Access Point Grouping for Bridging Tunneled Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large-scale L2 tunneled networks face scalability issues with processor-intensive packet duplication for broadcast and multicast operations, leading to limitations in roaming and load balancing across access points, and uncontrolled unicast traffic, which existing solutions like blocking packets or turning off inter-tunnel bridging fail to adequately address.
Innovation Solution
The system groups access points by location parameters, such as router-ids or sanctioned neighbor lists, to bridge packets within groups while replicating between groups, reducing the load on network concentrators and enabling seamless roaming and unicast communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If broadcast/multicast packets are replicated for all tunnels at the NoC concentrator, then all remote users receive the packets, but the processor load becomes intensive when there are thousands of tunnels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the large-scale tunnel network into multiple access point groups, where each group is assigned a unique group ID. Instead of replicating packets to all individual tunnels at the NoC concentrator, packets are replicated only to the relevant access point groups. This segmentation reduces the processor load at the concentrator while ensuring complete packet delivery to all necessary remote users within each group.
2Power
If all broadcast/multicast packets are blocked from going over tunnels, then processor load is reduced, but critical control packets like WNMP cannot be delivered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements selective packet handling with different rules for different packet types and destinations. Broadcast/multicast packets are allowed to pass through the concentrator when they need to reach multiple access point groups, while unicast packets are handled locally within each access point group. This local quality approach ensures critical control packets like WNMP are delivered reliably while minimizing unnecessary processor load.
3Power
If inter-tunnel bridging is turned off at the NoC concentrator, then packet replication load is reduced, but roaming and unicast communication between clients on different APs are blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces access point groups as intermediary entities between individual access points and the NoC concentrator. Each access point belongs to a specific group identified by a group ID. The concentrator uses these group IDs as intermediaries to route packets efficiently - replicating packets to relevant groups rather than individual tunnels. This intermediary structure enables roaming and unicast communication between clients on different APs while reducing the concentrator's replication load.
4Area of stationary object
If access points are deployed in multiple locations with separate links to the NoC, then network coverage is expanded, but control over unicast traffic and roaming coordination is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal group ID-based routing mechanism that works across all access points regardless of their physical location or connection to the NoC. Each access point group can be deployed in different locations with separate links, yet the same group ID-based packet routing and replication mechanism applies universally. This multi-functional approach maintains traffic control capability and roaming coordination across geographically distributed access points.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for access point groupings bridging tunneled traffic for a communication network, includes a first step of associating each access point with a location parameter. A next step includes grouping access points in accordance with the location parameter. A next step includes receiving a packet. A next step includes bridging the packet between Layer-2 tunnels of all access points that are part of a grouping.