Broadband Network Gateway Pool for Seamless Failover
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Solution Overview
Problem
The reliability of broadband networks is compromised when a broadband network gateway (BNG) fails, as no other BNG provides an access service for the affected customer premise equipment (CPE), leading to network instability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a broadband network gateway pool that receives access request packets from CPEs, obtains access policies based on identifiers, and performs access control to enable alternative BNGs to provide services when a BNG is faulty, ensuring seamless service continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single BNG provides access service for CPEs, then the access control function is simple and straightforward, but the network reliability deteriorates when the BNG fails
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the BNG functionality by introducing a BNG pool consisting of multiple BNGs, where each BNG can independently provide access services. The access control function is segmented between the BNG pool (for access authorization) and the AN (for traffic forwarding), allowing distribution of responsibilities and improving reliability through redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system merges multiple BNGs into a unified BNG pool that collectively serves CPEs. The AN is merged with the BNG pool through the OAM interface, enabling the AN to forward traffic to any available BNG in the pool. This merging creates a resilient system where failure of one BNG does not affect overall service availability.
2Reliability
If multiple BNGs form a pool to provide redundant access services, then the network reliability improves, but the access control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The BNG pool implements self-service through automated load balancing and failover mechanisms. When a CPE requests access, the system automatically selects an appropriate BNG from the pool based on current status and capacity. The AN automatically updates its OAM information to reflect current BNG availability, eliminating the need for manual reconfiguration and simplifying operations despite the complexity of having multiple BNGs.
3Productivity
If the AN forwards traffic to a specific BNG, then the traffic forwarding is efficient and direct, but the system lacks flexibility when the BNG fails
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces dynamic traffic forwarding where the AN can adapt its forwarding destination based on real-time BNG status. The OAM interface enables dynamic updates of BNG availability information, allowing the AN to switch traffic forwarding targets dynamically. This creates a flexible system that maintains efficient direct forwarding to available BNGs while automatically adapting when failures occur.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an access method and system of a customer premise equipment, and a broadband network gateway. The access method of a customer premise equipment includes: receiving, by a BNG in a BNG pool, an access request packet sent by a CPE, where the access request packet carries an identifier of a CPE group to which the CPE belongs; and obtaining, by the BNG, an access policy of the CPE group according to the identifier of the CPE group, and performing access control on the CPE according to the access policy. Through the present invention, a BNG in a BNG pool is enabled to provide an access service for a CPE according to an access policy, so that when a BNG in a BNG pool is faulty, a BNG that is not faulty in the BNG pool can provide an access service for a CPE originally accessing the faulty BNG, thereby improving the reliability of the entire network.