Centralized Controller for Scalable Mesh Network Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network technologies face challenges in creating robust, economically viable, and scalable mesh networks with complex control-plane functions, leading to high operational costs and management complexity.
Innovation Solution
A centralized controller facilitates seamless end-to-end data forwarding in a mesh network with reduced control plane functionality at mesh nodes, using a Cloud Control Protocol (CCP) for automatic neighbor discovery and simplified topology management, allowing for low-cost, easy-to-manage nodes with minimal control plane functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If mesh nodes execute complex control-plane functions including L3 routing protocols, then routing information maintenance and forwarding information generation are distributed across nodes, but device complexity and operational costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts complex control-plane functions (L3 routing protocols, topology management, forwarding information generation) from individual mesh nodes and consolidates them into a centralized controller. Mesh nodes retain only basic data-plane forwarding capabilities, dramatically reducing node complexity while maintaining automated network operations through centralized intelligence.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized controller acts as an intermediary between the mesh nodes and the network core. It receives topology information from nodes, computes optimal forwarding paths, and distributes forwarding information back to nodes, thereby enabling distributed automation without requiring complex processing at each node.
2Adaptability or versatility
If mesh nodes execute full control-plane functions, then autonomous routing and forwarding decisions are enabled, but management complexity and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
Autonomous routing and forwarding capabilities are extracted from individual nodes and centralized in the centralized controller. The controller autonomously manages routing decisions and forwarding information distribution, simplifying node operation while maintaining network adaptability through centralized intelligence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where mesh nodes report topology information to the centralized controller, which then computes and distributes updated forwarding information. This feedback mechanism enables autonomous adaptation to network changes while keeping node functionality simple and manageable.
3Device complexity
If centralized control is implemented with reduced node functionality, then operational costs and management complexity are reduced, but control function distribution changes from distributed to centralized
Solution Approach 1:
Control functions that were distributed across multiple nodes are merged into a single centralized controller. This consolidation reduces device complexity at nodes while maintaining automation through the centralized entity that orchestrates network-wide routing and forwarding decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized controller provides self-service capabilities by automatically collecting topology information from nodes, computing optimal paths, and distributing forwarding information without human intervention. This maintains a high extent of automation while shifting the control architecture to centralized deployment.
Data Source
AI summary
A mesh network of wired and/or wireless nodes is described in which a centralized controller provides seamless end-to-end service from the edge of the mesh network to mesh nodes located proximate to subscriber devices. The controller operates to provide a central configuration point for configuring forwarding planes of the mesh nodes of the mesh network, so as to set up transport data channels to transport traffic from the edge nodes via the mesh nodes to the subscriber devices.