Network Address Manager for Dynamic Block Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network address management systems face inefficiencies in allocating and managing network addresses across broadband network gateways (BNGs), leading to potential underutilization or overutilization, which can prevent client devices from accessing services due to manual and time-consuming reallocation processes, especially with fluctuating demand and limited IPv4 addresses.
Innovation Solution
Implementing automated and dynamic management of network address blocks across BNGs using a network address manager that distributes, reallocates, and manages address pools to ensure optimal utilization, avoiding manual intervention and adapting to changing demand by dynamically adjusting address block sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If manual configuration of network address blocks is used for each BNG, then initial address allocation can be established, but reallocation becomes time-consuming and difficult when demand fluctuates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic address block management where the system automatically monitors address utilization across BNGs and reallocates address blocks based on current demand. When a BNG's address block becomes underutilized, the system automatically transfers those addresses to BNGs with higher demand, eliminating manual reallocation efforts and adapting to fluctuating client device connections in real-time
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service address management by automatically detecting address block utilization levels and performing reallocations without human intervention. The patent describes a mechanism where the system itself monitors and adjusts address distribution across BNGs based on actual usage patterns, freeing operators from time-consuming manual reallocation tasks
2Device complexity
If static assignment of network address blocks to each BNG is used, then configuration is simple, but address blocks may be underutilized or overutilized preventing client access
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors address block utilization levels across all BNGs. The system tracks the number of allocated versus available addresses in each block and uses this information to automatically trigger reallocations when imbalances are detected, ensuring that address blocks are neither underutilized nor overutilized, thereby maintaining reliable client access to services
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static to dynamic address block management by automatically adjusting address allocations based on real-time utilization data. When the patent detects that a BNG's address block is approaching exhaustion or is significantly underutilized, it automatically redistributes addresses to optimize utilization across the network, maintaining service reliability without requiring complex manual configuration
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual reallocation of network addresses is performed, then address distribution can be adjusted, but the process is time-consuming and difficult with increasing mobile devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service address management where the system automatically monitors address utilization across BNGs and performs reallocations without human intervention. The mechanism continuously tracks address block usage and automatically transfers addresses from underutilized BNGs to those with higher demand, adapting to mobile device connectivity patterns in real-time and eliminating time-consuming manual reallocation operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables dynamic address block reallocation that automatically adapts to changing network conditions and mobile device connectivity patterns. The patent describes a process where the system continuously adjusts address distributions based on current utilization levels, allowing rapid adaptation to demand fluctuations without the time delays inherent in manual reallocation processes
Data Source
AI summary
In general, techniques are described for managing address spaces across network elements. A network device including a processor may be configured to perform the techniques. The processor may execute a pool manager that automatically distributes a first block of network addresses to a first network element acting, for a first network, as a first address allocation server to assign the first block of network addresses. The pool manager may further automatically distribute a second block of contiguous network addresses to a second network element acting, for a second network, as a second address allocation server. The pool manager may then dynamically manage a size of the first block of network addresses and a size of the second block of network addresses to address exhaustion of available network addresses within either or both of the first block of network addresses and the second block of network addresses.