Hot Standby Centralized Network Node Control Modules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current technologies do not effectively implement hot backup in centralized network nodes due to the integration of control and forwarding information within a single CPU, which complicates the separation of these functions and hinders the realization of hot backup mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that establish a main and standby control module within a centralized network node, where control information of main and standby LSPs is acquired, synchronized, and used to generate forwarding information, enabling timely switching between the modules and ensuring data forwarding quality.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If control information and forwarding information are integrated in a single CPU in a centralized network node, then device cost is reduced, but hot backup cannot be realized

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice costVSAvoidhot backup capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the single CPU into two logical control modules: a main control module and a standby control module. Each module has its own control information storage area, enabling independent operation and hot backup capability while maintaining the centralized architecture. This segmentation allows the system to achieve both cost efficiency and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the control module functionality by establishing a standby control module that mirrors the main control module. The standby module maintains synchronized control information and can take over immediately when the main module fails, enabling hot backup without requiring a completely separate physical system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Speed

If control information is synchronized to standby control module, then hot backup switching speed is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveswitching speedVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control information storage and synchronization mechanism within the existing centralized CPU architecture. Rather than adding separate external storage systems, the control information is maintained in memory areas that are naturally accessible to both control modules, reducing overall system complexity while enabling fast switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an identification information field as an intermediary mechanism to track the active and standby states of control modules. This simple metadata structure enables automatic switching logic without requiring complex state management protocols, thus achieving fast switching with minimal added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If identification information is set for control information of main and standby LSPs, then LSP status management is improved, but data processing overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLSP status managementVSAvoiddata processing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by adding identification information only to the specific control information fields that require status tracking (main/standby LSP identification), rather than processing or tagging all data uniformly. This targeted approach enables efficient status management with minimal additional processing overhead on the overall data flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2538602B1Method and system for realizing hot standby in centralized network nodes
Publication Date: 2017.07.26 ZTE CORP
  • EP2538602B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2538602B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2538602B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The disclosure discloses a method for realizing hot backup in a centralized network node, in which a main control module and a standby control module are arranged, including: an Resource Reservation Protocol-Traffic Engineering (RSVP-TE) tunnel, which contains two Label Switched Paths (LSPs): a main LSP and a standby LSP, is established for services; and further including: the main control module acquires control information of the main LSP and that of the standby LSP, sets identification information of the control information of the main LSP and that of the standby LSP as Active or Inactive according to the current statuses of the main and standby LSPs, and synchronizes the control information of the main LSP and that of the standby LSP to the standby control module; and the current main control module generates forwarding information according to the control information of the LSP whose identification information is Active, and forwards a service after the switching between the main and standby control modules. The disclosure further discloses a system for realizing the method. The disclosure reduces the switching time and the forwarding time, and improves the service forwarding speed.