WAN IP Preservation During Network Access Migration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network access migrations often result in temporary disruptions to customers' internet access due to changes in Wide Area Network (WAN) IP addresses and configurations, leading to dissatisfaction and increased costs for service providers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that detect changes in access networks and provision new network circuits while preserving the existing WAN IP address, either by maintaining connection to the same provider edge router or creating exception routes on new equipment, minimizing downtime and disruptions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If network access is migrated from old equipment to new equipment in bulk, then network optimization and cost reduction are achieved, but customer internet access is temporarily disrupted due to WAN IP address changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of access network changes and proactively provisions the second network circuit before the migration occurs. By detecting the change and setting up the backup circuit in advance, the system ensures that a ready-to-use path exists with the preserved WAN IP address, allowing seamless switching without customer disruption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary provisioning system that acts as a mediator between the old and new network circuits. This intermediary detects changes, preserves the WAN IP address, and manages the transition by routing traffic through the appropriate circuit, thereby hiding the migration process from customers and maintaining continuous access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If WAN IP address is changed during migration, then new network circuit can be provisioned on new equipment, but customer experiences internet access disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates a copy of the WAN IP address configuration from the first network circuit and applies it to the second network circuit. By copying the IP address rather than assigning a new one, the system maintains address consistency across the migration, ensuring that customer devices continue to function without reconfiguration while the physical network infrastructure changes.
3Productivity
If bulk migration is performed for many customers at once, then operational costs are reduced and network upgrade is efficient, but customer dissatisfaction increases due to simultaneous disruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection and provisioning for each customer migration case, preparing the second network circuit with the preserved WAN IP address before executing the migration. This advance preparation eliminates service disruptions that would otherwise occur during bulk migrations, allowing efficient batch processing without customer dissatisfaction.
Data Source
AI summary
In one example, the present disclosure describes a device, computer-readable medium, and method for minimizing customer impact during network access migrations. For instance, in one example, a method includes detecting a change in an access network that affects a first network circuit connecting a customer premises to a first provider edge router and provisioning a second network circuit in response to the detecting, wherein the provisioning comprises taking an action to preserve a wide area network internet protocol address of the customer premises on the first network circuit in the second network circuit.