Flexible Secondary Data Path Control for Network Reliability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network infrastructure faces challenges in managing flexible backup bandwidth due to changing conditions, such as link losses and asymmetric bit rates, which can disrupt service level agreements by failing to provide sufficient bandwidth during primary data path failures.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for providing flexible secondary data path control, involving detection of primary data path failures, initiation of secondary data paths, measurement of data path characteristics, and determination of services to be provided based on these characteristics, including signal quality, bit error rate, and usable data rate, to ensure compliance with service level agreements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single primary data path is used for data transmission, then the network infrastructure is simple and cost-effective, but the system reliability deteriorates when link loss occurs causing complete interruption of data path
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by continuously monitoring data path characteristics (bandwidth, latency, packet loss) before complete failure occurs. When degradation is detected, the system proactively initiates traffic switching to secondary paths before total link failure, preventing service interruption while maintaining simple primary infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention prepares backup secondary data paths in advance with pre-configured routing and monitoring capabilities. These secondary paths remain on standby with minimal activation overhead, providing immediate protection when primary path failure occurs, thus cushioning against reliability deterioration without permanently complicating the network structure.
2Reliability
If multiple secondary data paths are maintained for backup, then the system reliability improves during primary path failure, but the device complexity increases due to multiple physical and logical links
Solution Approach 1:
The secondary data paths are designed to serve multiple purposes: they can handle primary path failure, accommodate traffic bursts, and provide load balancing capabilities. This multi-functionality justifies maintaining secondary paths by maximizing their utility beyond simple backup, thereby improving reliability without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the activation and configuration of secondary data paths based on real-time monitoring of primary path characteristics. Secondary paths remain dormant or partially active during normal operation and are fully activated only when needed, allowing the system to maintain reliability capabilities while minimizing the operational complexity of managing multiple paths.
3Loss of time
If traffic is shifted to secondary data path without measurement, then the response time is fast during primary path failure, but the service quality deteriorates due to insufficient bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurements of secondary data path characteristics (bandwidth, latency, capacity) during normal operation or during the brief transition period. This preliminary characterization enables rapid traffic switching while ensuring that the secondary path can actually handle the shifted traffic without violating service level agreements, thus achieving both fast response and maintained service quality.
4Reliability
If data path characteristics are continuously monitored, then the service quality is maintained by detecting failures early, but the energy consumption increases due to constant measurement activities
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring of data path characteristics at strategically chosen intervals rather than continuous monitoring. Monitoring frequency is adjusted based on the stability of the primary path and the criticality of the service, allowing early failure detection while minimizing unnecessary energy consumption during stable operation periods.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and an apparatus for providing a flexible secondary data path control, said method comprising the steps of: detecting (S1) a primary data path failure of a primary data path between a customer premise site (3) and a central office site (4) ; initiating (S2) a corresponding secondary data path if a primary data path failure of said primary data path has been detected; initiating (S3) a measurement of data path characteristics of said initiated secondary path or utilizing constantly monitored data path characteristics of paths for an available secondary data path; and determining (S4) services to be provided via said secondary data path depending on the measured data path characteristics of said secondary data path.