Router Failover via Auxiliary Unit and NAT Gateway
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing failover systems in communications networks often result in a change of network address during failover, which can lead to security issues and resource wastage, especially when the new connection is to a different network or protocol, and may only persist during active sessions.
Innovation Solution
An auxiliary network termination unit is used to maintain communication using a secondary communications system when the primary connection fails, by associating the new connection with the original network identity and address, ensuring continuous service with the same network address and authenticating the fallback route.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If handover procedures are used to maintain network address during failover, then network address continuity is improved, but this is only possible when the new connection is to the same network using the same protocols, which limits adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a Network Address Translation (NAT) gateway as an intermediary component that sits between the terminal and the network. This NAT gateway performs address translation and protocol adaptation, allowing the terminal to maintain its original network address while connecting to different networks or protocols through the gateway. The gateway acts as a mediator that handles the complexity of cross-network communication, enabling failover to different network types (e.g., from wired to wireless) without requiring the terminal to change its network address or protocols.
2Reliability
If Network Address Translation is used during failover, then network address continuity is maintained, but additional network components and complexity are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the existing router or gateway device already present in most networks. The NAT functionality, failover detection, and connection management are integrated into this existing network component rather than requiring separate dedicated devices. This merging approach maintains network address continuity while minimizing additional complexity, as the router/gateway is already a standard component in most network configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements automatic failover detection and execution without requiring manual intervention. The NAT gateway continuously monitors connection status and automatically initiates failover procedures when primary connection failures are detected, including automatic address translation and session maintenance. This self-service capability reduces operational complexity while ensuring continuous network address availability.
3Speed
If standby connection is permanently connected to ensure immediate failover capability, then failover response time is improved, but network resources are wasted when primary connection is operational
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring the NAT gateway with backup network interface settings and authentication credentials before failover is needed. Connection parameters and routing information are prepared in advance, allowing the gateway to quickly switch to backup connections when primary connection failures occur, without requiring the backup connection to be permanently active and consuming resources continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements dynamic connection management where the NAT gateway monitors primary connection health in real-time and dynamically switches between primary and backup connections based on actual connection status. The backup connection is activated only when needed, and the system can dynamically adjust connection parameters, routing tables, and resource allocation based on current operational conditions, optimizing both response time and resource efficiency.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communications router (6) is provided with an add-on device (7) for diverting data traffic over a replacement connection (70, 80) when a primary connection route (60) meets a failover criterion. Traffic addressed to an allocated network address associated with the primary connection (60) is diverted to a network termination of the replacement connection (70) by a routing function (31) if the replacement connection (70) has been authenticated by an authentication system (35). Authentication is provided by setting up an association between the internet IP address of the router (6) when addressed through the link (60), and a network identity of the add-in unit (7). This may achieved by having the add-on unit (7), when first installed, transmit its identity of a SIM over the fixed line connection (60) to the authentication system (35), which can then associate that SIM identity with the network address from which it has been received so that during a subsequent failover condition traffic addressed to the fixed-line network address can be diverted to the replacement connection, thereby allowing the same network address to be used during the failover condition.