Transport SDN Controller Automates Multi-Domain E-LAN Provisioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional SDN controllers face challenges in efficiently providing multipoint-to-multipoint E-LAN services across multiple nodes in wide area networks, leading to increased operational complexity and service provisioning time due to lack of integrated control and automated operations across domains.
Innovation Solution
A transport SDN controller classifies target nodes into domains, selects core nodes, and calculates pseudo-wires to provide an E-LAN service, utilizing a path request processor, database, and path calculator to automate path computation and provisioning, thereby integrating domain operations and reducing operator intervention and errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If conventional SDN controllers are used for E-LAN service provisioning across multiple domains, then basic connectivity can be established, but operational complexity increases and service provisioning time extends due to lack of integrated control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges control functions across multiple domains into a single transport SDN controller. The controller integrates domain classification, core node selection, and pseudo-wire calculation functionalities that previously required separate manual operations across different domain controllers. This unified control plane reduces service provisioning time by eliminating inter-domain coordination delays and reduces operational complexity by providing centralized management of multi-domain E-LAN services.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport SDN controller performs preliminary classification of target nodes into domains, pre-selects core nodes in each domain, and pre-calculates pseudo-wire paths before actual service provisioning. This preliminary automation of control plane operations prepares the network topology and routing information in advance, significantly reducing the time required for actual E-LAN service deployment while minimizing manual operational complexity.
2Reliability
If manual operations are performed across respective domains for E-LAN service, then flexibility in configuration is maintained, but the number of operators increases and errors caused by operator intervention increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transport SDN controller implements self-service automation for E-LAN provisioning across domains. It automatically classifies target nodes into appropriate domains, selects optimal core nodes, calculates pseudo-wire paths, and provisions services without requiring manual operator intervention in each domain. This automation eliminates human errors associated with manual configuration while maintaining service reliability through systematic, rule-based control plane operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport SDN controller acts as an intermediary between service requests and domain-specific network elements. It receives service provisioning requests, performs centralized control plane functions (domain classification, core node selection, pseudo-wire calculation), and translates these into domain-specific configuration commands. This intermediary role automates previously manual operations, reducing error rates while maintaining the flexibility to adapt to different domain configurations.
3Productivity
If separate operations are performed for each domain in WAN, then domain autonomy is maintained, but integrated control is lacking and service provisioning efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control plane functions into distinct modular components: domain classification module, core node selection module, and pseudo-wire calculation module. Each module handles specific aspects of E-LAN provisioning while working together under the unified transport SDN controller. This segmentation allows the system to maintain domain autonomy at the network level while achieving integrated control at the management level, improving service provisioning efficiency without creating monolithic complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method performed under a transport SDN (Software Defined Network) controller may include classifying respective ones of a plurality of target nodes as either first target nodes that belong to a first domain or second target nodes that belong to a second domain, selecting a first core node in the first domain and a second core node in the second domain, calculating a first pseudo-wire (PW) between the selected first core node and the classified first target nodes, and calculating a second pseudo-wire (PW) between the selected second core node and the classified second target nodes.