Service Processing Control Device for Scalable Network Upgrades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing service processing systems, such as those using Broadband Remote Access Servers (BRAS), face challenges during upgrades as they need to be powered off, disrupting services and limiting scalability due to the need for hardware and software upgrades, which affects tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of users.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a service processing control device to identify service features, generate service labels, and determine routing paths, allowing service packets to be processed without interrupting existing services, enabling incremental upgrades by adding new service processing devices without impacting existing ones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If service processing software or hardware is upgraded by powering off the BRAS device, then service processing capability is enhanced, but existing service is interrupted and user impact increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service processing system into a control plane (BRAS) and data plane (service processing devices). The BRAS is responsible for control functions while service processing is distributed to separate devices. This segmentation allows the BRAS to be upgraded without interrupting service processing, as the data plane continues to operate independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a service processing device as an intermediary between the BRAS and the network traffic. This intermediary handles the actual service processing while the BRAS provides control and management. During BRAS upgrades, the service processing device maintains service continuity by continuing to process packets independently.
2Adaptability or versatility
If BRAS device is powered off for service upgrade, then service processing capability is enhanced, but device availability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into control functions (BRAS) and service processing functions (service processing devices). This allows the service processing capability to be upgraded by adding or modifying service processing devices without taking the entire BRAS offline, maintaining device availability while enhancing service capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The service processing device is pre-configured with service processing capabilities and can operate independently before, during, and after BRAS upgrades. This preliminary preparation ensures that service processing can continue without interruption regardless of BRAS availability.
3Device complexity
If service processing is centralized in BRAS, then system complexity is reduced, but scalability during service upgrade is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the service processing system into a centralized control plane (BRAS) and distributed data plane (service processing devices). This segmentation maintains relatively simple control structure while enabling scalable service upgrades by adding service processing devices without increasing control plane complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates control functions from service processing functions, adding a dimensional separation between management plane and data plane. This allows service upgrades to occur in the data plane dimension without affecting the control plane, enabling independent scalability of service capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a service processing method, device and system. The method includes: receiving a service packet, and searching, according to a service identity in the service packet, a service routing table corresponding to the service packet, where the service identity represents a service to be processed by the service packet; and the service routing table includes a service label used to represent a service feature in the service, and a routing path for processing the service feature; and setting the service label in the service packet according to the service routing table, and sending, according to the routing path, the service packet to a service processing device configured to process the service feature corresponding to the service label, so that the service processing device processes the service feature corresponding to the service label. The present invention reduces an impact on an original service and improves scalability.