Self-Driven BNG Controller for vBNG Orchestration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Service providers face challenges in managing and scaling virtual broadband network gateways (vBNGs) due to increased demand, limited capacity, and security issues, particularly in deploying additional vBNG instances manually and managing numerous distributed vBNGs.
Innovation Solution
A self-driven BNG controller that elastically provisions vBNG instances on edge routers, dynamically increasing or decreasing instances based on subscriber demand, and implementing load balancing and high availability features to optimize network performance and reduce operational costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual deployment of additional vBNG instances is used, then deployment control is maintained, but deployment time and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-driven deployment where the BNG controller automatically provisions vBNG instances on edge routers without requiring manual intervention. The controller monitors subscriber demand, determines when additional instances are needed, and automatically deploys them through configuration management applications, transforming a manual process into an autonomous one that improves deployment speed while reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system pre-provisions vBNG instances on edge routers before subscriber demand requires them. The controller proactively identifies when instances need to be deployed by monitoring capacity thresholds and preemptively provisions new instances, ensuring capacity is ready before it is needed and avoiding last-minute manual deployment emergencies
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical BNG is provisioned for each access point, then dedicated capacity is ensured, but network scalability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of provisioning dedicated physical BNGs for each access point, the system uses virtualized BNG instances that can be replicated multiple times on edge routers. These virtual instances are identical copies that can be dynamically deployed, cloned, and managed as software entities, enabling the network to scale by creating multiple virtual instances rather than deploying additional physical hardware
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a universal BNG controller that manages both physical and virtual BNG instances through a unified architecture. This multi-functional controller handles diverse BNG types (physical, virtual, cloud-based) using the same management protocols and interfaces, simplifying the complexity of managing heterogeneous network components while enabling flexible scaling
3Quantity of substance
If vBNG instances are increased to meet subscriber demand, then service capacity is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the number of active vBNG instances based on real-time subscriber demand and capacity thresholds. Rather than maintaining a fixed number of BNG instances, the controller continuously monitors utilization metrics and dynamically provisions or deprovisions instances as needed, allowing the network to scale capacity up when demand increases and scale down to reduce power consumption when demand decreases
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters by adjusting the number of active vBNG instances based on monitored metrics such as subscriber capacity thresholds, CPU utilization, and memory usage. When parameters indicate capacity constraints, the controller increases the number of instances; when parameters show excess capacity, it reduces instances to optimize power consumption, creating a dynamic parameter adjustment loop
4Productivity
If manual provisioning is used, then configuration accuracy is maintained, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-driven deployment where the BNG controller automatically performs provisioning operations without manual intervention. Configuration management applications handle the entire provisioning process including template application, parameter configuration, and instance deployment, transforming manual operational tasks into automated self-service processes that significantly improve operational efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical provisioning operations with automated software-based configuration management. Instead of human operators manually configuring BNG instances through command interfaces, the system uses configuration templates, automated scripting, and software-defined provisioning mechanisms that perform the same functions with much higher efficiency and consistency
Data Source
AI summary
A broadband network gateway (BNG) controller is described that includes a network subscriber database (NSDB) and one or more core applications. The NSDB is configured to store vBNG instance information for one or more subscriber devices. The vBNG instance information specifies vBNG instances operable by one or more edge routers. The vBNG instances are configured to receive requests to access service provider services from the one or more subscriber devices and to selectively authenticate the one or more subscriber devices for network services based on authentication information included in the requests to access services provider services. The one or more core applications include a network instance and configuration manager (NICM). The NICM is configured to modify the vBNG instance information at the NSDB to include an additional vBNG instance and to output, to an edge router, an instruction to generate the additional vBNG instance at the edge router.