Ring Protocol Packet Intermediary for Mixed Network Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ring networks fail to operate properly when they include devices that do not support the ring protocol, necessitating the replacement of all components or delaying upgrades, as they cannot guarantee proper operation with mixed protocol compatibility.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a ring protocol that detects non-compatible devices and alters its behavior to ensure transparency and loop prevention, using special information in packets to prevent processing and forwarding by non-compatible nodes, and employing reflector ports to manage connectivity and data traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional ring networks include non-ring-protocol compatible devices, then device compatibility and flexibility improve, but network reliability and proper operation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces ring protocol packets as an intermediary mechanism that mediates between ring protocol compatible devices and non-compatible devices. These packets carry special information that enables compatible devices to identify and properly handle non-compatible devices in the ring, allowing mixed-protocol networks to operate reliably without requiring all devices to support the ring protocol
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of ring protocol compatible devices based on the presence of non-compatible devices. By detecting special information in ring protocol packets, compatible devices can alter their behavior and configuration to accommodate non-compatible devices, thereby maintaining network reliability while improving device compatibility
2Reliability
If all devices in a ring network support the ring protocol, then network reliability improves, but device complexity and upgrade cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into ring protocol compatible devices and non-compatible devices, allowing each segment to operate with its appropriate protocol requirements. This segmentation enables gradual upgrades where only some devices need to support the ring protocol, reducing overall device complexity and upgrade costs while maintaining network reliability through the special information mechanism
3Ease of operation
If ring protocol packets are forwarded by non-compatible devices, then network connectivity improves, but data loops and harmful effects increase
Solution Approach 1:
Ring protocol packets serve as an intermediary control mechanism that prevents non-compatible devices from inadvertently forwarding packets that would create data loops. The special information in these packets enables compatible devices to identify loop conditions and take appropriate preventive actions, maintaining connectivity while eliminating the harmful effect of data loops
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by having ring protocol compatible devices proactively detect and prevent potential data loop conditions before they can occur. By monitoring ring protocol packets and identifying non-compatible devices, the system takes preventive measures to block or redirect traffic that would otherwise create harmful loops, ensuring network connectivity without the risk of looping
Data Source
AI summary
Various systems and methods for integrating ring-protocol-compatible devices into network configurations that also include non-ring-protocol-compatible devices are disclosed. One such method, which can be performed by a network node that supports a ring protocol, involves generating a ring protocol packet and sending that ring protocol packet to a neighboring node. The ring protocol packet includes information, and the presence of this information within the packet causes a network device that receives the ring protocol packet to drop the ring protocol packet unless the network device supports a ring protocol. The information can include a reserved address (e.g., in the destination address field of the packet) as well as a ring protocol identifier.