Local SDN Controller Resource Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Software Defined Network (SDN) controllers face challenges in resource-constrained environments, such as those found at the edge of IoT networks, where they struggle to manage and process the vast amounts of data generated by a large number of connected devices, leading to scalability, reliability, and efficiency issues due to limited resources like memory, storage, and computational capacity.
Innovation Solution
A local SDN controller with a resource monitor and function manager that identifies non-critical functions to deactivate or offload to a central SDN controller, utilizing components like a function monitor, online profiler, permission requestor, state manager, offline profiler, and upload manager to self-adapt to resource availability, ensuring seamless operation and resource optimization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If SDN controllers are deployed at the edge of communication networks to process IoT data locally, then data processing efficiency and bandwidth consumption are improved, but the available resources (memory, storage, computational capacity) at the edge become constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The SDN controller implements dynamic resource monitoring and adaptive function management. The resource monitor continuously tracks available resources, and the function manager dynamically adjusts which network control functions are executed locally versus offloaded to the cloud, allowing the system to adapt its resource consumption patterns to available capacity while maintaining efficient local processing where possible
Solution Approach 2:
The SDN controller segments network control functions into critical and non-critical categories. Critical functions are always executed locally at the edge to maintain low latency and high efficiency, while non-critical functions are offloaded to the cloud when local resources are constrained. This segmentation allows the system to maintain productivity for essential operations while managing overall resource consumption
2Loss of time
If more network control and management functions are executed locally at the edge, then latency is reduced and bandwidth consumption is reduced, but the complexity of managing resource-constrained environments increases
Solution Approach 1:
The SDN controller implements self-service through automated resource monitoring and function management. The resource monitor continuously assesses local resource availability, and the function manager automatically determines which functions to execute locally and which to offload, eliminating the need for manual configuration and reducing management complexity while maintaining low latency for critical operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where the resource monitor continuously provides information about available resources to the function manager, which adjusts function execution decisions accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables automated adaptation to changing resource conditions, reducing management complexity while ensuring critical functions maintain low latency performance
3Speed
If SDN controllers are deployed in resource-constrained edge environments, then cloud systems are extended closer to IoT devices improving data processing velocity, but the reliability of network control functions may be compromised due to resource limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The SDN controller applies local quality by ensuring that critical network control functions are always executed locally at the edge with guaranteed resource allocation, while non-critical functions are subject to resource availability. This differentiation maintains high reliability for essential operations while allowing flexibility for secondary functions, achieving fast data processing velocity without compromising network control reliability
Data Source
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AI summary
A local Software Defined Network controller (101), abbreviated local SDN controller, performs local network control and management functions (211, 212, 213) in a resource constrained execution environment (200). The local SDN controller (101) comprises: - a resource monitor (201) to permanently monitor an amount of available resources in the resource constrained execution environment (200) and to establish a shortage of a given type of resources in the resource constrained execution environment (200); and - a function manager (202) to identify a non-critical function (213) out of the local network control and management functions (211, 212, 213) that can be deactivated and/or offloaded to a central SDN controller (102) to release resources of the given type in the resource constrained execution environment (200).