Network Virtualization for IPRAN Service Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The management of IPRAN (IP/MPLS-based Radio Access Network) configurations is complex, requiring manual intervention and lacks automation, which becomes more pronounced with network scale growth, necessitating a solution for simplified configuration and enhanced service reliability through network virtualization.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for a network virtualization system based on control and forwarding separation, where master nodes and slave nodes are paired as main-backup pairs, with virtual links established for service data transmission, enabling automatic failure detection and switching to ensure continuous service delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If network virtualization is adopted to simplify configuration management, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to virtualization overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration managementVSAvoidvirtualization system structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network system into virtualization management modules that handle configuration independently, separating control functions from physical device management. This allows simplified configuration operations through virtualized interfaces while isolating the complexity within dedicated management components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces virtualization management modules as intermediary components between operators and physical network devices. These modules provide an abstracted configuration interface that simplifies operations while managing the underlying complexity through standardized virtualization protocols and translation layers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If manual intervention is used for configuration adjustment, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases due to time-consuming manual operations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration adjustment speedVSAvoidconfiguration management
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSExtent of automation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service capabilities through automated configuration management modules that can independently adjust network parameters, allocate resources, and modify settings based on predefined policies and real-time conditions, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining system controllability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where configuration management modules continuously monitor network state and automatically adjust configurations in response to detected conditions, creating a closed-loop system that improves productivity through automated decision-making and adaptive configuration changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If backup master nodes are implemented for service reliability, then service reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional node management

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice continuityVSAvoidmaster-node management
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple master nodes into a coordinated system where backup nodes share state information and control responsibilities. This consolidation approach maintains service reliability through redundancy while reducing management complexity by treating the master-node group as a unified logical entity with distributed capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements backup master nodes as functional copies of the primary master node, maintaining identical configuration management capabilities and state information. This copying strategy ensures service continuity through redundancy while simplifying management by using standardized node templates and automated state synchronization protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2985952B1Method and device for protecting service reliability, and network virtualization system
Publication Date: 2018.09.26 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2985952B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2985952B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2985952B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method and a device for protecting service reliability and a network virtualization system, and relates to the field of communication technologies, and the service reliability in the network virtualization system provided by the present invention may be ensured. In an embodiment of the present invention, a master node having a control function obtains the current service type information and notifies a slave node of the current service type information, for enabling the slave node to determine a main virtual link and a backup virtual link according to the service type information and to perform the failure detection, and when detecting that the main virtual link has failure and the backup virtual link has no failure, a service data message is switched to be transmitted on the backup virtual link, to ensure non-interrupted transmission of a service data message in a brand-new system architecture provided by the present invention, so as to ensure the service reliability.