License Aggregation Module for Distributed Network Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
In distributed networks, licenses are often tied to a single core device, leading to access limitations and challenges with flexibility, especially if the core device fails, and complicates pay-as-you-grow licensing models.
Innovation Solution
An aggregation module is used to receive and replicate access point licenses across multiple network cores, ensuring continued network access even if a core device fails, and facilitating flexible license distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If licenses are associated with a single core device, then license management is simple, but network access reliability deteriorates when the core device fails
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the license association from a single core device to multiple core devices. Each core device maintains a copy of the license, allowing the system to segment the dependency and improve reliability without significantly increasing management complexity through distributed storage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by proactively replicating license copies to multiple core devices before any failure occurs. This ensures that when a core device fails, other core devices already possess the necessary license copies to maintain network access without interruption.
2Device complexity
If licenses are tied to a single core device, then device complexity is low, but adaptability to network changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling any core device in the network to serve as a license holder. The license is not tied to a specific core device but can be accessed by any core device, making the system multi-functional and adaptable to network reconfiguration or core device failures.
3Device complexity
If a single core device manages licenses, then implementation is simple, but loss of information occurs during core device failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-replicating license information to multiple core devices before any failure occurs. This ensures that when a core device fails, the license information is already preserved in other core devices, preventing any loss of information and enabling continuous network access.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes an aggregation module that is associated with a first network core and that is operatively coupled to a second network core and a third network core. The aggregation module is configured to receive a first copy of an access point license that authorizes access to a network via an access point and the second network core. The aggregation module receives the first copy of the access point license from the second network core in response to an installation and validation of the access point license on the second network core. The aggregation module is configured to send a second copy of the access point license to the third network core that authorizes a device to access the network via the access point and via the third network core in accordance with the access point license and in response to a failure of the second network core.