Virtual Router Simulation for PoP Fault Tolerance

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Point of Presence (PoP) configurations face challenges due to limited modularity and scalability of commercially available routers, leading to high costs, incompatibility issues between routers from different suppliers, and increased complexity in supporting various services and ensuring fault tolerance.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus for configuring switches using simulated interaction of virtual network routers, allowing for flexible and efficient communication management without the need for multiple physical routers, thereby reducing costs and enhancing scalability and fault tolerance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple physical routers are used to support various services and ensure fault tolerance, then reliability and service capability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault toleranceVSAvoidnumber of physical routers

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates virtual copies of router functionality through virtual network routers (VNRs) that run on shared physical infrastructure. Instead of deploying multiple physical routers, the system instantiates multiple virtual router instances that can be duplicated, migrated, and managed software-definedly, thereby maintaining fault tolerance and service capability while reducing hardware complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal virtual network router platform that can perform multiple routing functions and support various services through software configuration. A single physical infrastructure running multiple VNR instances can replace numerous specialized physical routers, as each VNR can be configured to provide different routing services, protocols, and functionalities, thereby reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple physical routers are deployed to support various services, then service capability is improved, but hardware cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice support capabilityVSAvoidhardware cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent consolidates multiple physical router functions into a shared physical infrastructure running virtual network routers. By merging the hardware resources (processors, memory, network interfaces) of multiple routers into a common pool and virtualizing them, the system achieves the same service capability with reduced hardware duplication and lower overall cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of manufacture

If commercially available routers are used with limited configurability, then ease of deployment is improved, but adaptability to different services deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of deploymentVSAvoidservice configurability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic virtual network routers that can be configured, created, modified, and migrated through software without requiring physical reconfiguration or hardware changes. The VNRs can dynamically adapt to different service requirements, routing protocols, and network conditions, providing both ease of deployment (through automated provisioning) and high adaptability (through flexible software configuration).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables flexible configuration of virtual network routers by allowing dynamic changes to software parameters, routing tables, service policies, and operational characteristics without physical modifications. This parameter-based configurability allows the same virtualized platform to adapt to various services and requirements while maintaining simple deployment procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS11303515B2IP MPLS PoP virtualization and fault tolerant virtual router

Publication Date: 2022.04.12 BCE

AI summary

A method of configuring at least one switch involves configuring the at least one switch to direct communication to at least one of a plurality of computers according to at least one outcome of simulated interaction of a plurality of virtual network routers. A method of simulating interaction of a plurality of virtual network routers involves: causing a first at least one processor circuit to simulate the interaction of the plurality of virtual network routers; and causing a second at least one processor circuit, different from the first at least one processor circuit, to simulate the interaction of the plurality of virtual network routers redundantly to the simulated interaction of the plurality of virtual network routers on the first at least one processor circuit. Apparatuses and computer-readable media are also disclosed.