Network Path Control with Autonomous Failover and Repair
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized controllers in networks face challenges in timely repair of non-operational paths due to information overload and potential operational failures, leading to traffic loss and resource wastage.
Innovation Solution
A controller platform that shares path control with network devices, providing data for primary and secondary paths, allowing devices to reroute traffic and repair paths autonomously while the controller is operational again.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a centralized controller manages all path control in the network, then path management is centralized and coordinated, but the controller experiences information overload and operational failures leading to delayed path repair
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments path control functionality by dividing responsibilities between centralized controllers and network devices. Network devices are empowered to autonomously control backup paths and perform local path switching when failures occur, while centralized controllers manage primary paths and overall coordination. This segmentation reduces the information processing burden on centralized controllers and enables faster local response to path failures.
2Productivity
If the centralized controller shares path control with network devices, then path repair speed improves through autonomous device action, but control distribution increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring backup paths and empowering network devices with autonomous control capabilities before failures occur. When a path failure is detected, pre-configured network devices can immediately switch to backup paths without waiting for centralized controller instructions, significantly accelerating path repair speed while maintaining controlled complexity through predefined protocols.
3Loss of energy
If network devices have autonomous control over backup paths, then traffic loss is prevented during primary path failures, but information overhead increases for path management
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts critical path control functions from the centralized controller and places them at the network device level. Network devices autonomously monitor their local path status and execute backup path switching when failures occur, eliminating the need for continuous information exchange with centralized controllers during normal operation and reducing overall information overhead while preventing traffic loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A device provides path data associated with a network that includes network devices interconnected by links. The path data includes data identifying a first path and a second path to be provided through the network. The device provides an instruction to cause the network devices to provide information identifying the first path and to route traffic via the first path, and receives an indication of a failure associated with the first path. The indication causes the network devices to provide information identifying the second path and to re-route the traffic from the first path to the second path. The device causes the failure associated with the first path to be repaired while the traffic is re-routed to the second path, and provides, based on causing the failure to be repaired, another instruction to cause the network devices to route the traffic via the first path.