Single PW L2 Connectivity with Master-Slave PE Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for fault-tolerant L2 connectivity require multiple PW connections between remote sites, leading to increased complexity, bandwidth consumption, and operational burdens, while existing solutions fail to provide efficient auto-recovery and minimize L2 loops.
Innovation Solution
A method utilizing a single PW connection with Master-Slave signaling between PEs within the same L2 site, allowing transparent traffic forwarding and auto-recovery without involving remote sites in redundancy arrangements, leveraging MPLS FRR for provider network failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple PW connections are used for redundancy between remote sites, then reliability is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases by 25-50%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functionality of multiple PW connections into a single PW connection by implementing Master-Slave signaling between PEs at the same site. The Slave PE suppresses its connectivity to the remote site when the Master PE is active, effectively combining multiple potential connections into one active connection while maintaining redundancy capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the PW connection capability through Master-Slave signaling. The Slave PE maintains the ability to become active (a virtual copy of the Master PE's function) without actually establishing a separate physical PW connection, thus providing redundancy without the bandwidth overhead of multiple active connections.
2Reliability
If multiple PW connections are established for redundancy, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the redundancy management logic from the remote site and concentrates it at the local site through Master-Slave signaling between PEs. This removes the complexity of coordinating multiple PW connections across remote sites and replaces it with simpler local PE coordination.
Solution Approach 2:
The Master PE and Slave PE automatically manage their own redundancy relationships through signaling between themselves without requiring external coordination or complex remote site involvement. The system self-regulates which PE is active and which is standby through their mutual signaling.
3Loss of time
If Master-Slave signaling is implemented between PEs at the same site, then auto-recovery speed is improved to under 200 milliseconds, but ease of operation deteriorates due to signaling complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the redundancy management into distinct Master and Slave roles with clearly defined signaling protocols. This segmentation allows for automated role transition and failure detection, enabling rapid recovery without manual intervention despite the signaling complexity.
4Loss of energy
If a single PW connection is used instead of multiple PW connections, then bandwidth consumption is reduced by 25-50%, but reliability deteriorates without proper redundancy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the single PW connection dynamic by allowing the Master PE and Slave PE to automatically switch roles based on failure detection. The Slave PE can become the new Master PE if the current Master PE fails, providing dynamic fault tolerance without requiring multiple simultaneous PW connections.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system are provided for connecting at least three provider peer elements PEs located in two L2 network sites, via a provider network, wherein at least in one of the L2 sites and two of the provider peer elements PEs are connected to a customer equipment CE forming together a dual homing structure. The method and system are characterized in that they rely on the use of only a single PW in the provider network that extends between PEs of the two L2 network sites while ensuring traffic protection for the PW in the provider network, and ensuring that in case of a failure of one of the PEs or its connection to the customer equipment at one of the sites, the other L2 network site remains unaware of the failure, so that once established, traffic communication over the PW is maintained like no failure has happened.