Residential Gateway Remote Restart via Data Link Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Residential gateways in communication networks often lack remote control capabilities, leading to service unavailability during failures, which affects users and operators, and there is a need for a solution to ensure continuity of services without user intervention.
Innovation Solution
A method to remotely control residential gateways using action messages transmitted via the data link layer, allowing for restart, shutdown, and configuration management, even without an IP connection, using MAC addresses for identification and implementing backup access points to maintain service continuity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If residential gateways are installed at user premises for local network access, then service availability is improved, but reliability deteriorates when failures occur due to lack of backup mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway is designed to automatically execute restart actions upon receiving failure notifications from the network operator, eliminating the need for user intervention. The system performs self-diagnosis and self-recovery by monitoring gateway status and autonomously initiating restart procedures when failures are detected.
Solution Approach 2:
The network operator configures restart parameters and failure thresholds in advance through the management system. When failures occur, pre-configured restart actions are immediately executed without requiring user presence or technical knowledge, ensuring rapid service restoration.
2Ease of operation
If remote control capabilities are added to residential gateways, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A network management system acts as an intermediary between the network operator and the gateway. The management system handles complex control logic, parameter configuration, and monitoring functions centrally, while the gateway itself remains relatively simple, executing only the specific restart actions commanded by the operator through standardized interfaces.
3Reliability
If backup mechanisms are implemented for gateway failures, then reliability is improved, but loss of energy increases due to redundant systems
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of maintaining physical backup gateway hardware at user premises, the system creates a virtual copy of the gateway configuration and state in the network operator's management system. When a gateway fails, the operator can rapidly provision a replacement gateway using stored configuration data, eliminating the need for energy-consuming standby hardware while ensuring service continuity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a process of restarting a residential gateway connected on one end to an extended communication network and, on the other end, to a local network, in which the gateway carries out the following steps: - receipt of a first action message comprising at least one order to turn off the gateway, this action message being generated by an implementing entity of the extended communication network and transmitted on the level of the data link layer, - storage of a configuration context of the local network associated with the gateway, - shutting down of the gateway, and - restarting of the gateway according to the previously stored configuration context.