Mesh Network Gateway Interfaces Preventing Broadcast Loops
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mesh networks with multiple gateway interfaces to shared access networks face issues such as broadcast loops, inefficient packet forwarding, and resource wastage due to the lack of effective redundancy and load balancing, particularly in wireless communication scenarios where geographical separation is necessary to avoid interference.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mesh network architecture with multiple Mesh Network Gateway Interfaces (NGIs) that utilize a designated broadcast server and virtual mesh links to prevent broadcast loops and ensure efficient packet forwarding, while also employing a Mesh Server to manage traffic and maintain best path routing, thereby enhancing network reliability and performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple gateway interfaces are used to shared access networks, then network redundancy and load balancing capability are improved, but broadcast loops and packet forwarding efficiency deteriorate due to lack of coordination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a designated broadcast server as an intermediary component that mediates between multiple gateway interfaces and the shared access network. This broadcast server receives, processes, and forwards broadcast packets, preventing loops while maintaining redundancy. The intermediary controls the flow of broadcast traffic, ensuring that packets are forwarded efficiently without creating circular paths through multiple gateways.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements virtual mesh links that create a homogeneous logical topology among diverse physical gateway interfaces. By abstracting the underlying physical differences and presenting a unified virtual interface, the system achieves consistent packet forwarding behavior across multiple heterogeneous gateways, preventing inefficiencies caused by heterogeneous routing decisions.
2Productivity
If multiple gateway interfaces are used to shared access networks, then network capacity is improved, but packet forwarding efficiency deteriorates due to redundant transmissions
Solution Approach 1:
The designated broadcast server acts as a mediator that consolidates broadcast packet forwarding. Instead of each gateway interface independently forwarding broadcast packets (causing redundancy), the intermediary receives a single copy, processes it, and distributes it appropriately, eliminating redundant transmissions while maintaining high network capacity through the multiple gateway paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the broadcast forwarding function into a single designated server while maintaining multiple physical gateway interfaces for capacity. By combining the control plane (broadcast forwarding decisions) into one entity while keeping the data plane (actual traffic paths) distributed across multiple gateways, the system achieves both high capacity and efficient resource utilization without redundant transmissions.
3Area of stationary object
If multiple gateway interfaces are used to shared access networks, then network coverage is improved, but interference increases in wireless communication scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wireless network into multiple virtual mesh links, each associated with a specific gateway interface and geographical location. By dividing the network coverage area into segments handled by different gateways, the system can manage interference locally at each segment while maintaining overall network coverage through the combined effect of multiple segmented connections.
4Reliability
If multiple gateway interfaces are used to shared access networks, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity increases due to coordination requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The designated broadcast server serves as a simplifying intermediary that centralizes coordination functions. Instead of implementing complex peer-to-peer coordination protocols between all gateway interfaces, the intermediary handles broadcast packet management, reducing the coordination complexity to simple client-server interactions while maintaining high network reliability through the multiple gateway paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A mesh network, operating as a virtual Ethernet switch, includes multiple nodes operating as Mesh Network Gateway Interfaces (mesh NGIs) enabled for communication with one or more shared access networks. Selectively coupling the multiple NGIs to the same shared access network provides redundancy and load balancing aimed at improving the reliability and performance of the network. A first architecture is based on a gateway group, including a plurality of NGIs enabled to communicate with a single shared access network via a designated broadcast server elected from among the NGIs. A second architecture is based on a plurality of (physical) NGIs enabled to communicate with a single shared access network via one or more designated nodes in the shared access network. The designated nodes, or Mesh Servers (MSs), operate as virtual NGIs, and traffic entering or exiting the mesh flows through one of the MSs, thus improving packet broadcast efficiency.