Active Static Path Redundancy for Ultra-Low Packet Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network redundancy methods fail to ensure ultra-low packet loss rates, especially in scenarios with multiple failures, due to limitations in traditional routing and bridging, and existing solutions like PRP, HSR, and MPLS are costly and complex, unable to effectively handle simultaneous failures and congestion.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an active/static redundancy approach with two nailed-up paths and an extra link that uses network topology protocols to regenerate a dual stream after a failure, ensuring continued delivery and reducing packet loss without the need for excessive hardware or complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional routing and bridging methods are used for network redundancy, then device complexity is reduced, but packet loss reliability deteriorates under multiple failures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes multiple nailed-up paths and designates emergency network devices before failures occur. When a failure is detected, the emergency device immediately activates pre-configured backup paths, eliminating the need for complex real-time routing calculations and reducing packet loss without adding operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces emergency network devices as intermediaries that monitor path health and automatically activate backup paths when failures occur. These intermediaries simplify the overall system by centralizing failure detection and response logic, reducing the complexity burden on individual network devices while improving reliability
2Reliability
If existing solutions like PRP, HSR, and MPLS are implemented, then packet loss reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core redundancy function from complex protocols like MPLS and implements it through simpler nailed-up paths and emergency device mechanisms. By separating the essential reliability function from protocol overhead, the system achieves comparable packet loss protection with reduced device complexity and lower costs
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simpler emergency network devices and backup path mechanisms that can be quickly deployed and activated without requiring expensive, complex hardware upgrades. The emergency devices serve their purpose during failures and can be deactivated or replaced, providing cost-effective reliability enhancement
3Reliability
If more redundant paths are added to handle multiple failures, then packet loss reliability improves, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures multiple nailed-up paths and designates emergency devices for each path before failures occur. This preliminary setup allows the system to handle multiple simultaneous failures by simply activating pre-planned backup paths, avoiding the need for complex real-time path selection logic and reducing management overhead
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements redundancy at specific critical points in the network topology by designating particular network devices as emergency devices for specific paths. This localized approach to redundancy provides targeted protection against multiple failures without requiring every device in the network to implement complex redundancy logic, thereby reducing overall system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
Delivering every packet of a stream simultaneously along two different paths gives a high assurance that the destination will receive at least one of them, even if a single failure occurs. The present idea uses the topology protocols to know when to regenerate a dual stream after one failure occurs, so that the dual delivery, and thus assurance against further failures, is maintained.