Dual-Core Network Control System Failover Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing broadband communication networks face high availability challenges due to failures in the control and provisioning system, leading to service disruptions when changes in the primary database are not communicated to secondary systems, causing data loss and operational instability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a dual-core system with primary and secondary cores, where network configuration data is periodically updated and synchronized, allowing for seamless failover and synchronization to maintain service continuity. The secondary core operates in read-only mode during failover to prevent data modification and ensure data integrity, and synchronizes with the primary core upon recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a backup secondary system is implemented for high availability, then service continuity is improved during primary system failure, but data loss occurs when changes in the primary database are not communicated to the secondary system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by continuously synchronizing database changes from the primary system to the secondary backup system before failover occurs. The secondary database is kept updated with configuration changes in real-time or near-real-time, so that when failover is needed, the secondary system already possesses the latest data and no information is lost.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the secondary system is kept updated with primary database changes, then data integrity is improved, but system complexity increases due to continuous synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the primary and secondary systems continuously monitor and communicate database change events. When a change occurs in the primary database, this information is fed back to the secondary system which then updates its copy. This automated feedback loop maintains data integrity without requiring complex manual intervention, as the systems self-regulate through event-driven synchronization.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the secondary core operates in read-only mode during failover, then data modification is prevented ensuring data integrity, but restoration time increases due to synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by maintaining continuous synchronization between primary and secondary databases during normal operation, so that the secondary system already contains all current data before failover. This eliminates the need for time-consuming synchronization during restoration, as the data is already prepared and ready for immediate activation when the primary system fails.
Data Source
AI summary
One aspect of the invention comprises a method of operating a network for providing services to subscribers, the network including a configuration system comprising: a core system comprising primary and secondary cores, each core being separately capable of controlling operation of the system; at least one cell connected to the core system; and at least one network element connected to the cell, each network element supporting a number of subscribers for provision of the services; the method comprising: operating the configuration system using the primary core; monitoring operation of the primary core for a failure event preventing the primary core from properly controlling operation of the configuration system; on detection of a failure event, transferring control of operation of the configuration system to the secondary core; following correction of the failure event such that the primary core again becomes capable of properly controlling operation of the configuration system, configuring the secondary core such that it is no longer modified and synchronizing the configuration of the primary core with the configuration of the secondary core; and transferring operation of the system back to the primary core.