Ring Network Port State Switching for Faster Failure Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ring network communication systems with spanning tree control methods consume significant computing resources and increase data restoration time due to path recalculation, especially as the number of nodes grows, and fail to activate communication until all nodes learn a new path, leading to inefficiencies in failure recovery.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and system that detects network status by transmitting control messages and filtering data messages based on source addresses, allowing ports to switch between forwarding and blocking states to quickly establish new paths and prevent loops, thereby reducing computational overhead and enabling faster recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spanning tree control methods are used for path recalculation in a ring network, then communication reliability is improved through redundant path establishment, but system performance deteriorates due to high computing resource consumption and increased restoration time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ring network into two independent unidirectional communication paths (clockwise and counterclockwise), allowing each path to operate autonomously. This segmentation enables faster failure detection and path switching without requiring complex spanning tree calculations across the entire network, thus improving both reliability and performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-configures bidirectional communication capabilities in each node before failures occur. Each node maintains forwarding tables for both clockwise and counterclockwise paths in advance, so when a failure is detected, the system can immediately switch to the alternative path without performing complex real-time path recalculation, reducing restoration time while maintaining reliability.
2Reliability
If spanning tree control methods are used for path recalculation, then redundant communication paths are established, but the time consumption for path switching increases proportionally with the number of nodes
Solution Approach 1:
Each node pre-calculates and stores forwarding tables for both clockwise and counterclockwise paths before failures occur. When a failure is detected through control message interruption, the affected node can immediately switch to the pre-configured alternative path without waiting for spanning tree recalculation to propagate through all nodes, significantly reducing restoration time while maintaining redundant path capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Each node independently monitors the reception of control messages and autonomously determines when to switch paths based on local failure detection. This self-service approach eliminates the need for centralized spanning tree control and complex inter-node coordination, reducing the time proportional to the number of nodes and enabling faster local response to failures.
3Reliability
If spanning tree control methods are used, then loop prevention is achieved through port blocking, but data communication cannot be activated until all nodes learn the new communication path from the master node
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the ring into two independent unidirectional paths with dedicated control messages for each direction. This segmentation allows each path to be independently controlled and monitored, enabling faster detection of failures and quicker activation of alternative paths without requiring all nodes to sequentially learn new paths from a master node, thus reducing communication activation time while maintaining loop prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Each node independently monitors control message reception and autonomously switches paths when failures are detected, eliminating the need for centralized master node coordination. This self-service mechanism allows immediate local response to failures, reducing the time required to activate communication on alternative paths while maintaining network integrity through independent loop prevention at each node.
4Ease of manufacture
If a single ring configuration is used to alleviate wiring workload, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the risk of communication cut-off increases without redundant paths
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes each node in the single ring configuration multi-functional by enabling it to transmit and receive control messages in both clockwise and counterclockwise directions. This universality allows a single physical ring to provide both simplified wiring and redundant communication paths, as each node can serve as both a clockwise and counterclockwise forwarding point, achieving reliability without requiring additional physical wiring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic path switching capability in each node, allowing the communication direction to change from clockwise to counterclockwise (or vice versa) based on real-time failure detection. This dynamic adaptability enables a single static ring configuration to provide redundant communication paths by dynamically rerouting traffic through the same physical infrastructure, maintaining reliability without increasing wiring complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method includes receiving data messages at a specified one of a plurality of communication devices in a ring network and detecting a status of the ring network. The communication method also includes changing a port of the specified communication device from a blocking state to a forwarding state in response to detecting a failure in the ring network. The communication method further includes filtering and forwarding the received data messages in the ring network, where the received data messages that originated from the specified communication device are blocked from further forwarding at the specified communication device. In addition, the communication method includes changing the port of the specified communication device from the forwarding state to the blocking state in response to detecting a recovery of the ring network.