Network Device Traffic Module Link Selection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Network appliances in local area networks (LAN) or wireless LANs (WLAN) introduce a new point of failure and can create bottlenecks, requiring expensive hardware and software integration, and may not handle hardware failures or bandwidth efficiently, leading to reduced throughput and unnecessary load on network devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a traffic module in network devices that selects between two links, allowing traffic to bypass the network appliance and switch over without altering the network layer topology if one link fails, thereby increasing throughput and reducing the load on network appliances without adding special-purpose hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traffic is directed through a network appliance, then network services such as acceleration or intrusion protection are provided, but the network appliance introduces a new point of failure and creates a bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network path into multiple independent links between network devices, allowing traffic to be divided and routed through different paths. This eliminates the single point of failure represented by the network appliance while maintaining service capabilities through selective link usage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the network path dynamically selectable based on local conditions at each network device. The traffic module at each device independently selects which link to use based on local link status and performance, optimizing throughput while avoiding failed appliances.
2Reliability
If a specialized network appliance is used to allow traffic passage during failure, then hardware failure protection is provided, but expensive hardware and software integration is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the failover functionality from the specialized network appliance and implements it directly in the network devices' traffic modules. This eliminates the need for expensive specialized hardware while maintaining the ability to protect against failures through software-based link selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The network devices perform their own failure detection and link selection without requiring external specialized appliances. Each device's traffic module independently monitors link status and automatically selects appropriate paths, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating complex hardware integration requirements.
3Reliability
If a network appliance is used to filter or modify traffic, then network security and management are improved, but all traffic passes through the appliance creating unnecessary load and bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic link selection where the traffic module can adaptively choose which link to use based on real-time conditions. This allows the system to dynamically route traffic around failed or congested appliances while maintaining security through selective use of filtered paths when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The traffic module is designed with multi-functionality, capable of selecting from multiple link types including direct links and appliance-mediated links. This universal approach allows the same infrastructure to provide both security filtering when appliances are functional and high-speed direct routing when appliances are failed or unnecessary.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein relate to selection of one of first and second links between first and second network devices. The first link is to transmit the traffic between the first and second network devices directly and the second link is to transmit the traffic between the first and second network devices through a network appliance.