Virtual Edge Router Network for SMB Remote Offices
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional enterprise networks are costly and require on-site technical support for SMBs due to their design primarily for large corporations, making them unsuitable for small and medium businesses with remote offices lacking IT personnel.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a virtual edge router network that abstracts control and management planes from the data plane, allowing for autonomous deployment and remote management of distributed host devices, eliminating the need for on-site technical support through virtual machines, data tunnels, control tunnels, and management tunnels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional enterprise networks are deployed in SMB remote offices, then network functionality is provided, but deployment and maintenance require on-site technical support increasing operational expenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent virtualizes network equipment by creating virtual copies of router functionalities that can be deployed remotely without requiring physical presence of technicians. Virtual network instances are copied and instantiated on remote host devices, enabling autonomous deployment while maintaining full network functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a centralized network management system that acts as an intermediary between the network administrator and remote network equipment. This mediator handles complex deployment and maintenance tasks, allowing simple remote deployment while managing the underlying complexity centrally.
2Productivity
If conventional enterprise networks are deployed in SMB remote offices, then network services are delivered, but service calls by certified technicians are required significantly increasing operational expenses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables network equipment to self-configure and self-manage through virtualization. Remote network instances automatically receive updates, configuration changes, and maintenance without requiring certified technicians to travel to remote locations, thereby reducing operational expenses while maintaining service reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates universal virtual network components that can be deployed across multiple remote locations with consistent functionality. A single virtual network image can be instantiated on any remote host device, providing reliable network services uniformly across all SMB locations without location-specific customization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional enterprise networks are designed for large corporations, then robust network functionality is achieved, but the solution is ill-suited for SMB applications requiring cost-effective solutions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the enterprise network into virtualized components that can be selectively deployed based on SMB needs. Rather than deploying entire conventional enterprise network stacks, only necessary virtual network functions are instantiated, adapting robust enterprise functionality to SMB-scale deployments while reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables dynamic provisioning and scaling of virtual network resources for SMBs. Network capabilities can be dynamically activated or deactivated based on changing business needs, allowing SMBs to access enterprise-grade functionality only when required, thereby adapting to varying operational requirements without permanent complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual edge router network for providing managed services to distributed remote office locations can include routing components that are capable of being autonomously deployed at the network edge, as well as remotely managed, thereby obviating the need for on-site technical support in remote offices of the a small and medium business (SMB) client. Autonomous deployment and remote management is achieved through abstraction of the control and management planes from the data plane. Virtual edge routers may include virtual forwarding units and virtual remote agents instantiated on host devices in each remote office location, as well as a virtual network controller instantiated on a host device in a head-office location. A data plane of the virtual edge router communicatively couples the virtual forwarding units to one another, while a control plane communicatively couples the virtual network controller to each virtual data forwarding unit.