SDN Boundary Nodes for Mobile Satellite Network Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing low earth orbit satellite systems with dynamic intersatellite links face challenges in managing network node complexity, handling limited resources on mobile nodes, dealing with dynamically changing topologies, and interoperating with fixed terrestrial networks.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that simplify interactions between a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller and mobile nodes by forecasting links based on temporal line-of-sight topology, determining network program subfunctions, selecting viable paths, and communicating network traffic through boundary nodes that translate headers and manage mobile node network complexities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If mobile nodes are treated as interior nodes in SDN network, then network node complexity is minimized, but complex interactions with SDN controller cannot be avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces boundary nodes as intermediary entities between mobile nodes and the SDN controller. These boundary nodes handle the complex interactions with the SDN controller on behalf of mobile nodes, allowing mobile nodes to be treated as simple interior nodes while still managing the complexity of dynamic topology changes and controller communications.
2Adaptability or versatility
If standard network headers are used on terrestrial networks, then interoperability is improved, but overhead increases for mobile node network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements different header formats for different network segments. Standard network headers are used on terrestrial networks for interoperability, while optimized headers with reduced overhead are used specifically on mobile node networks. Boundary nodes perform header translation between these two formats, allowing each network segment to use the most appropriate header type for its requirements.
3Device complexity
If mobile nodes have limited processing capability, then device complexity is reduced, but ability to handle overhead and tag processing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex overhead and tag processing functions from mobile nodes and relocates them to boundary nodes. Mobile nodes are designed with limited processing capability, handling only basic packet forwarding based on simplified headers. The complex operations such as header translation, tag processing, and topology management are extracted and performed by boundary nodes with sufficient processing resources.
4Adaptability or versatility
If source routes are used in dynamically changing network topology, then routing flexibility is improved, but route availability deteriorates due to changing satellite to ground beam coverage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic source routing where route information is not fixed but continuously updated based on current network topology. Boundary nodes forecast future topology changes and dynamically adjust source routes to account for changing satellite-to-ground beam coverage. This allows the network to maintain routing flexibility while ensuring route availability by proactively adapting routes before links become unavailable.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for simplifying interactions of a Software Defined Network (SDN) controller including: receiving a network program to traverse a mobile node network including mobile nodes and ground nodes, wherein the ground nodes include an ingress node and an egress node; forecasting links, based on a temporal line-of-sight topology, of the mobile node network between the mobile nodes and the ground nodes; determining network program subfunctions that reflect an availability of the links for a time period; selecting, for the time period, a viable path including one or more of the network program subfunctions to traverse from the ingress node to the egress node; and communicating network traffic from the ingress node to the egress node using the viable path during the time period, wherein a portion of the viable path traverses one or more of the mobile nodes and the mobile nodes move along deterministic paths.