Router Intelligence Layer for Broadband Failover and Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional routers lack continuous availability and quality of service due to reliance on single broadband connections, failing to provide failover to cellular networks and load balancing between wired and cellular broadband, and do not adjust external broadband connections based on data security sensitivity.
Innovation Solution
A router intelligence layer that determines failover conditions and balances data traffic between cable and cellular interfaces, providing continuous network availability and additional security by routing sensitive information over a dedicated secure channel, using unlicensed, third-party, and licensed communications interfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a router uses a single broadband connection, then the device complexity is low, but the network availability and reliability deteriorate when the broadband channel is severed or overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The router segments its communication interfaces into multiple independent broadband channels (cable modem interface and cellular modem interface), allowing it to operate on one channel while maintaining the other as a standby or active backup. This segmentation enables failover capability where the router can switch between channels, improving network availability without requiring complete system redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The router implements beforehand cushioning by maintaining a standby broadband channel (cellular interface) that is prepared in advance to take over if the primary channel (cable interface) fails. The system monitors channel quality and availability proactively, ensuring that an alternative path is ready before failure occurs, thus cushioning against network unavailability.
2Reliability
If a router implements failover and load balancing between multiple broadband channels, then the network availability improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The router implements universality by designing both broadband interfaces (cable and cellular) with identical functional capabilities to access the external network. Both interfaces can perform the same routing functions, allowing the system to switch between them seamlessly. This multi-functionality enables failover without requiring complex interface-specific handling logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The router implements self-service through automatic channel monitoring and failover execution. The system continuously assesses broadband channel quality and availability, and automatically switches channels or redistributes traffic without user intervention. This self-managed operation reduces the complexity of manual configuration and monitoring while maintaining high availability.
3Productivity
If conventional routers use a single broadband interface, then the ease of operation is high, but the productivity and data throughput are limited when the broadband channel is overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The router implements dynamics by dynamically adjusting traffic distribution between broadband channels based on real-time channel conditions, load levels, and quality metrics. The system can shift traffic from overloaded channels to underutilized channels automatically, optimizing data throughput without requiring manual traffic management or complex user configuration.
4Productivity
If a router provides load balancing between wired broadband and cellular network, then the productivity increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The router merges multiple broadband channels (cable and cellular) into a unified communication infrastructure where both channels share common routing logic, traffic management, and network protocols. This consolidation allows the system to leverage the combined capacity of both channels for load balancing and failover, improving productivity while managing complexity through unified architecture rather than separate independent systems.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems for routing data over first and second broadband channels. Communication data are received from one or more user equipment (UE). A first bandwidth capacity of the first broadband channel and a second bandwidth capacity of the second broadband channel are determined. A ratio of communication data throughput between the first broadband channel and the second broadband channel are adjusted based on a bandwidth allocation rule set that routes the communication data according to the first bandwidth capacity of the first broadband channel and the second bandwidth capacity of the second broadband channel.