Geo-Redundancy Management for Mobile Wireless Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost and limited scope of existing geo-redundancy solutions in mobile wireless data networks, which require maintaining multiple standby servers for each active node, lead to substantial expenditures on infrastructure and operational costs.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for managing geo-redundant resources in mobile wireless data networks using a Geographic Redundancy Coverage Issuer (GRCI) that maintains lists of active and standby geo-redundant nodes, allowing for efficient transition of standby nodes to active status upon failure, reducing the need for synchronized state information and physical nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hot standby copy is configured for each active network node to maintain real-time state information, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity and operational costs increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the standby functionality into a centralized pool of multi-functional nodes rather than having dedicated standby copies for each active node. The GRCI manages a shared pool of standby nodes that can be dynamically allocated to any failed active node, combining multiple standby functions into a unified resource pool that reduces overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Standby nodes in the patent are designed with multi-functionality, capable of assuming the role of any failed active node rather than being dedicated to a specific node. This universal standby capability allows a single standby node to back up multiple active nodes across different geographic regions, reducing the total number of standby nodes required while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If hot standby copy maintains real-time state information for every session, then network reliability is improved, but use of energy and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic state synchronization where standby nodes only synchronize state information when actually needed - specifically when they are selected to replace a failed active node. Rather than continuously maintaining real-time state information, the system dynamically activates synchronization only during failover events, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic health checks and event-triggered synchronization instead of continuous real-time state maintenance. Standby nodes receive update messages from the GRCI only when state changes occur or when failover is required, transforming continuous energy-consuming synchronization into periodic or event-driven actions that reduce overall energy usage.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple generations of mobile wireless network infrastructure are concurrently supported, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity and management difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The GRCI acts as an intermediary layer between multiple network generations and the redundancy management system. It abstracts the complexity of managing redundancy across different network generations (3G, 4G, etc.) by providing a unified interface and centralized control mechanism, allowing multiple generations to be supported without proportionally increasing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes redundantly configured resources designated as active geo-redundant nodes (AGNs) and standby geo-redundant nodes (SGNs), a set of covered agents (CAs) that rely upon the redundantly configured resources, and a geographic redundancy coverage issuer (GRCI) configured to manage the geo-redundant nodes. The GRCI maintains a CA list identifying a set of subscribers to redundancy management services supported by the GRCI, an AGN list identifying a set of active geo-redundant nodes, and an SGN list identifying a set of standby geo-redundant nodes. The GRCI provides the AGN list and the SGN list to subscriber CAs. In response to receiving a message identifying a failed AGN, the GRCI updates the AGN list to reflect a failed status for the failed AGN and issues an update message to CAs reflecting the failed status for the failed AGN and a transition of an activated SGN to the AGN list.