Intelligent Wi-Fi Flow Bridging in SDN Controllers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wi-Fi networks face performance slowdowns due to overhead from tunneling packets to an SDN controller, especially with increasing loads and local device interactions, such as Bonjour services, leading to network congestion and processing burdens.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method to intelligently bridge specific Wi-Fi flows by centrally coordinating data plane behavior in a software-defined network (SDN), where bridging policies are used to convert tunnel mode to bridge mode for certain data streams, allowing packets to be transferred directly between access points without additional tunneling to the SDN controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packets are tunneled from access points to SDN controller for centralized management, then network control and routing decisions are improved, but network overhead and processing loads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments traffic flows into two categories: local flows that are bridged directly between access points and remote flows that are tunneled to the SDN controller. This segmentation allows the system to apply different handling mechanisms based on flow characteristics, reducing unnecessary tunneling overhead while maintaining centralized control for appropriate traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements local quality by enabling access points to perform local bridging for certain traffic flows without requiring centralized SDN controller involvement. This allows local traffic to be handled efficiently at the network edge while the SDN controller maintains overall network management, reducing the burden on the controller for local traffic.
2Extent of automation
If all data streams are tunneled to SDN controller, then centralized routing decisions are achieved, but network congestion and processing loads worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the routing mode for different data streams based on their characteristics. The SDN controller monitors traffic patterns and dynamically determines which flows should be tunneled for centralized management and which should be bridged locally, optimizing network performance while maintaining appropriate levels of centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the routing parameter (tunneling vs. bridging) based on flow characteristics such as source and destination addresses, traffic type, and network conditions. This parameter change allows the system to optimize for both centralized control and network performance by selecting the appropriate routing mode for each flow.
3Adaptability or versatility
If tunneling mode is used for all flows, then SDN infrastructure utilization is maximized, but peer-to-peer transfer speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the SDN controller acts as a mediator for certain flows but not all. For local peer-to-peer traffic, the system bypasses the intermediary controller and establishes direct bridging paths between access points, improving speed while the controller remains available as an intermediary for flows requiring centralized management.
Data Source
AI summary
Wi-Fi flows are intelligently bridged in a software-defined network (SDN) controller of a wireless communication network that centrally coordinates data plane behavior. A default mode tunnels packets received at an access point to the SDN controller for layer 2 routing decisions. A bridging policy concerning bridging of specific types of traffic flows for the wireless communication network is received at the SDN. Data plane traffic flow for each of a plurality of access points distributed around the wireless communication network is centrally monitored. New data streams tunneled to the SDN controller are matched to bridging policies with deep packet inspection. Responsive to matching, the tunnel mode is converted to a bridge mode by sending a rule concerning the new data stream to the access point. As a result, subsequent packets of the new data stream are transferred at the access point without tunneling additional packets to the SDN controller).