Mobile Router Network Controller IP Tunnel Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile network configurations face issues with lost reply traffic when communication channels become unavailable or IP addresses change, and bandwidth mismatch between reply traffic and channel capacity, leading to performance degradation.
Innovation Solution
A mobile network configuration with a network controller and multiple subnets, each equipped with cellular network interface devices, uses IP tunnel headers to route data packets and manage reply traffic across available channels based on network conditions, ensuring continuous connectivity and optimal bandwidth utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If reply traffic is routed over the same communication channel that it exited, then routing simplicity is maintained, but reply traffic is lost when the channel becomes unavailable or IP address changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network controller as an intermediary that maintains a mapping table associating communication channels with destination IP addresses. When a mobile router exits through a channel, the network controller intercepts the traffic, looks up the corresponding IP address in its mapping table, and forwards the reply traffic to the correct IP address even if the original channel is unavailable or has changed. This mediator resolves the contradiction by decoupling the routing decision from the original communication channel.
2Productivity
If reply traffic bandwidth is matched to channel bandwidth capacity, then bandwidth utilization is optimized, but network performance degrades when bandwidth mismatch occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the network controller continuously monitors channel conditions and adjusts the bandwidth allocation for reply traffic in real-time. When channel conditions change or bandwidth mismatch is detected, the system dynamically reroutes traffic through alternative channels with appropriate bandwidth capacity. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize bandwidth utilization under normal conditions while maintaining performance when conditions change.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile network configuration 500 includes a mobile router 525 forming one or more mobile subnets and including a plurality of cellular network interface devices 552, 554, 556, 558 installed thereon. The mobile network 500 further includes a network controller 520 installed as a node on a WAN 515. The mobile network 500 utilizes one or more cellular networks 505, 510 to provide network access to the WAN 515 via gateways 568, 570. The mobile router 525 provides a network interface between one or more local subnets 530, 535 and the at least one cellular network 505, 510. The mobile network 500 operates to establish an IP tunnel between the mobile router 525 and the network controller 520 for each of the plurality of cellular network interface devices 552, 554, 556, 558 installed on the mobile router 525 and to exchange network traffic between the mobile router and the network controller over any one of the IP tunnels.