Network Relay Control System Repeater for Non-blocking Redundancy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current network relay systems face challenges in achieving non-blocking communication and scalability while maintaining control simplicity, as they require additional devices and suffer from bottlenecks in data transfer rates and reduced port availability, especially in single-chassis and multi-chassis configurations.
Innovation Solution
A network relay system with a control system repeater connected between control planes allows for non-blocking communication by synchronizing routing information across data planes, eliminating the need for additional devices and simplifying control, enabling all external ports to be used without bottlenecks and maintaining visibility of local and remote data planes from the control plane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated switching device is added to connect multiple routers, then device redundancy and virtualization are achieved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control system repeater functions into the existing control planes of the routers themselves, rather than adding a separate dedicated control device. Each control plane includes a control system repeater that can function as a standby control system, eliminating the need for additional switching devices while achieving redundancy through software-based control plane virtualization
Solution Approach 2:
The control planes in the patent are designed to perform multiple functions: they can operate as active control systems, standby control systems, or control system repeaters. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware to provide redundancy without requiring dedicated switching devices, as the control planes can dynamically assume different roles based on system needs
2Reliability
If external ports of multiple routers are connected directly, then device redundancy is achieved, but the number of available external ports is reduced and data transfer rate becomes a bottleneck
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces control system repeaters as intermediaries between control planes, allowing routing information to be synchronized without requiring direct connection of external ports. The control system repeaters mediate the exchange of routing information, enabling routers to maintain full external port availability while achieving redundancy through virtualized control plane coordination
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of achieving redundancy through physical port connections (spatial dimension), the patent moves to the control information dimension by virtualizing control planes and synchronizing routing information through control system repeaters. This dimensional shift allows full utilization of external ports for data transfer while maintaining redundancy through control plane virtualization
3Reliability
If control planes are synchronized through a protocol between control planes, then device redundancy is achieved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system repeaters operate in a self-service manner by automatically receiving routing information from active control systems and distributing it to standby control systems without requiring complex inter-control-plane protocols. The repeaters autonomously perform the synchronization function, reducing control complexity while maintaining redundancy
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
Simplification of control and prevention of a setting performance from being deterioration are realized while showing a local side data plane and a remote side data plane in the same fashion when viewed from a control plane. A network relay system includes a plurality of communication devices 1000. Each of the communication devices includes a data plane 20 that transfers an input packet according to routing information, and a control plane 1100 having a processing unit 1110 that learns the routing information, and a control system repeater 1120. The data planes 20 of the respective communication devices can realize a non-blocking communication therebetween. Also, the control system repeater 1120 of an operational system receives the routing information from the processing unit 1110, sets the routing information for the data plane 20 of the subject communication device, and transmits the routing information to the control system repeater 1120 of the other communication device 1100-2. The control system repeater 1120 of a standby system receives the routing information, and sets the routing information for the data plane 20 of the subject communication device.