Network Aggregation Device for Heterogeneous Link Consolidation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies fail to effectively aggregate dissimilar network connections like Cable, DSL, and T1 to provide a single logical aggregated network connection with high availability and independence from underlying network characteristics, such as latency and provider architecture.
Innovation Solution
A network aggregation system that configures diverse network connections into an aggregated group, managing communication traffic to achieve a combined transfer rate and ensuring transparency and high availability by using a network aggregation device and engine to handle segmentation, sequencing, and routing across multiple connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple dissimilar network connections are aggregated to provide a single logical aggregated network connection, then throughput and availability are improved, but device complexity and difficulty of managing diverse network characteristics increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network aggregation device as an intermediary component that sits between the end device and multiple diverse network connections. This device handles the complexity of aggregating dissimilar connections (Cable, DSL, T1, Metro Ethernet) by providing a standardized interface to the end device while managing the underlying network diversity. The intermediary absorbs the complexity of dealing with different network characteristics, allowing throughput improvement without exposing the end device to complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The network aggregation device provides universal functionality by supporting multiple types of network connections simultaneously. It creates a single logical aggregated network connection that can incorporate various physical connection types (Cable, DSL, T1, Metro Ethernet), making the system adaptable to different network environments and providers while maintaining a consistent interface for the end device.
2Reliability
If network connections are aggregated to provide independence from underlying network characteristics, then reliability and availability are improved, but the complexity of managing diverse network characteristics increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network aggregation device acts as a mediator that shields the end device from the complexity of managing diverse network characteristics. It provides a standardized interface while handling the underlying diversity of connections (different protocols, latency characteristics, bandwidth capacities). This intermediary approach improves reliability by allowing seamless failover between connections without requiring the end device to understand or manage the complexity of each individual connection type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a homogeneous logical interface at the end device side, presenting a single aggregated network connection regardless of the heterogeneity of underlying physical connections. The network aggregation device translates diverse network characteristics into a unified interface, making management simpler while maintaining reliability through diversity of underlying connections.
3Productivity
If dissimilar network connections are aggregated to achieve higher throughput, then bandwidth capacity is improved, but the difficulty of detecting and measuring network performance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network aggregation device serves as an intermediary that consolidates performance measurement and monitoring functions. Instead of requiring the end device to measure and manage multiple diverse connections individually, the intermediary provides a unified interface for performance monitoring, simplifying detection and measurement while achieving higher aggregate bandwidth capacity through connection aggregation.
4Reliability
If multiple network connections are used to provide high availability, then fault tolerance is improved, but the device complexity for managing connection segmentation and sequencing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network aggregation device provides a standardized interface that abstracts away the complexity of connection segmentation, sequencing, and reassembly. The end device interacts with a single logical connection while the intermediary handles the complex tasks of dividing data across multiple physical connections, maintaining proper sequencing, and reassembling data at the destination. This improves fault tolerance through connection diversity without exposing the end device to management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a network aggregation system, apparatus and method for creating aggregated network connections to provide high availability and increased throughput where the plurality of network connections may possess diverse physical and logical characteristics. Increased throughput on the aggregated network connection equals the sum of the available throughput on the aggregated network connections. Aggregation is performed in a transparent fashion, independent of any physical or logical characteristics of the individual connections. Network connectivity over the aggregated connection is managed such that the loss or gain of connectivity in an individual connection among the aggregated group does not result in the loss of data from the data stream aggregation device.