SD-WAN Gateway Selection and Dynamic Path Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

SD-WAN networks experience increased latency and packet loss due to overlay tunnel routing, especially between branches, which worsens with remote desktop, telephone, and file sharing applications, leading to bandwidth demands that existing solutions fail to adequately address.

Innovation Solution

A network control device that collects communication quality parameters between terminals and gateway devices, selects optimal gateway devices based on quality, and dynamically routes traffic through either direct tunnels or underlay paths to improve communication quality between branches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traffic is routed through overlay tunnels in SD-WAN, then network connectivity between branches is improved, but latency increases and packet loss occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork connectivityVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic path selection that adapts to changing network conditions. The system continuously monitors communication quality parameters and dynamically switches between overlay tunnel paths and underlay network paths, making the routing flexible and responsive to real-time conditions rather than static

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes routing parameters based on measured communication quality. When quality degrades beyond thresholds, the system changes the routing path from overlay tunnel to underlay network, and adjusts gateway selection based on quality parameters, effectively using parameter changes to resolve the contradiction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If more branches are connected through overlay tunnels, then network coverage is expanded, but packet loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidpacket loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network path into overlay tunnel segments and underlay network segments. By dividing the routing into different segments with different characteristics, the system can select the appropriate segment combination for each communication flow, reducing packet loss while maintaining expanded coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces quality monitoring and path selection mechanisms as intermediaries between the overlay tunnel and underlay network. These intermediaries measure communication quality and mediate the selection of appropriate paths, preventing packet loss while maintaining network coverage

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If bandwidth demand is increased for remote desktop and file sharing applications, then application performance is improved, but existing SD-WAN solutions fail to meet the demand

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication performanceVSAvoidbandwidth availability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that monitor communication quality and bandwidth utilization. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts path selection and gateway selection to ensure adequate bandwidth for applications, resolving the contradiction between performance demand and availability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary quality measurements and gateway selections before actual communication occurs. By pre-establishing quality metrics and selecting optimal gateways in advance, the system prepares the network to meet bandwidth demands for applications like remote desktop and file sharing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3518479B1Network control device, communication system, network control method, program, and recording medium
Publication Date: 2021.12.01 NTT COMM CORP
  • EP3518479B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3518479B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3518479B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is a network control device for performing control of a system including a plurality of terminals and including a plurality of gateway devices that are coupled to a predetermined network, the network control device including a selection unit that selects a first gateway device used by a first terminal based on a quality between the first terminal and the plurality of gateway devices, a tunnel establishing unit that connects between the first terminal and each of other terminals that uses the first gateway device via a tunnel, and a path control unit that performs path control, such that, when a second gateway device used by a second terminal that is a communication destination of the first terminal is same as the first gateway device, traffic from the first terminal to the second terminal is routed through a tunnel between the first terminal and the second terminal, and when the second gateway device is different from the first gateway device, traffic from the first terminal to the second terminal is routed through the predetermined network.