Distributed Gateway Routers for SD-WAN Interconnectivity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current routing solutions for SASE-enabled deployments face challenges in large-scale interconnectivity, particularly with stateless cloud controller models that limit the number of edges connecting to a transit point, leading to issues like end-to-end visibility loss and constrained hierarchical deployments due to manual controller assignment and hop limitations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a distributed, disjoint gateway router architecture that supports multi-hop routing, branch-to-branch VPNs, and customizable VPN profiles across regions, with seamless switching and full-mesh redundancy, using multiple edge routers, route reflectors, and hub routers for scalable SD-WAN connectivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a common controller model is used for route exchanges, then route propagation is simplified, but the maximum supported overlay hops are limited to two, constraining hierarchical deployments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroute propagation complexityVSAvoidhierarchical deployment capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the network into multiple regions, each with its own gateway router, allowing hierarchical deployments to extend beyond two hops by segmenting the control function across regional boundaries rather than using a single common controller

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If manual assignment of controllers to edges is performed, then the number of edges connecting to a controller can be kept within acceptable limits, but the deployment process becomes more complex and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontroller edge connection limit complianceVSAvoiddeployment complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements automatic controller assignment where gateway routers and edge routers autonomously establish connections and exchange routing information without manual intervention, eliminating the complexity of manual assignment while maintaining acceptable connection limits through automated load distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If underlays are used for large scale deployments, then connectivity is established, but end-to-end visibility is lost when overlay to underlay handoffs occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedeployment scalabilityVSAvoidend-to-end visibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces gateway routers as intermediaries between overlay and underlay networks that maintain routing information and enable visibility preservation across handoffs, acting as mediators that translate between overlay and underlay routing domains without losing end-to-end visibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12261777B2Forwarding packets in multi-regional large scale deployments with distributed gateways

Publication Date: 2025.03.25 VELOCLOUD NETWORKS LLC

AI summary

Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for forwarding packets through an SD-WAN. To facilitate the forwarding of packets between first and second regions of the SD-WAN, said first and second regions having respective first and second hub routers forwarding packets between respective first and second sets of edge routers of respective first and second sets of sites of the first and second regions, the method directs (1) the first set of edge routers to establish connections to the first and second hub routers, and to use the first hub router as a next-hop to initiate communications with the second set of edge routers, and (2) the second set of edge routers to establish connections to the first and second hub routers, and to use the second hub router as a next-hop to initiate communications with the first set of edge routers.