Master Backup Negotiation via Subscriber Unit Heartbeat Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
In control plane and user plane separation architecture-based BNG devices, a service access conflict occurs when both the master CP and the backup CP perform service access of a home gateway due to misjudgment caused by a faulty communication channel for heartbeat messages.
Innovation Solution
A master/backup negotiation method where the first control unit generates and sends a heartbeat message to a subscriber unit, which then forwards it to the second control unit, allowing the second control unit to make a master/backup decision based on the received heartbeat message, even if one subscriber unit is faulty.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the backup CP directly receives heartbeat messages from the master CP, then the master/backup negotiation is simple and direct, but when the communication channel is faulty, the backup CP misjudges the master CP status and causes service access conflict
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the UP as an intermediary node in the heartbeat message transmission path. Instead of direct communication between CPs, the heartbeat message flows from master CP to UP and then to backup CP. This intermediary approach allows the system to detect channel faults (when UP cannot forward the message) and prevents the backup CP from misjudging master CP status, thereby resolving the service access conflict while maintaining reliable master/backup negotiation
2Reliability
If multiple subscriber units are used to forward heartbeat messages, then the system reliability improves as long as one subscriber unit is functional, but the device complexity and message routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the UP serve multiple functions: it acts as both a user plane processing unit and a communication intermediary for master/backup negotiation. By giving the UP this dual role, the system eliminates the need for separate dedicated communication channels or additional coordination mechanisms, thereby improving reliability through multi-path capability while avoiding increased complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A network system comprises a first control unit, a second control unit, and a subscriber unit. The first control unit periodically sends a heartbeat message to the subscriber unit. the subscriber unit forwards received heartbeat messages to a second control unit. The second control unit makes a master/backup decision based on the heartbeat messages and whether a heartbeat message is received in a respective period.