Base Station Auto-Configuring VLAN IDs via Router Advertisements
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile communication networks, manual planning and station-by-station configuration of base stations are required for new deployments, expansions, or transmission network reconstructions, leading to high time and labor costs due to the need for manual configuration of various IP addresses and VLANs.
Innovation Solution
A communication method that enables base stations to automatically configure transmission parameters by generating VLAN IDs, interface IPs, and routes based on router advertisement packets, allowing self-learning and decoupling from manual transmission planning, using DHCP relays and stateless address autoconfiguration for IPv6 networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual planning and station-by-station configuration are used for base stations, then network reliability and control are improved, but configuration time and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The base station automatically generates its own VLAN ID, interface IP address, and route configuration by receiving a router advertisement packet and processing it through stateless address autoconfiguration. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual station-by-station configuration while maintaining network reliability through structured automated procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The router pre-configures the network environment by sending a router advertisement packet containing necessary network parameters before the base station needs to be configured. This preliminary action provides the base station with all required information (VLAN ID, IP prefix) to automatically generate its configuration, significantly reducing configuration time.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual configuration of VLANs and IP addresses is performed for each base station, then configuration precision is improved, but labor costs and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base station autonomously generates precise configuration parameters (VLAN ID, interface IP address, default route) by processing the router advertisement packet through standardized algorithms. This self-service approach maintains configuration precision while eliminating manual intervention and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The router advertisement packet serves as an intermediary that carries essential network configuration information from the router to the base station. This intermediary mechanism ensures precise configuration delivery without requiring direct manual intervention, simplifying the overall configuration process.
3Adaptability or versatility
If transmission network reconstruction is performed, then network adaptability is improved, but reconfiguration time and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The base station configuration is made dynamic through automatic regeneration of VLAN ID, IP address, and route based on received router advertisement packets. When the transmission network is reconstructed, the router sends updated advertisement packets, and the base station automatically adjusts its configuration without manual intervention, improving adaptability while minimizing reconfiguration time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through the router advertisement mechanism, where the router continuously provides network configuration information to the base station. This feedback loop ensures the base station configuration remains synchronized with the transmission network state, enabling rapid adaptation to network changes.
4Extent of automation
If DHCP is used for MP parameters, then automation is improved, but other parameters still require manual configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The router advertisement packet mechanism is extended to provide multiple configuration parameters (VLAN ID, interface IP address, default route) in a single unified process. This multi-functional approach replaces the need for separate DHCP for MP parameters and manual configuration for other parameters, achieving comprehensive automation and improving operational ease.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the configuration of multiple parameters (VLAN ID, IP address, route) into a single automated process driven by the router advertisement packet. This consolidation eliminates the fragmented approach of using DHCP for some parameters and manual configuration for others, achieving complete automation and simplifying operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application discloses a communication method. In the method, a base station may receive a router advertisement packet, and perform self-learning based on the router advertisement packet, to generate a virtual local area network identifier, an interface network address, and a route. Then, the base station obtains association information of an upper-layer service. The association information may represent an association relationship between a virtual local area network at a data link layer and the upper-layer service such as a management plane service, a control plane service, and a user plane service above a network layer in layers of TCP/IP. A virtual local area network and a network address of the upper-layer service may be automatically determined based on the association relationship in the association information, and the virtual local area network identifier and the interface network address that are generated in advance. In this way, base station transmission planning is not required, and automatic configuration is implemented. This improves configuration efficiency and reduces configuration costs.