarding module of the master device MFU_A determines its role based on the role information parsed from the probe reply message. If the master device MFU_A is ultimately determined to be the global master node, it will send a probe message containing its own role to the master device MFU_B, which is a regular node. Upon receiving the probe message, the master device MFU_B establishes a tunnel based on the parsed message and returns a probe reply message to the master device MFU_A. After receiving the probe reply message from the master device MFU_B, the master device MFU_A establishes the other end of the tunnel for communication with the master device MFU_B. After the tunnel is established, subsequent configuration, data, and management are conducted through the tunnel. If the master device MFU_B directly connected to the slave device SFU_C is a global master node, then the master device MFU_B will no longer forward the probe reply messages sent by the slave device to the master device MFU_A; if the master device MFU_B directly connected to the slave device is a normal node, then the master device MFU_B needs to forward the probe reply messages sent by the slave device to the master device MFU_A.

[0121] The tunnel between the master device MFU_A and the master device MFU_B is considered complete only when both forwarding modules establish the tunnel.

[0122] For example, the above three networking methods can also be extended to tree networking and star networking topologies. Figure 8 As shown, slave and master devices belonging to one FTTR network are connected to master and slave devices in another FTTR network via optical line terminals, forming a multi-level tree topology. Figure 9 As shown, multiple slave devices and master devices belonging to one FTTR network are connected to a master device and multiple slave devices in another FTTR network through optical line terminals, forming a star topology.

[0123] In this example, by adapting to different network levels, it can adapt to different network environments and deployment scenarios, meeting diverse networking needs. Meanwhile, the expansion methods of tree and star topologies further enhance the applicability of multiple FTTR networking scenarios, thus adapting to various complex deployment environments and improving the versatility and scalability of multi-FTTR network deployments.

[0124] Example 3: For example, Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the process of assembling a Layer 2 network and a Layer 3 network as an example of this application. Figure 10As shown, when the master device MFU_A powers on and connects to the network environment, it first performs a probing and role election process. The master device MFU_A sends multicast probe messages via its uplink optical port in a Layer 3 manner. These probe messages are sent multiple times at regular intervals to ensure that all devices in the network environment receive them. Before sending the messages, specific type-length value fields need to be filled into the messages, such as the device's current role, IP address, MAC address, and capability level information. For example, capability level information may include, but is not limited to, at least one of the master device's load capacity, forwarding capacity, and the number of downstream slave devices.

[0125] If other master devices MFU_B exist in the current network environment, upon receiving the probe request packet, the MFU_B will parse its Type-Length-Value (TLV) field to obtain the capability level information of the master device MFU_A. The master device MFU_B will then compare its own capability level with that of the master device MFU_A, elect the highest-capability-level master device as the global master node through role election, and then fill the probe reply packet with the election result and its own IP address, MAC address, and other information. This packet will be sent to the peer master device MFU_A via unicast, and a tunnel will be constructed based on the IP address, MAC address, and other information.

[0126] After receiving the probe reply message from the peer master device MFU_B, the master device MFU_A parses the TLV field, determines its own role based on the election result obtained from the parsing, and establishes a tunnel based on information such as the IP address and MAC address of the peer master device MFU_B.

[0127] Meanwhile, the master device MFU_B also sends multicast probe messages to the downlink optical port in a Layer 2 manner to discover slave devices within this FTTR subnetwork. Before sending the probe messages, the master device MFU_B fills in the type-length value field in the message, including its own role, IP address, and MAC address.

[0128] If a slave device SFU_C exists in the current network, after receiving a probe packet on its downlink optical port, SFU_C parses the TLV field in the probe packet to obtain relevant information about the master device MFU_B. SFU_C then sets its role to that of a normal node and fills in its role, IP address, and MAC address information into a probe reply packet before sending it to the master device MFU_B.

[0129] After receiving the probe response message from the slave device SFU_C, the master device MFU_B parses the TLV field and establishes a Layer 2 communication link with the slave device SFU_C based on the parsed information. The master device MFU_B then uses this Layer 2 communication link to perform configuration synchronization, service management, and data transmission with the slave device SFU_C.

[0130] To ensure that the pre-selected global master node receives probe packets from all devices in the current environment, after receiving probe packets or probe reply packets from different master devices, if unpacking reveals that these devices do not meet the requirements to compete for the global master node position, the pre-selected global master node will back off for a period of time until it no longer receives probe packets or probe reply packets from different master devices, at which point it will become the true global master node. If, during the backoff process, a more suitable master device is found to meet the requirements to become the global master node, it needs to directly withdraw from the competition, allowing the other master device to continue competing for the global master node position.

[0131] Finally, after a master device becomes the global master node, it needs to send a probe message. This probe message, with the role set to global master node, is multicast to notify other master devices that the global master node has been elected and to begin establishing a tunnel with it. If a master device continuously sends multiple probe messages but receives no response messages from other master devices, it directly sets its own role as the global master node.

[0132] For example, Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction of a tunnel established between master devices, as provided as an example in this application. Figure 11 As shown, the purpose of establishing a tunnel is to simplify a Layer 3 network into a Layer 2 network, primarily for transmitting IEEE 1905 control and management messages and forwarding data packets. After the tunnel is created, Layer 3 communication messages are processed through the tunnel, while Layer 2 messages do not.

[0133] For example, to prevent the elected global master node from going offline due to some factor, leaving no manageable devices in the environment, disaster recovery protection is required. When master device B acts as the global master node, it periodically sends keep-alive messages to master device A. These keep-alive messages can be link measurement messages or other types of messages. Master device A needs to respond after receiving the keep-alive message from master device B. If master device B does not receive a response from master device A after sending multiple keep-alive messages consecutively, master device B determines that master device A is offline and immediately deletes the tunnel link with master device A. If master device A, as a regular node, does not receive keep-alive messages from master device B, which is the global master node, for a period of time, master device A determines that master device B is offline, immediately deletes the tunnel link with master device B, and sends probe messages outward, triggering a re-election process. If master device B subsequently comes back online, master device B and all other master devices will re-elect roles according to the algorithm, with the re-election weighting focusing more on the number of tunnels established between the master devices.

[0134] For example, Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction of a three-layer network topology and configuration synchronization, provided as an example in this application. Figure 12 As shown, after the link establishment is completed, the device networking and management phase begins. During the networking process, when the master device MFU_B acts as the global master node, the master device MFU_A sends an Access Point (AP) Auto-Configure Wi-Fi Simplified Configuration M1 request message to the master device MFU_B through a tunnel, notifying the master device MFU_B to start the auto-configuration process. Upon receiving this message, the peer master device replies with an AP Auto-Configure Wi-Fi Simplified Configuration M2 response message, confirming the completion of the AP auto-configuration interaction. After completing the AP auto-configuration, the master device MFU_A initiates a master gateway capability query to the master device MFU_B through a tunnel. Upon receiving this message, the master device MFU_B replies with a master gateway capability report, feeding back its own device capability information to the master device MFU_A.

[0135] Master device MFU_A sends a configuration synchronization request message containing wireless configuration and roaming configuration requests to master device MFU_B through the tunnel. Upon receiving the configuration synchronization request message, master device MFU_B sends the relevant configuration parameters to master device MFU_A, and master device MFU_A completes the unified setting of wireless and roaming configuration parameters. All messages exchanged between master devices through the tunnel are encapsulated in IEEE 1905 packets and conform to the EasyMesh standard. Configuration parameters are private fields, synchronized through the Vendor Specific field. Master device MFU_B collects the status information of master device MFU_A, as well as the connection status and location information of terminal devices, through the tunnel. Subsequent interactions with other gateways during related services will also follow these requirements.

[0136] For example, Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction of message transmission between master devices as an example of this application. For example... Figure 13 As shown, after the link is established, the master device (MFU) acting as the global master node transmits messages with other master devices (MFUs) acting as ordinary nodes through a tunnel. For example, the messages transmitted between the global master node and other master devices may include, but are not limited to, network interaction messages, configuration synchronization interaction messages, management messages, and data messages. Among these, regarding... Figure 13 The functions and uses of each module in the main device MFU can be found in [reference]. Figure 3 or Figure 6 The corresponding explanations will not be repeated here.

[0137] For example, Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the interaction between a master device and a slave device in an indirect configuration process, as provided in this application. Figure 14 As shown, the master device MFU_A, acting as the global master node, can also synchronize configuration with the slave device SFU_C in another network. This is mainly achieved through forwarding by another master device MFU_B. Master device MFU_A encapsulates the configuration message to be sent and then sends it to master device MFU_B through a tunnel. After receiving the tunnel message sent by master device MFU_A, master device MFU_B decapsulates the message within the tunnel and then forwards the configuration message to the corresponding slave device SFU_C, thus completing the flow of configuration messages. The process of slave device SFU_C replying to master device MFU_A is the reverse. SFU_C sends the reply message to master device MFU_B, which encapsulates the message and then sends it to master device MFU_A through a tunnel. Master device MFU_A can then obtain the corresponding reply message after decapsulation.

[0138] In this example, tunneling simplifies the Layer 3 FTTR network to a Layer 2 network, enabling the transmission of management and data packets across gateways within a unified Layer 2 plane, thus simplifying network management and maintenance. The disaster recovery mechanism automatically triggers a re-election after the global master node goes offline, ensuring the continuity of network management. A configuration synchronization mechanism enables unified configuration management across networks, achieving automatic configuration and management across FTTR networks.

[0139] Example 4: For example, with Figure 2For example, before roaming, the terminal STA is a downstream device of slave device SFU1-2 in subnet 1. The upper-layer gateway sends data to the master device MFU1, which then sends it to the terminal through slave device SFU1-2. After the terminal roams, the upper-layer gateway, unaware that the terminal has roamed, continues to send data to the master device MFU1.

[0140] When the master device MFU1 is the global master node, the master device MFU1 can detect that the terminal has roamed to the slave device SFU2-1 in sub-network 2. Then, it sends the data packet through the tunnel to the master device MFU2, the upper-level gateway of the slave device SFU2-1. The master device MFU2 then sends the data packet to the slave device SFU2-1 through the protocol stack, and finally sends it to the terminal through the slave device SFU2-1.

[0141] If the master device MFU1 is not the global master node, it cannot detect the terminal's location after roaming. Therefore, it sends the data packet through a tunnel to the global master node's master device. If the global master node is not the master device MFU2, it sends the data packet through a tunnel to the master device MFU2. The master device MFU2 then uses its protocol stack to send the data packet to the slave device SFU2-1, which then sends it to the terminal. If the global master node is the master device MFU2, it directly uses its protocol stack to send the data packet to the slave device SFU2-1, which then sends it to the terminal.

[0142] After the terminal roams from slave device SFU1-2 to slave device SFU2-1, when the terminal sends a packet to the upper-layer gateway via slave device SFU2-1 to master device MFU2, the data link will be switched. The original data will no longer be forwarded through the tunnel, but will be sent directly to the terminal by the upper-layer gateway through master device MFU2 and slave device SFU2-1 to reduce the load on the devices and tunnel.

[0143] In this example, the roaming mechanism of the terminal in multiple FTTR network environments ensures no data loss during roaming, reducing tunnel load and transmission latency. The tunnel forwarding mechanism maintains continuous data transmission during terminal roaming, avoiding data packet loss. Simultaneously, triggering data link switching via uplink messages ensures timely switching of the data stream to the accurate path, reducing tunnel load and data transmission latency, achieving low latency for cross-network roaming.

[0144] Figure 15 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a communication device provided in an embodiment of this application. Figure 15 As shown, the communication device 2000 includes a memory and a processor. The number of memories and processors can be one or more. Figure 15Taking a memory 2101 and a processor 2201 as an example; the memory 2101 and processor 2201 in the communication device 2000 can be connected via a bus or other means. Figure 15 Taking the example of a connection between China and Israel via a bus.

[0145] The memory 2101, as a computer-readable storage medium, can be used to store software programs, computer-executable programs, and modules, such as program instructions / modules corresponding to the methods provided in any embodiment of this application. The processor 2201 implements the cross-network communication method for FTTR provided in any of the above embodiments by running the software programs, instructions, and modules stored in the memory 2101.

[0146] Memory 2101 may primarily include a program storage area and a data storage area, wherein the program storage area may store the operating system and application programs required for at least one function. Furthermore, memory 2101 may include high-speed random access memory and may also include non-volatile memory, such as at least one disk storage device, flash memory device, or other non-volatile solid-state storage device. In some instances, memory 2101 further includes memory remotely located relative to processor 2201, and this remote memory can be connected to the device via a network. Examples of such networks include, but are not limited to, the Internet, intranets, local area networks, mobile communication networks, and combinations thereof.

[0147] One embodiment of this application also provides a computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing a cross-network communication method for FTTR as provided in any embodiment of this application.

[0148] One embodiment of this application also provides a computer program product, including a computer program or computer instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium. A processor of a computer device reads the computer program or computer instructions from the computer-readable storage medium and executes the computer program or computer instructions, causing the computer device to perform a cross-network communication method for FTTR as provided in any embodiment of this application.

[0149] The system architecture and application scenarios described in this application are intended to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of this application and do not constitute a limitation on the technical solutions provided in this application. Those skilled in the art will understand that as system architectures evolve and new application scenarios emerge, the technical solutions provided in this application are also applicable to similar technical problems.

[0150] Those skilled in the art will understand that all or some of the steps in the methods disclosed above, as well as the functional modules / units in the systems and devices, can be implemented as software, firmware, hardware, or suitable combinations thereof.

[0151] In hardware implementations, the division between functional modules / units mentioned in the above description does not necessarily correspond to the division of physical components; for example, a physical component may have multiple functions, or a function or step may be performed collaboratively by several physical components. Some or all physical components may be implemented as software executed by a processor, such as a central processing unit, digital signal processor, or microprocessor, or as hardware, or as an integrated circuit, such as an application-specific integrated circuit. Such software may be distributed on a computer-readable medium, which may include computer storage media (or non-transitory media) and communication media (or transient media). As is known to those skilled in the art, the term computer storage media includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storing information (such as computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data). Computer storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technologies, CD-ROM, digital versatile disc (DVD) or other optical disc storage, magnetic cartridges, magnetic tape, disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that can be used to store desired information and is accessible to a computer. Furthermore, as is known to those skilled in the art, communication media typically contain computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in modulated data signals such as carrier waves or other transmission mechanisms, and may include any information delivery medium.

[0152] As used in this specification, the terms "component," "module," "system," etc., are used to refer to computer-related entities, hardware, firmware, combinations of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component can be, but is not limited to, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable file, an execution thread, a program, or a computer. As illustrated, applications running on computing devices and computing devices can both be components. One or more components may reside in a process or execution thread, and components may be located on a single computer or distributed among two or more computers. Furthermore, these components can be executed from various computer-readable media on which various data structures are stored. Components can communicate, for example, via local or remote processes based on signals having one or more data packets (e.g., data from two components interacting with another component between a local system, a distributed system, or a network, such as the Internet interacting with other systems via signals).

[0153] The above description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, illustrates some embodiments of this application, but does not limit the scope of this application. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions, and improvements made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of this application shall be within the scope of this application.

Claims

1. A cross-network communication method applied to FTTR, characterized in that, The method is applied to a first network device, which is a master device in a first FTTR network; the method includes: The first FTTR network and the second FTTR network communicate with the master device of the second FTTR network through a preset communication link. Both the first FTTR network and the second FTTR network belong to the target network system. One of the master devices of the first network device and the second FTTR network is a global master node determined from the target network system. The communication link is a Layer 3 link between the global master node and the master devices of other FTTR networks in the target network system. The global master node is used to manage all FTTR networks in the target network system through the communication link. The method further includes: Communicate with the master device of at least one FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from the master devices of all FTTR networks, wherein the at least one FTTR network includes the second FTTR network.

2. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The communication with the master device of the second FTTR network via a preset communication link includes: The configuration information is synchronized with the master device of the second FTTR network through the communication link, wherein the configuration information is sent by the global master node to the other of the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network, and the other of the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network is any device in the target network system.

3. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, After communicating with the master device of at least one FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from among the master devices of all FTTR networks, the method further includes: A communication link is established between the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network, wherein the other of the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network is any device in the target network system.

4. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The communication with at least one master device in an FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from among all master devices in the FTTR network includes: Communicating with at least one master device of the FTTR network to determine a second capability level of the master device of the FTTR network, wherein the second capability level is used to characterize at least one of the load capacity, forwarding capacity and number of downstream slave devices of the master device of the second FTTR network; A role election operation is performed based on the first capability level and the second capability level of the first network device to determine the network device with the highest capability level from all the master devices of the FTTR network as the global master node, wherein the first capability level is used to characterize at least one of the first network device's load capacity, forwarding capacity, and number of downstream slave devices.

5. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, In the event that the first network device goes offline after being selected as the global master node, after communicating with the master devices of at least one FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from all the master devices of the FTTR network, the method further includes: After the first network device comes back online, based on the number of communication links created by the first network device and the number of communication links created by the current global master node, the network device with the larger number of communication links is determined as the global master node.

6. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that, After communicating with the master device of at least one FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from among the master devices of all FTTR networks, the method further includes: If the first network device is elected as the global master node according to the role election operation, it determines itself as the global master node in response to not receiving a probe message sent by the master device of the new FTTR network in the target network system within a preset time period. An election result message is sent to the master devices of all FTTR networks in the target network system, excluding the first network device. The election result message is used to indicate that the first network device is the global master node.

7. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The communication with at least one master device in an FTTR network to perform a role election operation to determine a global master node from among all master devices in the FTTR network includes: Send a probe request message to the master device of at least one FTTR network in the target network system; If the first network device continuously sends the probe request message a preset number of times and does not receive a probe reply message in response to the probe request message, it determines itself to be the global master node.

8. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first network device is a global master node determined from the target network system, and the second FTTR network is any FTTR network in the target network system. The master device communicating with the second FTTR network through a preset communication link includes: Perform keep-alive checks with the master devices of each of the second FTTR networks; If it is determined that the master device of the second FTTR network is inactive, the communication link between the first network device and the inactive master device of the second FTTR network is deleted.

9. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first network device is the master device of any FTTR network in the target network system, and the master device of the second FTTR network is a global master node determined from the target network system; The communication with the master device of the second FTTR network via a preset communication link includes: Perform keep-alive check with the master device of the second FTTR network; If it is determined that the master device of the second FTTR network is inactive, the communication link between the first network device and the master device of the second FTTR network is deleted. Communicate with the master device of at least one FTTR network in the target network system other than the second FTTR network to redetermine the global master node.

10. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first network device is a global master node determined from the target network system, and the second FTTR network is the FTTR network where the terminal is located after roaming; The communication with the master device of the second FTTR network via a preset communication link includes: Upon receiving a downlink data packet corresponding to the terminal, the downlink data packet is forwarded to the master device of the second FTTR network via the communication link, so that the master device of the second FTTR network can send the downlink data packet to the terminal.

11. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first network device is a global master node determined from the target network system, and the second FTTR network is the FTTR network where the terminal was located before roaming; The communication with the master device of the second FTTR network via a preset communication link includes: When the terminal roams to the first network device, it receives the downlink data packet corresponding to the terminal sent by the master device of the second FTTR network through the communication link; The downlink data packet is sent to the terminal.

12. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The first network device is the master device of any FTTR network in the target network system, and the master device of the second FTTR network is the global master node determined from the target network system; The communication with the master device of the second FTTR network via a preset communication link includes: In response to sensing that the terminal has left the first FTTR network, the received downlink data packet corresponding to the terminal is sent to the master device of the second FTTR network through the communication link.

13. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The method further includes: After the terminal roams to the first network device and sends an uplink data packet to the upper-layer gateway device through the first network device, in response to receiving a downlink data packet sent by the upper-layer gateway device, the downlink data packet is sent to the terminal.

14. The cross-network communication method applied to FTTR according to claim 1, characterized in that, The master device of the second FTTR network is the global master node determined from the target network system, and the first network device is any FTTR network in the target network system. The method further includes: Receive control and management messages sent by the master device of the second FTTR network; The control and management messages are used to control and manage each slave device in the first FTTR network.

15. A communication device, characterized in that, include: At least one processor; At least one memory for storing at least one program; When at least one of the programs is executed by at least one of the processors, the cross-network communication method for FTTR as described in any one of claims 1 to 14 is implemented.

16. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions, characterized in that, The computer-executable instructions are used to execute the cross-network communication method applied to FTTR as described in any one of claims 1 to 14.

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