Execution Instance Recovery in CMTS Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current approaches for recovering or restarting execution instances in CMTS or PON systems, such as cable modem termination systems and passive optical networks, face bottlenecks in achieving quick restart times due to the time required to create downstream Service Flow classifiers and Access Control Lists, leading to potential service outages for thousands of subscribers.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a 'lazy creation' method where classifiers and Service Flows are created gradually or partially after the packet processing application has started, using a default Service Flow initially to allow for immediate service restoration, and then configuring additional service flows over time, while prioritizing critical services like voice calls and optimizing classifier rebuilding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If downstream Service Flow classifiers and Access Control Lists are created before packet processing application starts, then quality of service is ensured, but restart time is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the Service Flow classifier creation process into multiple phases: critical service flows are created immediately upon application start, while non-critical service flows are created gradually in the background. This segmentation allows the system to provide quality service for essential functions without waiting for complete classifier configuration, thereby reducing restart time while maintaining necessary quality of service.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-configuring critical Service Flow classifiers and Access Control Lists before the packet processing application fully starts. This allows the system to immediately handle time-sensitive traffic (such as voice calls) upon restart, while non-critical classifiers are populated subsequently, thus ensuring both quick service restoration and quality of service for critical functions.
2Reliability
If all Service Flow classifiers are created before service restoration, then complete quality of service is provided, but service outage duration is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by creating only the essential Service Flow classifiers needed for critical services immediately upon application restart, rather than waiting for all classifiers to be fully configured. This partial configuration enables service restoration for time-sensitive functions while non-critical service flows are added in the background, significantly reducing service outage duration while maintaining adequate quality of service for essential functions.
3Reliability
If execution instance restarts with full classifier configuration, then complete service functionality is restored, but restart speed is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating between critical and non-critical Service Flow classifiers. Critical classifiers (those necessary for voice calls and time-sensitive services) are configured immediately with high priority, while non-critical classifiers are populated gradually in the background. This local differentiation ensures that essential service functionality is restored quickly, achieving both fast restart speed and complete service functionality over time.
Data Source
AI summary
Recovering or restarting an execution instance. In response to detecting that a particular execution instance, in which a cable modem termination system (CMTS) software application, an optical line terminal (OLT) software application, and/or broadband network gateway (BNG) software application has failed, restarting the execution instance without adding any downstream service flow classifiers to the instance or configuring any entries of an access control list for the instance. After restarting the execution instance, over time adjusting the configuration of the instance to add one or more downstream service flow classifiers or access control list entries such that the instance can provide additional services, beyond a default service flow, to cable modems or optical network units. Support for voice calls may be initially added to the execution instance upon startup. Required time to register cable modems or optical network units with the execution instance is advantageously reduced while maintaining quality of service.