Make-Before-Break Control Plane Decoupling for Unicast Fabric Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Make-Before-Break (MBB) systems in control plane networks are limited by the requirement for bi-cast fabrics, making them difficult to implement, especially in photonic networks, and leading to data plane outages and operational challenges when unicast fabrics are used.
Innovation Solution
The method decouples the control plane from the data plane, allowing MBB operations by creating reserved connections with zero bandwidth in the control plane, which can be switched without affecting the data plane, enabling MBB even with unicast fabrics and supporting overbooking for reserved connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If MBB operations are implemented using traditional fabric-based approaches, then connection switching capability is improved, but device complexity and implementation cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MBB operation into two independent planes: control plane (for signaling and connection management) and data plane (for actual traffic flow). The control plane creates reserved connections with zero bandwidth to establish switching paths, while the data plane remains unaffected until the break operation. This segmentation allows MBB functionality without requiring complex bi-cast fabrics in the data plane.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a control plane as an intermediary between the signaling system and the data plane. The control plane handles the complex MBB logic, reserved connection management, and coordination of make-break operations, thereby simplifying the data plane requirements and eliminating the need for complex fabric capabilities in the underlying network infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bi-cast fabric is used to support MBB operations, then connection mobility is improved, but ease of manufacture and deployment deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the connection in the control plane (reserved connection) that mirrors the actual data plane connection. This control plane copy allows MBB operations to be planned and executed without requiring the data plane fabric to support bi-cast capabilities. The reserved connection serves as a blueprint that can be activated or deactivated without affecting physical traffic flow.
3Adaptability or versatility
If MBB is implemented in photonic networks with unicast fabrics, then network compatibility is improved, but operational reliability deteriorates due to corner cases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions in the control plane by creating reserved connections before actual MBB operations. These reserved connections pre-establish the switching paths and validate the make-break sequence, allowing the system to detect and prevent corner cases (such as transaction rollbacks) before they affect data plane operations. This preliminary validation improves reliability while maintaining compatibility with unicast fabrics.
Data Source
AI summary
A Make-Before-Break (MBB) method, in a node operating in a network with a control plane, decoupling the control plane from a data plane, includes, for a connection operating on a path in the network, determining a reserved connection on a new path, through the control plane, wherein the reserved connection has zero bandwidth; signaling the reserved connection on the new path; creating the reserved connection in the control plane while suspending implementation in the data plane due to the zero bandwidth; and releasing the connection on the path and modifying the reserved connection on the new path to establish the connection on the new path.