Decentralized Network Node Failure Recovery via Beacon and Port Status

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Solution Overview

Problem

In decentralized networked lighting systems without a central controller, detecting and recovering from failed nodes is challenging due to the lack of a central device for monitoring and automatic reconfiguration of replacement nodes.

Innovation Solution

A linked list topology is established among network nodes, where each node knows its neighbor's IP address, sends periodic beacons, and checks the port status with a switch device to identify and automatically reconfigure a replaced node, ensuring adaptive failure recovery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a decentralized architecture is used without a central controller, then system robustness and ease of operation are improved, but the ability to detect and recover from node failures deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem robustnessVSAvoidnode failure detection
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

Each network node autonomously performs failure detection by sending beacon signals and checking port status with switch devices, and automatically reconfigures replacement nodes without requiring a central controller. The system serves itself through distributed intelligence at each node level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Nodes implement continuous monitoring through beacon signal exchanges and port status checks, creating a feedback mechanism that detects failures and triggers automatic reconfiguration. The heartbeat mechanism provides ongoing system state information to maintain robustness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Manufacturing precision

If manual reconfiguration is performed after node replacement, then configuration accuracy is improved, but recovery time and productivity are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconfiguration accuracyVSAvoidrecovery time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring replacement nodes with necessary identification information before they are fully integrated into the network. Switch devices pre-establish port status data that will be used for automatic reconfiguration, eliminating the need for manual configuration steps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Replacement nodes automatically receive their configuration data from neighboring nodes and switch devices without human intervention. The system self-configures by transferring identification information and establishing new connections based on detected failure conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If a linked list topology with periodic beacons is implemented, then node detection capability is improved, but energy consumption and device complexity are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenode detection capabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Nodes send beacon signals at periodic intervals rather than continuously, allowing the system to detect node presence and failures while reducing energy consumption compared to continuous transmission. The periodic nature balances detection reliability with power savings.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The beacon mechanism serves multiple functions: it announces node presence, carries identification information for reconfiguration, and enables heartbeat monitoring for failure detection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3245763B1Adaptive recovery from node failures in a network system
Publication Date: 2019.08.21 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3245763B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3245763B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B
  • EP3245763B1 patent drawingFigure 5A~6

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for failure recovery in a network system, wherein a linked list is created, where each network node knows the network address of its neighbor node in at least one direction, wherein each network node sends a beacon to its neighbor node and has its neighbor node acknowledge receipt of the beacon, and wherein a network node checks with a switch device the port status of a port to which a neighbor node that has failed is connected in order to identify a replacement node.