Adaptive Multipath Switchover Mechanism for Redundant Packet Streams
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex networking architectures face challenges in quickly detecting and responding to flow irregularities in active datagram streams to perform timely switchover to standby streams, which can disrupt service and introduce packet gaps and retransmissions if not managed effectively.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive mechanism that performs a switchover at the output device when a period of inactivity on the active stream exceeds the estimated maximum inter-arrival time of the standby stream, computed using an adaptive method that balances response time and minimizing unnecessary switchovers by observing inter-arrival times and adjusting parameters based on user expectations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the system performs switchover quickly upon detecting flow irregularities, then service continuity is improved, but unnecessary switchovers may occur due to transient irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and stores the expected inter-arrival time threshold before switchover is needed. When a packet is missed, the system compares the elapsed time against this pre-computed threshold to determine whether to switch, avoiding premature switchovers due to transient delays
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors packet arrival times and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the switchover decision. By comparing actual inter-arrival times against expected thresholds and updating the standby stream's timing characteristics, the system adapts to changing network conditions while maintaining reliable service
2Object-generated harmful factors
If the system waits longer to confirm flow irregularities before switching, then unnecessary switchovers are reduced, but service disruption time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the time threshold parameter dynamically based on the observed inter-arrival times of the standby stream. By computing the expected maximum inter-arrival time from historical data and adjusting this threshold as conditions change, the system achieves both quick response to real failures and avoidance of unnecessary switchovers
3Loss of time
If the system monitors packet arrival times closely to detect failures quickly, then response time is improved, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts only the essential timing information (inter-arrival times) from the packet stream for monitoring purposes, rather than analyzing all packet contents. By focusing solely on timestamp differences and comparing against pre-computed thresholds, the system achieves rapid failure detection with minimal processing overhead
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided in one example embodiment and it includes receiving a first plurality of packets from an active stream at an output device and communicating the first plurality of packets to a next destination. The method also includes receiving a second plurality of packets from a standby stream of the output device, the streams are sent by an input device. The method further includes performing a switchover at the output device such that the second plurality of packets is communicated to the next destination and the first plurality of packets is not. The switchover is triggered when a portion of the first plurality of the packets from the active stream is not received during a period of time that is greater than a majority of inter-arrival times of the second plurality of packets on the standby stream.