Ethernet Node Detection Frame Timeout Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Ethernet technologies fail to effectively detect and prevent loop forming points, leading to network unavailability and recurring bandwidth waste due to closed loops, and lack the ability to accurately locate the loop forming point for maintenance.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for setting detection frame timeout durations for Ethernet nodes, where the timeout duration is adjusted based on port state changes, allowing for isolation and reconnection strategies to prevent loop recurrence and identify the loop forming point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-generated harmful factors

If all nodes isolate ports upon detecting a closed loop, then bandwidth waste from internet storm is prevented, but network unavailability occurs because all nodes cannot forward data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth wasteVSAvoidnetwork unavailability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Different nodes are assigned different detection frame timeout durations based on their port state changes. Nodes that experience port state changes (loop forming points) use a longer timeout duration, while other nodes use a shorter timeout duration. This local differentiation ensures that only the appropriate node maintains port isolation to prevent loops, while other nodes can forward data normally, thus preventing both bandwidth waste and network unavailability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If nodes open isolated ports after detection frame timeout duration, then network connectivity is restored, but closed loops form again causing recurring bandwidth waste

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidrecurring bandwidth waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures different timeout durations for different node types before loop formation occurs. When a port state change is detected, the node is identified as a loop forming point and assigned a longer timeout duration. This preliminary differentiation ensures that when ports are opened after isolation, the loop forming point maintains longer isolation to prevent immediate loop recurrence, while other nodes restore connectivity faster.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Device complexity

If a fixed detection frame timeout duration is used for all ports, then implementation is simple, but the ability to detect loop forming points and prevent recurring loops is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidloop detection accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The detection frame timeout duration is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically adjusts the timeout duration based on the port state change history of each node. When a node's port undergoes state changes indicating loop formation, the timeout duration is extended for that specific port. This dynamic adjustment maintains implementation simplicity while significantly improving loop detection accuracy and preventing recurring loops.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2698949B1METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SETTING DETECTION FRAME TIMEOUT DURATION OF ETHERNET NODEs
Publication Date: 2019.06.19 ZTE CORP
  • EP2698949B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2698949B1 patent drawingFigure 4~6
  • EP2698949B1 patent drawingFigure 7

AI summary

The present document discloses a method and a system for setting a detection frame timeout duration of an Ethernet node. The method includes: when an Ethernet node determines that a communication port keeps a connected state unchanged or changes to a non-connected state from the connected state, setting a detection frame timeout duration of the communication port to a value within a first time range; and after the Ethernet node detects that the communication port changes to the connected state from the non-connected state, setting the detection frame timeout duration of the communication port to a value within a second time range, wherein the value within the second time range is greater than the value within the first time range. The manner for setting the detection frame timeout duration of the Ethernet node in the present document can prevent a waste of bandwidth caused by data cycle due to a closed loop of a network, thereby ensuring node connectivity while preventing the closed loop from being formed again, and improving the network performance. With the present document, a loop forming point can further be detected to facilitate the network maintenance.