Network Augmentation Method Minimizing Service Disruption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Augmenting a telecommunications network, such as an Ethernet network, often results in traffic disruption due to changes in network topology when adding new network elements, leading to prolonged downtime and service interruptions.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves determining affected services, creating temporary routes, physically adding new network elements, and reconfiguring VLAN assignments to minimize downtime, using the Spanning Tree Protocol to automate route determination and reduce manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a new network element is added to an existing network, then the network capacity and functionality are improved, but traffic disruption and service downtime occur due to topology changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-determining affected services and pre-configuring temporary routes before the actual network augmentation occurs. The management system identifies which services would be interrupted and establishes alternative routing paths in advance, so that when the new network element is physically added, traffic can be immediately redirected without service interruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a management system as an intermediary to coordinate the network augmentation process. This intermediary automatically determines affected services, calculates temporary and new routes, and manages the transition between routing configurations. The intermediary eliminates the need for manual intervention and ensures seamless traffic redirection during network expansion.
2Measurement precision
If manual route determination is used during network augmentation, then routing accuracy can be ensured, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the management system to automatically determine routes and reconfigure network services without manual intervention. The system independently identifies affected services, calculates optimal temporary and new routes, and executes the reconfiguration process autonomously, eliminating both manual labor and service downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical routing determination with an automated electronic management system. Instead of operators manually analyzing network topology and calculating routes, the management system uses electronic algorithms to instantly determine optimal paths and automatically reconfigure routing, dramatically reducing time while maintaining precision.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional network augmentation procedures are followed, then network elements can be added, but prolonged service downtime and operational costs occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-identifying all services that would be affected by the network augmentation and pre-configuring temporary routing paths before the physical addition of new network elements. This ensures that when augmentation occurs, services can be rapidly reconfigured without interruption, maintaining high service availability during network expansion.
Data Source
AI summary
To augment a network by adding a network element, network services affected by the augmentation, and a temporary route for transmitting network services determined as affected by the augmentation via the temporary route are determined. A new route through the augmented network, and a spanning tree corresponding to the new route are determined. Memberships of a virtual local area network (VLAN) in ports of network elements of the temporary route are configured. Cost factors at these ports are changed such as to direct the network services determined as affected by the augmentation through the temporary route. A VLAN membership is calculated for each port in the new route for a network service that passes through the augmented network. The new route through the augmented network is re-calculated based on the spanning tree, and VLAN memberships in the ports of network elements which are no longer needed are deleted.