Centralized Ad-Hoc Routing via SDN Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ad-hoc on-demand routing protocols, such as AODV, lead to increased communication traffic, power consumption, and interference due to frequent broadcast of route requests in dynamic networks, especially with frequent network changes and disparate traffic patterns.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a centralized control entity that communicates directly with source devices to perform offline route computation using topology information, reducing the need for broadcast messages and allowing for efficient route discovery and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional ad-hoc on-demand routing protocols (e.g., AODV) are used for route discovery, then route computation is performed in a distributed manner among network nodes, but communication traffic increases due to frequent broadcast of route requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a central controller as an intermediary entity that receives route requests from source nodes, performs route computation centrally using stored topology information, and returns route responses. This mediator approach eliminates the need for distributed broadcast of route requests among network nodes, thereby reducing communication traffic while maintaining automated route discovery functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The central controller pre-stores comprehensive topology information of the network before route requests arrive. When a route request is received, the controller can immediately compute routes using this pre-available topology data without needing to gather information through broadcast messages, thus reducing communication traffic while enabling automated route computation
2Adaptability or versatility
If route requests are frequently broadcast to discover routes in dynamic networks, then route discovery capability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller acts as a mediator that handles all route computation tasks centrally. Source nodes simply send route requests to the controller and receive responses, avoiding the energy-intensive process of broadcasting route requests throughout the network. This maintains route discovery capability while significantly reducing power consumption at network nodes
3Reliability
If route requests are frequently broadcast to maintain routes in dynamic networks, then route maintenance capability is improved, but interference increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller serves as an intermediary that manages route maintenance by receiving updates about network changes and computing new routes centrally. This eliminates the need for nodes to broadcast route error messages and re-initiate route discovery through broadcasts, thereby maintaining route reliability while reducing electromagnetic interference in the network
4Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of route requests are broadcast due to frequent network changes, then adaptability to network dynamics is improved, but communication traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The central controller pre-stores comprehensive topology information including all network nodes, links, and their states. When network changes occur, the controller updates its topology database and can immediately compute new routes using this pre-available information, avoiding the need to broadcast route requests to discover the new network state, thus maintaining adaptability while reducing communication traffic
Solution Approach 2:
The central controller as an intermediary receives notifications of network changes and performs all route computation centrally. This approach allows the system to adapt to network dynamics through a single point of control rather than through multiple distributed broadcast operations, reducing communication traffic while maintaining adaptability
Data Source
AI summary
System and method of ad hoc on-demand routing by virtue of central control. A central controller of a network can communicate directly with a route-requesting network device regarding discovery of a data transmission path and perform route computation. A source network device may query the central controller with a unicast route request. In response, the central controller can identify a feasible route based on the topology information of the network. The central controller may also receive a broadcast route request along with other network nodes. As a result, the source device can be offered to select from two resultant routes, one provided by the central controller in a centralized manner and the other provided by the destination device. Further, the central controller can be used specifically for computation of constrained routes by incorporating global constraints. The central controller may be a software defined network (SDN) controller.