ANCP Relay for Access Node Multi-NAS Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Access Node Control Protocol (ANCP) does not scale well when a single Access Node (AN) needs to communicate with multiple Network Access Servers (NASs), leading to increased complexity and burden on the AN, especially in dynamic environments where multiple competing organizations require access.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a relay component that maintains a single connection with the AN and distributes functionality, allowing the AN to communicate with multiple NASs through a relay, which can be a software module or a Persistent Management Agent (PMA), reducing the need for multiple connections and intelligence within the AN.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple continuously-open TCP connections are set up between the AN and multiple NASs, then direct communication capability is maintained, but device complexity and burden on the AN increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay component as an intermediary between the AN and multiple NASs. The relay maintains multiple TCP connections - one with the AN and multiple with different NASs - thereby eliminating the need for the AN to manage multiple connections directly. The relay handles message routing based on message types and destination NAS identifiers, reducing the AN's complexity while preserving direct communication capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the AN maintains intelligence to determine message routing to multiple NASs, then communication flexibility is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the intelligence and decision-making logic for message routing from the AN and relocates it to the relay component. The relay contains the logic to determine which NAS should receive which messages based on message types and destination identifiers. This extraction simplifies the AN's operation while maintaining communication flexibility through the relay's routing capabilities.
3Device complexity
If a single TCP connection is used between AN and relay, then device complexity is reduced, but communication speed and responsiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication path into two distinct channels: a control channel for management and configuration messages, and a data channel for actual data transmission. This segmentation allows the single TCP connection to be used efficiently for control purposes while maintaining the ability to transmit data quickly when needed, balancing complexity reduction with communication performance.
Data Source
AI summary
An access network comprises a plurality of access nodes (DSLAMs), a plurality of network access servers (CP BRASs) and an ANCP relay. The access network control relay component relays data between an access node and a plurality of network access servers and includes one or more interfaces and associated functionality in an ANCP listener component for enabling a connection between the relay component and the access node, for transmitting data and/or messages thereover, and an interface (ANCP Agents) for a connection to be made with each of the plurality of network access servers (via ANCP listeners contained within the BRASs) for transmitting ANCP messages thereover; and a mapping database for storing mapping data to determine to which network access server a message should be transmitted from the relay component, together with a CP authentication database and a workflow processing component for controlling operation of components within the ANCP relay.