Gateway Ring Topology Re-establishment After Power Loss
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Solution Overview
Problem
In ring network topologies, existing systems fail to rapidly re-establish connectivity after a power loss, leading to temporary loss of redundancy and device unreachability, as they require significant time to reconfigure and restore the ring topology upon power restoration.
Innovation Solution
A gateway with programmable integrated circuit devices and firmware that reads configuration information to rapidly forward data traffic between ports, emulating a wire to re-establish a ring topology within 100 to 200 milliseconds upon power restoration, utilizing protocols like RSTP, PRP, and HSR to maintain redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ring topology reconfiguration methods are used after power loss, then the system ensures proper topology management and protocol compliance, but the re-establishment time is too long (1 to 2 seconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device stores configuration information in non-volatile memory before power loss occurs. This pre-stored information includes port role assignments and ring topology parameters, enabling the device to immediately resume its designated function upon power restoration without waiting for protocol-based discovery and negotiation, thus reducing re-establishment time from 1-2 seconds to under 100 milliseconds
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a simplified copy of the ring topology state by storing essential configuration data (port roles, ring parameters) in non-volatile memory. This copy allows the gateway to rapidly reconstruct its operational state without performing complete topology discovery protocols, achieving fast recovery while maintaining topology integrity
2Loss of time
If the gateway rapidly forwards data traffic immediately after power restoration, then the re-establishment time is reduced to 100 to 200 milliseconds, but the configuration information must be reliably stored and read
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device performs self-configuration by automatically reading its designated ring role and parameters from non-volatile memory upon power restoration. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex external configuration procedures or lengthy protocol-based discovery, enabling the device to immediately resume traffic forwarding with pre-known topology information
Solution Approach 2:
Configuration information is pre-stored in non-volatile memory during normal operation or initial setup. This preliminary action ensures that when power is restored, the gateway already possesses the necessary configuration data to immediately resume its ring topology function, avoiding the need for complex real-time configuration procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A gateway for a computer network includes a programmable integrated circuit device, and a first port and a second port coupled to the programmable integrated circuit device. The programmable integrated circuit device is structured and configured to, responsive to a restoration of power to the gateway following a loss of power at the gateway, read configuration information stored by the gateway, and if indicated by the configuration information, forward first data traffic from the first port to the second port and forward second data traffic from second port to first port until the programmable integrated circuit device is configured to do otherwise.