Collocated 6rd Border Router and Customer Edge for Site-to-Site Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Site-to-site connectivity using IPv4 is problematic due to private address collisions and is difficult to set up for end users, especially in home networks.
Innovation Solution
A router gateway in a Local Area Network hosts both an IPv6 Rapid Deployment (6rd) Customer Edge (CE) and a 6rd Border Router (BR), allowing the establishment of a 6rd tunnel between two LANs, simplifying site-to-site connectivity by autoconfiguring the necessary information and providing a virtual family network.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If IPv4 is used for site-to-site connectivity, then existing infrastructure can be utilized, but private address collisions occur and setup is difficult for end users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the address parameter from IPv4 to IPv6, specifically using 6rd (IPv6 Rapid Deployment) technology. This allows private IPv6 addresses to be automatically generated and configured, eliminating the address collision problems inherent in IPv4 while simplifying the setup process for end users through automatic configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service through automatic configuration of 6rd tunnels. The system automatically generates IPv6 prefixes, configures routing tables, and establishes tunnels between sites without requiring manual user intervention. This is achieved through the 6rd protocol's automatic address assignment and tunnel setup mechanisms.
2Ease of operation
If manual tunnel setup is required, then configuration control is precise, but user-friendly setup is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automatic configuration of 6rd tunnels. The system automatically generates IPv6 prefixes, configures routing tables, and establishes tunnels between sites without requiring manual user intervention. This is achieved through the 6rd protocol's automatic address assignment and tunnel setup mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the 6rd Border Router with necessary parameters and pre-establishing the tunnel infrastructure. This allows end users to simply connect their devices without needing to manually configure complex tunnel settings, as the foundational configuration is already in place.
3Ease of operation
If collocated BR and CE are used, then tunnel setup is simplified, but router gateway complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the Border Router (BR) and Customer Edge (CE) functions into a single collocated device. This integration allows the router gateway to simultaneously perform border routing functions (tunnel establishment, address translation) and customer edge functions (local routing, address assignment), thereby simplifying the overall setup while concentrating functionality in one device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements multi-functionality in the router gateway by enabling it to perform multiple roles: it acts as both a Border Router for tunnel management and a Customer Edge device for local network connectivity. This universal device can handle both infrastructure-level routing and end-user connectivity functions, reducing the need for separate specialized devices.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a router gateway in a first Local Area Network (LAN) hosts both an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) Rapid Deployment (6rd) Customer Edge (CE) as well as a 6rd Border Router (BR). In one specific example embodiment, upon registering the BR to a global computer network, the router gateway may then accept a 6rd tunnel from a device hosting a second 6rd CE of a second LAN, such that the 6rd tunnel joins the first and second LANs into a single LAN. The second CE may then communicate, via the router gateway, between the first and second LANs as a single LAN (e.g., site-to-site), accordingly.