SDN Controller Non-Disruptive Flow Updates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing SDN networks face disruptions and costly downtime when implementing revised SDN Flows, especially in mixed technology networks with multiple Data Transfer Technologies, as current solutions fail to optimize flows without affecting real-time traffic.
Innovation Solution
A System Environment Monitor extracts real-time Network Metrics and Application Metadata across multiple Data Transfer Technologies, enabling an SDN Controller to generate and implement modified SDN Flows in a non-disruptive manner, using network analytics and predictive optimization to minimize congestion and achieve desired Quality of Service objectives.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If revised SDN Flows are implemented in traditional networks, then network optimization is achieved, but real-time traffic disruptions and costly downtime occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs path computation and validation before implementing flow changes. The controller calculates alternative paths in advance, validates them against current network state, and prepares update packages beforehand, ensuring that optimization actions are ready but not yet executed until safe conditions are met.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements flow changes in periodic batches rather than all at once. It divides the network into segments and updates flows in controlled intervals, allowing monitoring and rollback between batches, thus preventing complete network disruption while achieving gradual optimization.
2Productivity
If SDN Flow optimization is performed, then network congestion is reduced, but implementation complexity and risk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary between network devices and optimization logic. The controller centralizes path computation, validates changes against network policies, and coordinates updates across multiple devices, simplifying the complexity by providing a single point of control rather than distributed decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates virtual copies of network paths and flow states for simulation and validation before actual implementation. It computes alternative paths in a virtual model, validates them against traffic patterns and constraints, and only implements copies that prove successful, reducing implementation risk.
3Reliability
If non-disruptive flow updates are implemented, then traffic continuity is maintained, but optimization effectiveness may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous monitoring of traffic patterns, latency, and throughput before, during, and after flow updates. This feedback loop allows the controller to detect suboptimal conditions and trigger additional optimization cycles, ensuring that continuity measures do not permanently reduce optimization effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system makes flow updates dynamic and adaptive rather than static. It continuously adjusts flow paths based on real-time network conditions, allowing it to recover from conservative updates and achieve optimal performance over time, balancing continuity requirements with optimization goals.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention includes various novel systems and methods for communication in a network. A System Environment Monitor is employed in some embodiments to extract from the network both real-time and historical Network Metrics at the Infrastructure Layer, as well as Application Metadata at the Application Layer. Network analytics facilitate decisions based upon the differing characteristics of Application Components and lower-level hardware components across multiple DTTs. In response, an SDN Controller generates modified sets of SDN Flows, and implements them in real time across a mixed technology (multi-DTT) network in a manner that avoids disrupting existing SDN Flows and other real-time network traffic.