Controller Offloading for Network Session Processing
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Solution Overview
Problem
In computer networks, controllers can become overloaded due to varying workloads among network devices, leading to negative impacts on network performance and throughput, as some devices operate near maximum capacity while others remain underutilized.
Innovation Solution
The system offloads processing actions for client sessions from the controller to other network devices within the secondary network, such as switches or access points, based on session characteristics like data volume and duration, reducing the burden on the controller by configuring these devices to perform necessary actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the controller performs all processing actions for client sessions, then centralized control and management are maintained, but the controller becomes overloaded and network performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the processing workload by dividing session processing tasks between the controller and distributed network devices. The controller retains session management and control functions while offloading data processing actions to specific network devices, thereby maintaining centralized control while improving overall network productivity and preventing controller overload.
2Productivity
If processing actions are distributed to network devices, then controller overload is prevented and network throughput improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an offloading mechanism as an intermediary layer between the controller and network devices. This mechanism manages the complexity of distributing processing actions by providing a standardized interface and protocol for offloading decisions, session characteristics evaluation, and task allocation, thereby simplifying the overall system architecture while enabling distributed processing.
3Reliability
If the controller handles all sessions, then consistent policy enforcement is achieved, but response time increases due to controller bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring network devices with session processing capabilities and policies before actual session processing occurs. The controller pre-evaluates session characteristics and pre-determines appropriate processing actions, allowing network devices to execute these pre-planned actions locally without requiring real-time controller intervention, thus maintaining policy consistency while reducing processing time.
Data Source
AI summary
A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors, causes performance of operations including: performing, by a controller, one or more processing actions for data corresponding to a particular session associated with a client device; identifying one or more characteristics corresponding to the particular session; based on the one or more characteristics corresponding to the particular session: selecting a network device, other than the controller, to perform the one or more processing actions for the data corresponding to the particular session; causing the network device to perform the one or more processing actions, for the data corresponding to the particular session, instead of the controller.