MAC Address Changing Apparatus for Subscriber Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional Ethernet switches struggle to provide differentiated services and secure adequate bandwidth for each subscriber in a subscriber network, especially when multiple switches are connected, leading to unbalanced band usage and poor quality of service, especially for real-time traffic like speech and video.
Innovation Solution
A MAC address changing apparatus and method that identifies all subscribers connected to lower switches through an upper switch by changing the MAC address, allowing for differentiated service provisioning and equal bandwidth allocation by using a frame receiving block, switch controlling block, change MAC address generating block, MAC address forwarding and lookup block, MAC address replacing block, and frame transmitting block.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If Ethernet switch performs switching based on MAC address only, then device complexity is reduced and cost is lowered, but subscriber identification capability deteriorates and band control becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a band control unit as an intermediary component within the Ethernet switch. This unit receives control packets containing subscriber identification information (such as IP addresses or MAC addresses) and uses this information to perform band control. The band control unit acts as a mediator between the simple MAC address switching function and the need for subscriber-specific band management, enabling differentiated service without fundamentally changing the Ethernet switch's core switching mechanism.
2Adaptability or versatility
If band control function is added to Ethernet switch, then band control capability is improved, but device complexity increases and operation/maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the band control functionality into a separate, modular band control unit that operates independently from the core switching function. This unit processes control packets separately and applies band control based on subscriber identification information extracted from these packets. By segmenting the functionality, the patent enables band control capability while keeping the core switching mechanism simple and easy to operate, as each component has a dedicated, well-defined function.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple Ethernet switches are connected in series, then network coverage is expanded, but band control equality deteriorates and service differentiation becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal band control mechanism where the band control unit can handle multiple types of subscriber identification information (such as different MAC addresses, IP addresses, or other identifiers) through a unified control packet processing approach. This multi-functional capability allows the system to maintain band control equality across multiple switches in the network, enabling service differentiation regardless of which switch a subscriber is connected to, thus making the band control mechanism universally applicable throughout the entire network.
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus for changing Media Access Control (MAC) address, which is a conventional subscriber hardware identification address for identifying each subscriber, and a method thereof. The MAC address changing apparatus includes a frame receiving block for determining whether to change a source MAC address; a switch controlling block for controlling a switch; a change MAC address generating block for changing the source MAC address of the received frame; a change MAC address storing block for storing information of the change MAC address and the source MAC address corresponding thereto; a MAC address forwarding and lookup block for extracting output port information; a MAC address replacing block for forming an output frame by replacing the source MAC address; a MAC address storing block for storing a MAC address; and a frame transmitting block for transmitting the output frame.