Logical Data Tunnel Synchronization for Packet Network Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current packet network infrastructure, such as Internet architecture, fails to provide reliable communications with minimal interruptions or data loss for critical applications like law enforcement and financial institutions, which require secure and uninterrupted data transport.

Innovation Solution

A network management system that establishes and manages logical data tunnels between customer edge routers using an isolation protocol, synchronizes packet data exchanges, duplicates data across multiple tunnels, and seamlessly switches to a secondary tunnel upon detecting faults in the primary tunnel to ensure continuous and reliable data transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If standard Internet architecture is used for communications, then infrastructure complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but reliability and data transport continuity deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunications reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork infrastructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network infrastructure is segmented into multiple logical data tunnels between customer edge routers, allowing independent operation and failure isolation. Each tunnel functions as a separate communication channel, so that failure in one tunnel does not affect others, thereby improving reliability without requiring complete infrastructure redesign.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Secondary logical data tunnels are established and synchronized in advance before primary tunnel failures occur. This preliminary setup allows for seamless failover when the primary tunnel fails, maintaining communication reliability without requiring complex real-time decision-making infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If data is duplicated across multiple logical data tunnels, then reliability and packet loss prevention are improved, but use of energy and network resources increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transport reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Data duplication is applied selectively rather than universally. The system duplicates packet data across multiple logical data tunnels only when needed for reliability, allowing the network to balance resource consumption against reliability requirements based on application needs and tunnel conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

Packet data is copied and transmitted through multiple logical data tunnels simultaneously. This copying mechanism ensures that if one tunnel fails, redundant copies are available for transmission, improving reliability while allowing controlled resource usage through selective duplication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If synchronization is performed between multiple logical data tunnels, then packet loss during switching is reduced, but device complexity and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket loss preventionVSAvoidsynchronization mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements synchronization mechanisms that monitor and coordinate packet data transmission across multiple logical data tunnels. Feedback loops track packet status and tunnel conditions, automatically adjusting transmission to maintain synchronization and prevent packet loss during failover without requiring complex manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Duration of action of stationary object

If seamless switching between primary and secondary tunnels is implemented, then communication continuity is improved, but detection precision and fault detection requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication continuityVSAvoidfault detection precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary fault detection and tunnel status assessment before failures occur. By continuously monitoring tunnel health and preparing secondary tunnels in advance, the system enables seamless switching when failures happen, maintaining communication continuity without requiring extremely precise real-time fault detection during the actual failure event.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8064336B2Method and apparatus for reliable communications in a packet network

Publication Date: 2011.11.22 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

A system and method are disclosed for reliable communications in a packet network. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a network management system (NMS) having a controller programmed to establish between first and second customer edge (CE) routers in a full mesh packet network first and second logical data tunnels conforming to an isolation protocol, synchronize packet data in the first and second logical data tunnels, enable packet data exchanges between the first and second CE routers over the first logical data tunnel, direct the first and second CE routers to duplicate the packet data exchanged between them over the second logical data tunnel, and direct the first and second CE routers to synchronously switch to the second logical data tunnel upon detecting a fault in the first logical data tunnel.