SDN Session Border Controller Media Micro Flow Scalability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Session Border Controllers (SBCs) are limited in their ability to influence Internet Protocol flows beyond their own data plane, leading to inefficiencies in handling denial of service attacks, bandwidth management, and media services, as they require media resources for each session, restricting scalability and effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method for a Session Border Controller to operate in a Software Defined Network (SDN) environment, where it can generate instructions for media micro flow services on programmable switches, allowing for media bypass, relay, or interworking services, independent of dedicated media resources, and dynamically manage network flow rules across the SDN infrastructure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional SBC processes media packets through its data plane, then media services can be provided, but the SBC is limited in its ability to influence IP flows at other points in the network and requires dedicated media resources for each session

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to influence IP flowsVSAvoidmedia resources requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces SDN programmable switches as intermediary devices between the SBC and the network. These switches receive flow rules from the SBC via the SDN controller and enforce media services policies at various points in the network, eliminating the need for the SBC to process all media packets through its own data plane while maintaining control over IP flows

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical approach of processing media packets through the SBC's data plane with a software-based flow rule mechanism. The SBC generates flow rules that are installed on SDN programmable switches, substituting direct packet processing with programmable network control to achieve media services without dedicated media resources at the SBC

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If the SBC scales up to handle more sessions, then more media services can be provided, but the SBC must scale both session establishment and media resources capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of sessions handledVSAvoidmedia resources

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the media services function by implementing it at multiple network nodes through SDN programmable switches rather than concentrating it at the SBC. This allows the SBC to handle session establishment for many sessions while the distributed switches handle the actual media services, eliminating the linear relationship between number of sessions and media resources required at the SBC

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent moves media services from a single-point processing model (SBC data plane) to a distributed network-wide model using SDN programmable switches. This dimensional shift from centralized to distributed processing enables linear scalability in session handling without proportional increase in SBC media resources

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If the SBC blocks bad flows at the SBC data plane, then security is improved, but the decision point is delayed and bandwidth cannot be guaranteed at earlier network points

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoiddecision timing

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by installing flow rules on SDN programmable switches at strategic network points before malicious traffic reaches the SBC. The SBC can block bad flows at these distributed decision points through flow rules, achieving both early detection (reducing time loss) and maintained security (reliability)

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10938711B2Communications methods, apparatus and systems for providing scalable media services in SDN systems

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 RIBBON COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING CO INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to communications methods, apparatus and systems for providing media micro flow services in a scalable manner using SDN principles. In an exemplary method embodiment a session border controller in a SDN network is operated to receive first signaling information for establishing a first media session, the first media session including a first media packet flow that passes through a first programmable switch of the SDN network; generate instructions to implement a media micro flow service on the first programmable switch through which the first media packet flow passes; and send the instructions to a SDN controller which controls the first programmable switch.