Wireless System Split Control Data Plane Scalability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wireless systems have an integrated control plane and data plane, preventing them from leveraging the scalability and other benefits provided by a split control plane and data plane, which is advantageous in software defined networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a wireless system that uses protocols like OpenFlow to establish separate control and data plane tunnels, allowing the control plane to be decoupled from the data plane, enabling scalability and supporting features like tunnel encapsulation, mobility, and DHCP proxy functions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control plane and data plane are integrated in conventional wireless systems, then system simplicity is maintained, but scalability and flexibility are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wireless system into two separate planes: control plane (handling signaling and management) and data plane (handling user data traffic). This segmentation allows each plane to be optimized and scaled independently, resolving the contradiction between scalability and system simplicity by introducing controlled architectural complexity that enables greater adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control plane functions are extracted from the data plane infrastructure, allowing the control plane to operate on a separate platform. This extraction enables the data plane to scale independently while control functions can be centralized or distributed as needed, achieving scalability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If control plane is decoupled from data plane using separate platforms, then network flexibility and scalability improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces tunneling mechanisms as intermediaries between the control plane and data plane. Control plane messages are encapsulated within data plane tunnels, allowing seamless communication between the separated planes without requiring complex direct integration. This intermediary approach maintains network flexibility while managing the complexity of plane separation through standardized tunneling protocols.
3Productivity
If integrated control and data plane are used, then implementation is simpler, but independent scaling of control and data functions is prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a dynamic architecture where the control plane can be independently deployed, scaled, and managed separate from the data plane infrastructure. Control plane instances can be added or removed based on signaling requirements without affecting data plane capacity, and vice versa. This dynamic separation enables independent scaling while using virtualization and containerization to manage the resulting platform complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a method includes identifying an access point joining a wireless controller in communication with a switch, establishing a control tunnel between the access point and the wireless controller, transmitting an address of the switch from the wireless controller to the access point, and requesting the switch to setup a data tunnel with the access point. An apparatus and logic are also disclosed herein.