SDN Controller for Virtual Tenant Network Protection Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual network technologies face limitations in providing real-time network connection services, particularly in ensuring reliability and flexibility for virtual tenant networks (VTNs) due to passive network administration methods.

Innovation Solution

A controller-based method for providing real-time protection switching services in VTNs, allowing clients to request and set up protection switching groups either exclusively or shared among multiple clients, with options for reactive or proactive failure handling, utilizing existing or new protection switching groups based on availability, and integrating with standardized protocols for physical network infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If passive network administration method is used, then network service is provided, but real-time network connection services cannot be provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time network service provisionVSAvoidnetwork administration method

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

An SDN controller is introduced as an intermediary between the application layer and physical network infrastructure. The controller receives real-time network service requests from users, processes them, and translates them into configuration commands for the physical network devices, enabling real-time service provisioning without requiring direct manual configuration of network equipment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If protection switching group is exclusively allocated to single client, then service reliability is improved, but resource utilization efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The protection switching group is designed to serve multiple client entities simultaneously. The SDN controller manages and allocates the same protection switching resources to different clients based on their needs and service levels, allowing a single protection switching group to fulfill multiple functions and serve multiple purposes, thereby improving resource utilization while maintaining service reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically allocates and shares protection switching resources among multiple clients based on real-time conditions, service requirements, and availability. The SDN controller can adjust the allocation of protection switching groups to different clients dynamically, enabling flexible resource sharing that adapts to changing network conditions and client demands.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Adaptability or versatility

If new protection switching group is created for each client, then service independence is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice independenceVSAvoidprotection switching group management

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of creating separate protection switching groups for each client, the system uses a universal protection switching group that can serve multiple clients. The SDN controller manages the allocation and configuration of this shared resource, reducing the total number of protection switching groups needed while maintaining service independence through logical isolation and controlled access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple clients' protection switching requirements are merged into a single shared protection switching group. The SDN controller combines the management of these services, consolidating configuration and control functions, which reduces device complexity and the number of separate protection switching groups while maintaining service independence through virtualization and logical separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Loss of energy

If protection switching is set up for multiple client entities to share, then resource utilization is improved, but service isolation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidservice isolation

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

While sharing physical protection switching resources among multiple clients, the system segments the service logically through the SDN controller. Each client's service flow is segmented and isolated at the control plane, ensuring that failures or configurations for one client do not affect others, thereby maintaining service isolation even while sharing physical resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from physical isolation to virtual/logical isolation by adding a control plane dimension. The SDN controller manages multiple clients' protection switching services in the control plane, allowing physical resource sharing while maintaining logical service isolation through software-based management and configuration separation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS9935900B2Method for providing protection switching service in virtual tenant network and controller therefor

Publication Date: 2018.04.03 ELECTRONICS & TELECOMM RES INST

AI summary

A method for providing a protection switching service in a virtual tenant network (VTN) and a controller are provided. The method enables a real-time protection switching setup on a VTN path in order to provide reliability of a VTN service.