Gate Controller for Cloud Packet Replication Elimination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanisms for reset of seamless redundancy functions in Time Sensitive Networking (TSN) and Deterministic Networking (DetNet) result in unnecessary packet drops and are not cloud-ready, posing challenges in achieving low latency and high reliability in cloud environments.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution introduces an explicit notification mechanism for sequence number generation resets and employs a new linear initial sequence number space in conjunction with existing cyclic spaces, enhancing the Replication and Elimination functions to minimize packet drops and ensure seamless adaptation in cloud environments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the existing timeout mechanism is used for sequence number generation reset, then the system can recover from out-of-step conditions, but unnecessary packet drops occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by resetting the sequence number generation function proactively when a gate state change is detected, rather than waiting for a timeout condition. This prevents the out-of-step condition from developing in the first place, thereby avoiding unnecessary packet drops while ensuring reliable recovery. The gate controller triggers the reset before packet transmission issues can occur.
2Reliability
If the sequence number generation function is reset frequently to maintain synchronization, then packet loss due to out-of-step conditions is reduced, but latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the gate controller monitor gate state changes and trigger sequence number resets based on actual state transitions. This event-driven feedback mechanism ensures synchronization is maintained only when necessary, avoiding unnecessary resets that would increase latency. The system responds to actual conditions rather than operating on fixed intervals.
3Reliability
If the FRER function is implemented in cloud environment with multiple application instances, then redundancy and reliability are improved, but complexity of gate control increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary gate controller that manages the complexity of coordinating multiple application instances and FRER functions. The gate controller acts as a mediator between the cloud environment's application instances and the FRER packet replication and elimination functions, centralizing the control logic and simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining high redundancy and reliability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for packet or frame replication and elimination in a network, includes obtaining by a gate controller downstream information indicating which application instance in an application cluster is downstream active needing to send a stream of packets or frames in a downstream direction through the network. The method further includes, based on the downstream information, controlling by the gate controller a gate within a gate cluster that is associated with the downstream active application instance to be open state which operates to forward the stream of packets or frames in the downstream direction from the downstream active application instance to an associated packet or frame replication entity for replication and transmission via at least two disjoint paths through the network.