Universal CPE with Virtualized Routing and Remote Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional Customer Premises Equipment (CPE) requires physical technician visits for changes, upgrades, and support, leading to higher costs and inconvenience, and is limited to single-function devices that cannot enable multiple services simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a CPE device with memory, physical network interfaces, and processing entities that enable remote configuration, deployment, and upgrading of services, allowing simultaneous control and upgradability of executable images, and the use of virtual machines for enhanced routing and switching capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional CPE devices are used with single-function design, then device simplicity is maintained, but service versatility and adaptability are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The CPE device is designed to perform multiple functions including routing, switching, firewall protection, and virtual machine hosting within a single device. The system can simultaneously provide broadband internet access, voice services, and wireless networking capabilities, eliminating the need for multiple separate devices while enhancing service versatility
Solution Approach 2:
The CPE device is divided into distinct functional modules including a control plane, data plane, and virtual machine environment. Each module can be independently configured, managed, and upgraded, allowing the system to provide multiple services while maintaining manageable complexity through modular architecture
2Productivity
If CPE configuration changes require physical technician visits, then operational simplicity is maintained, but service responsiveness and productivity are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The CPE device includes automated self-provisioning capabilities where the device can automatically discover network parameters, configure routing tables, and provision services without requiring physical technician intervention. The system performs self-diagnosis and automatic configuration based on received service requirements
Solution Approach 2:
A remote management system acts as an intermediary between network operators and CPE devices, enabling centralized configuration, monitoring, and troubleshooting. The management system can remotely push configuration updates, diagnose issues, and provision services through automated communication protocols, eliminating the need for physical visits while maintaining operational control
3Adaptability or versatility
If CPE devices lack remote upgradability, then device reliability is maintained through stable hardware, but adaptability to new services and technologies is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The CPE device incorporates dynamic software components that can be remotely updated and upgraded without replacing the physical hardware. The system allows for remote firmware updates, configuration changes, and service provisioning, enabling the device to adapt to new services and technologies while maintaining the stability of the underlying hardware platform
Solution Approach 2:
The CPE device includes built-in mechanisms for receiving, validating, and preparing software updates before applying them. The system can pre-stage updates, perform compatibility checks, and maintain rollback capabilities, ensuring that upgrades can be performed remotely while preserving system stability and reliability
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, apparatus and computer-readable medium are described for improving efficiency and robustness for processing network packets at a network device, such as a customer premises equipment (CPE). The network device may include a plurality of physical network interfaces for receiving and transmitting network packets, and one or more processing entities. The one or more processing entities may provide a first router for providing routing functionality, wherein the first router is not virtualized, enable a virtual machine to execute a second router for providing routing functionality and forward a network packet using the first router or the second router from the device. The one or more processors may be configured to execute instructions associated with the first router from user space.