Network Repeater Packet Registry for Broadcast Storm Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

In mesh and ring network structures, signal repeaters can cause broadcast storms due to infinite signal repetition, which overwhelms the network, and existing solutions like the Spanning Tree Algorithm prevent broadcast channels, making them impractical for some network standards, especially in powerline communication networks.

Innovation Solution

A network repeater that detects and stores characteristics of received data packets, comparing them to a registry to prevent repeated packets from being rebroadcast, thereby avoiding broadcast storms by only repeating packets not previously received within a limited time frame.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of stationary object

If repeaters are used to relay signals in mesh or ring networks, then signal transmission distance is extended, but broadcast storms occur due to infinite signal repetition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal transmission distanceVSAvoidbroadcast storm
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The repeater performs preliminary actions by detecting packet characteristics and checking against the registry before rebroadcasting. This preventive check stops repeated packets from being amplified further, eliminating the broadcast storm before it can develop while still allowing legitimate new packets to propagate through the network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring incoming packets, comparing their characteristics against the registry of previously seen packets, and using this information to control rebroadcasting behavior. The registry acts as a feedback mechanism that informs the repeater's forwarding decisions, preventing it from retransmitting packets it has already forwarded.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-generated harmful factors

If unicast or multicast algorithms like Spanning Tree Algorithm are used to avoid broadcast storms, then broadcast storm is prevented, but broadcast channel functionality is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebroadcast storm preventionVSAvoidbroadcast channel functionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of completely eliminating broadcast functionality or using complex spanning tree algorithms, the invention applies partial action by selectively filtering only the repeated packets that cause storms while allowing legitimate new broadcast packets to pass through. This partial filtering approach maintains broadcast channel versatility while preventing the harmful excessive repetition that causes storms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of packet identification by using characteristic detection and registry comparison rather than relying on traditional unicast/multicast addressing schemes. This parameter change allows the network to maintain broadcast channel functionality while using a different mechanism (characteristic-based filtering) to prevent the infinite repetition that causes broadcast storms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If all received traffic is repeated in broadcast mode, then signal coverage is maximized, but network overload occurs due to signal multiplication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal coverage areaVSAvoidsignal multiplication
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful repeated packets from the broadcast traffic flow by detecting them through characteristic comparison with the registry. By taking out these duplicate signals before they can be rebroadcast, the system maintains comprehensive signal coverage for legitimate packets while eliminating the signal multiplication that leads to network overload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The repeater performs preliminary detection and filtering of packet characteristics before rebroadcasting. This preliminary action identifies and blocks repeated packets in advance, ensuring that only new legitimate packets are amplified and distributed across the network, thereby maintaining coverage area while preventing signal multiplication and network overload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2106645B1Network repeater
Publication Date: 2016.05.11 GIGLE NETWORKS
  • EP2106645B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2106645B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2106645B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A network repeater is configured to repeat data packets in a broadcast mode without generating a significant broadcast storm. The network repeater is configured to detect a characteristic of a received data packet. The data packet characteristic is compared with valid copies of packet characteristics previously stored in a packet registry. During a delay period, if a valid copy of the detected characteristic is found in the packet registry, then it is assumed that the packet is being received for the second time and the data packet is not repeated in the broadcast mode. If a valid copy of the detected characteristic of the data packet is not found in the packet registry, then the characteristic is stored in the packet registry and the data packet is repeated in a broadcast mode.