Network Service Aware Routers for Dynamic Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centralized provisioning servers in network configuration can cause delays and complexity due to the need for orchestration across heterogeneous routing devices.
Innovation Solution
Routing devices are empowered to dynamically learn and implement service changes through local processes and communication with a network control server, reducing reliance on central orchestration systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a central provisioning server is used to configure routing devices, then service provisioning can be centralized and controlled, but provisioning delays and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized provisioning function by allowing individual routing devices to independently download and execute service configuration instructions from a repository, rather than requiring sequential configuration from a central server. This divides the monolithic provisioning process into independent parallel operations at each router, reducing provisioning delay while maintaining service control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing service configuration instructions in a repository before they are needed. When a service needs to be provisioned, the instructions are already available for immediate download and execution by routing devices, eliminating the need for real-time generation and transmission of configuration data from a central server, thus reducing provisioning time.
2Reliability
If a central provisioning server configures heterogeneous routing devices, then centralized control is maintained, but device complexity and configuration complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying by storing standardized service configuration instructions in a repository that can be copied to multiple routing devices. Instead of creating custom configurations for each device, the same service instructions are copied and executed across different routing device types, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining centralized control through the repository.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing service configuration instructions that can be executed across heterogeneous routing devices through a common instruction set architecture. The routing devices can universally process the same service instructions regardless of their specific hardware differences, reducing configuration complexity while maintaining centralized service control.
3Reliability
If routing devices wait for central server instructions, then centralized orchestration is maintained, but service provisioning speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by enabling routing devices to dynamically initiate service provisioning operations. Instead of passively waiting for central server instructions, routing devices can actively download service instructions from the repository and execute them autonomously when services need to be provisioned or modified, significantly increasing provisioning speed while maintaining orchestration control through the centralized repository.
Data Source
AI summary
In an embodiment, a computer-implemented method provides a service on a network. The method includes the following steps: (a) requesting, on a router, executable instructions from a remote server, the executable instructions specifying how the router is to operate to provide a service requested for a user of the network; (b) receiving the instructions; (c) initializing, on the router, a thread to execute the received instructions; (d) determining that a configuration of the router has changed; and (e) when the configuration of the router is determined to have changed, executing, on the initialized thread, the instructions to apply the service in accordance with the change in the router's configuration.