SD-WAN Flow Optimization Across Network Segments
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network management systems in SD-WANs are reactive and fail to proactively prevent poor network performance and user experience across multiple network segments.
Innovation Solution
A method for proactively optimizing network performance in SD-WANs by monitoring network events and implementing proactive actions on devices in other segments to mitigate potential negative impacts, using a central controller and distributed control plane agents to communicate and adjust network parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reactive network management strategies are used in each network segment, then each segment can respond to local network issues, but the overall end-to-end network performance cannot be proactively optimized and user experience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by proactively optimizing network parameters in downstream network segments before performance degradation occurs. When a network event is detected at a first device, the system preemptively adjusts parameters at second devices in downstream segments that will be traversed by affected network flows, preventing potential negative impacts before they manifest in user experience.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the network into multiple segments (wireless LAN, wired LAN, WAN, server-side LAN) and implementing coordinated control across these segments. Each segment maintains its own strategies while a central controller orchestrates proactive actions across segment boundaries, enabling both local responsiveness and end-to-end optimization.
2Reliability
If proactive actions are implemented across multiple network segments, then overall network performance improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central controller as an intermediary that manages the complexity of proactive optimization across multiple network segments. The central controller receives signals from devices about network events, determines appropriate proactive actions, and signals second devices to implement these actions. This intermediary architecture centralizes the decision-making logic, preventing exponential complexity growth while enabling coordinated control across distributed segments.
3Reliability
If network parameters are dynamically adjusted in response to detected events, then potential negative impacts are mitigated, but response time increases due to analysis and signaling
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis and determination of proactive actions as soon as a network event is detected, before the event can cause significant performance degradation. By immediately analyzing the detected event and determining appropriate actions in real-time, the system minimizes the time loss while still implementing proactive mitigation before negative impacts fully manifest.
Data Source
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AI summary
Some embodiments of the invention provide a method for proactively optimizing network performance for a software-defined wide area network (SD-WAN), which connects multiple devices operating in multiple network segments, during an active network flow. The method monitors the SD-WAN for network events related to the active network flow. The method detects a particular network event at a first device in a first segment in the SD-WAN traversed by the active network flow. Based on the particular network event, the method performs a proactive action on at least a second device in a second network segment in the SD-WAN that will be traversed by the active network flows in order to mitigate a potential negative impact of the particular network event on the performance of the SD-WAN to improve overall network performance.