VLAN Management via Configuration Correlation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for managing Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs) are largely manual, leading to inefficiencies and errors in identifying available VLANs and allocating network resources, especially in large networks where VLAN usage and configurations are dynamic and prone to inconsistencies.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for automatically discovering and reporting VLANs by correlating actual network element configuration data with administrative data, marking VLANs as valid or invalid, and enabling user interfaces for reservation and release of VLANs, thereby streamlining VLAN management and reducing manual errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual methods are used to query each device and maintain VLAN records, then network operators can identify available VLANs, but the process becomes very time consuming and error-prone in large networks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of VLAN status identificationVSAvoidtime required to identify available VLANs

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The network elements (devices) automatically report their VLAN configuration data to the management system without requiring manual queries. This self-reporting mechanism eliminates the time-consuming manual process of querying each device while maintaining accurate VLAN status information through automated data collection from the network elements themselves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements automated feedback loops where network elements continuously report their VLAN configuration status to the management system. This feedback mechanism ensures that the VLAN database remains synchronized with actual network state, providing accurate and up-to-date information about available and assigned VLANs without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual methods are used to maintain VLAN records, then VLAN allocation can be tracked, but errors are introduced through manual updating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccuracy of VLAN allocation recordsVSAvoidsimplicity of VLAN management process

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

Network elements automatically report their VLAN configuration data to the management system, eliminating manual record-keeping. This self-service approach ensures that VLAN allocation records are continuously synchronized with actual network state, improving reliability by removing human error from the data collection process while maintaining ease of operation through automated management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical manual process of querying and updating VLAN records with an automated electronic system. Network elements electronically report their configuration data, and the management system automatically processes and stores this information, substituting manual operations with automated computational processes that eliminate errors while simplifying the management workflow.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the number of VLANs is limited to 4,094 by IEEE 802.1Q standard, then VLAN identification is standardized, but network scalability is restricted in large networks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescalability of network VLAN capacityVSAvoidnumber of available VLAN identifiers

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the VLAN management into multiple domains, allowing each domain to have its own VLAN identifier space. By dividing the network into separate manageable domains, each with their own VLAN allocations, the system can support a total number of VLANs that exceeds the 4,094 limit of a single domain, thereby improving network scalability while maintaining standardized VLAN identification within each domain.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11637751B2System and method for managing virtual local area networks

Publication Date: 2023.04.25 LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS LLC

AI summary

A method for identifying VLANs associated with a network includes gathering actual network element configuration data from a plurality of network elements in the network, wherein the actual network element configuration data identifies one or more VLANs that at least some of the plurality of network elements are actually allocated to; correlating the actual network element configuration data with administrative VLAN data; and determining one or more VLANs that are not commonly identified in both the actual network element configuration data and the administrative VLAN data. A system includes a network monitoring system operable to gather actual network element configuration data from a plurality of network elements at one or more logical network sites, wherein the actual network element configuration data identifies one or more VLANs that at least some of the plurality of network elements are actually allocated to; and a VLAN services module operable to correlate the actual network element configuration data with administrative VLAN data, and further operable to determine one or more VLANs that are not commonly identified in both the actual network element configuration data and the administrative VLAN data.