Relay Node Failure Detection via Sequence Modification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks using TCP, large Round Trip Time (RTT) and numerous hops lead to significantly reduced transmission bandwidth, and existing technologies fail to promptly detect failures in relay nodes, causing communication disruptions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a relay node with a forwarding controller and fault detector that modifies data with a flag and sequence numbers to detect failures by checking for the presence of a flag and accurate acknowledgement numbers, ensuring timely detection and maintenance of communication pathways.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If relay nodes are used to maintain communication in WAN environments, then transmission bandwidth is improved, but failure detection capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where relay nodes send acknowledgment numbers back to each other to confirm proper data processing. The first relay node sends an acknowledgment number after processing data from the second relay node, and the second relay node verifies this acknowledgment. This closed-loop feedback system enables automatic failure detection in the relay chain while maintaining high bandwidth utilization through efficient data relaying.
2Reliability
If sequence numbers are modified for failure detection, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of sequence numbers by adding a fixed offset value when relaying data from the second relay node to the first relay node. This parameter transformation is simple arithmetic operation that enables failure detection through acknowledgment number comparison, achieving reliable failure detection with minimal processing complexity at each relay node.
3Reliability
If acknowledgment numbers are used for failure detection, then reliability is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares acknowledgment numbers in advance as part of the normal data processing flow at each relay node. The first relay node calculates and stores the expected acknowledgment number before receiving data from the second relay node. When data arrives, the relay node simply compares the received acknowledgment number with the pre-calculated value, enabling rapid failure detection without adding significant processing time to the data transmission path.
Data Source
AI summary
A first network device includes a forwarding controller configured to forward received data and a fault detector configured to detect occurrence of a failure in a remote second relay node. The forwarding controller includes a forwarding unit configured to forward the received data and a modifier configured to modify the received data for detection of the occurrence of a failure in the second relay node. The modifier includes a flag option marker configured to attach a flag to data, a sequence adding unit configured to add a protocol specific number to a sequence number, and a sequence subtracting unit configured to subtract the protocol specific number from an acknowledgement number. The fault detector detects the occurrence of a failure in the remote second relay node based on at least one of the flag or the acknowledgement number.