Distributed IP Network Emergency Control for Central Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing IP internetworked telecommunication systems for large companies are highly dependent on a single central control system, leading to high administrative costs and potential communication failures in case of central system failures, such as natural disasters, where backup systems are ineffective.
Innovation Solution
A distributed packet-based communications network with a central control system and emergency decentralized control processors at remote access points, ensuring continuous operation by maintaining identical software and configuration data with a backup server and enabling seamless takeover in case of central system failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single central control system is used to manage all access points, then administrative control and system coordination are simplified, but the system becomes highly vulnerable to failures and loses operational capability when the central system fails
Solution Approach 1:
The control functionality is segmented between a central control system and distributed emergency control processors located at each access point. Each emergency control processor contains a complete copy of the access control software and configuration data, enabling independent operation. This segmentation allows the system to maintain administrative simplicity through centralized management while achieving reliability through distributed backup capability.
2Reliability
If backup systems are implemented at remote access points, then system availability during central failures is improved, but device complexity and administrative burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each emergency control processor contains an exact copy of the access control software and configuration data that resides on the central system. This copying approach enables the distributed backup functionality without requiring complex additional hardware or software at each access point. The emergency processors are essentially identical clones of the control software, simplifying deployment and maintenance while providing robust failover capability.
3Reliability
If emergency control processors are deployed at each access point, then communication services remain available during catastrophic events, but initial system setup and data synchronization requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The emergency control processors are pre-configured with complete copies of the access control software and configuration data before deployment. This preliminary action ensures that when the central system fails, the distributed processors can immediately take over without requiring time-consuming data synchronization or reconfiguration. The data is prepared in advance and stored locally, enabling instant failover and maintaining service continuity during catastrophic events.
Data Source
AI summary
A distributed Internet Protocol communications network comprises a central control system comprising control processing means and at least one access point remote from the central control system for providing access to the packet based communications network. Under normal operating conditions the at least one access point is controlled by the control processing means. The network also comprises an emergency processing distinct from the central control system for controlling the at least one access point when there is a failure in the control processing means control of the at least one access point.