Spanning Tree Protocol Control Packet Processing for Software Update Continuity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional bridge devices experience unnecessary topology reconfiguration and communication disruptions during software updates, as they cannot complete software downloads and initialization within the limited time frame required by the spanning tree protocol, leading to service interruptions and increased costs from adding new hardware or duplicating CPU memory.
Innovation Solution
A control packet processing apparatus and method that autonomously manages BPDU transmission and reception, allowing for continuous communication route reconfiguration prevention by generating and transmitting control packets to maintain existing data paths without new hardware additions, using a receiving device, buffer, control device, generation device, and transmitting device to handle control packet processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spanning tree protocol reconfigures communication routes upon detecting BPDU transmission interruptions, then network reliability is improved by preventing loops, but service continuity deteriorates due to unnecessary topology reconfiguration during software updates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dummy BPDU transmission mechanism as an intermediary solution. During software updates, the system generates and transmits dummy BPDUs that mimic normal protocol behavior, preventing other bridge devices from detecting the interruption and initiating unnecessary topology reconfiguration. This mediator maintains the appearance of normal operation while allowing the actual software update to proceed without service disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by detecting software update events before they complete and proactively initiating dummy BPDU transmission. The system anticipates the potential for BPDU transmission interruption and pre-establishes the dummy transmission mechanism, ensuring that other devices do not trigger reconfiguration procedures during the update process.
2Loss of time
If new hardware functions or CPU memory duplication is added to maintain BPDU transmission during updates, then service continuity is improved, but device complexity and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies mechanics substitution by replacing potential hardware-based solutions (such as redundant BPDU transmission hardware or duplicated CPU memory) with a software-based dummy BPDU generation mechanism. This substitution achieves the same service continuity goal while avoiding increased hardware complexity and installation costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating dummy BPDU packets that replicate the structure and behavior of normal BPDUs. These copied packets are generated in software and transmitted through existing hardware channels, achieving the effect of continuous BPDU transmission without duplicating hardware components or CPU memory.
3Ease of manufacture
If dummy BPDU transmission is implemented in software, then installation costs are reduced without new hardware, but the complexity of control packet processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the dummy BPDU transmission mechanism to utilize existing hardware resources and protocol processing pathways. The software module integrates with the existing STP implementation, reusing existing transmission channels, packet structures, and processing logic, thereby minimizing additional complexity while achieving multi-functionality during both normal operation and software updates.
Data Source
AI summary
When a control packet is transmitted/received among devices that support a spanning tree protocol (STP), a receiving side device temporarily stores a received control packet in a buffer. When the transmission of a control packet from a transmitting side device is stopped, the control packet stored in the buffer is transferred to a STP processing unit in a specific cycle. Alternatively, the transmitting side device autonomously transmits a control packet for a specific period at specific intervals from when the STP processing unit stops its operation until it restarts the operation according to an instruction to start an automatic transmission.