US 11,196,668 B2 · End user premises device controller

Abstract

A dynamic open access software-defined network can be configured to enable an end user premises device to function like a controller so that there is no need to employ a controller within the network. As a result, a dynamic open access software-defined network can be efficiently and effectively scaled. An end user premises device can be configured with a virtual switch that implements a flow receiver for receiving flows directly from a flow communicator of a management server without utilizing a controller or the Openflow protocol. The virtual switch may also be configured to store flows in a configuration file that is persisted across reboots on the end user premises device to thereby enable the end user premises device to rebuild a flow table without communicating with an external component.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for managing end user premises devices in a software-defined network (SDN), each end user premises device functioning as an edge device or an edge switch at an end user's premises in the SDN, the method comprising:

identifying, by a management server, a first flow that is to be implemented on a first end user premises device to provide a service to a first end user's premises where the first end user premises device is located;
sending, by a flow communicator on the management server, one or more communications to a flow receiver of a first virtual switch that is executing on the first end user premises device, the one or more communications defining the first flow that is to be implemented on the first end user premises device to provide the service to the first end user's premises where the first end user premises device is located;
and
in response to the flow receiver receiving the one or more communications from the management server, creating, by the first virtual switch, the first flow in a flow table maintained by the first virtual switch that is executing on the first end user premises device to thereby provide the service to the first end user's premises where the first end user premises device is located.

1 more element

One or more computer storage media storing computer executable instructions which when executed implement a method for provisioning flows on end user premises devices in a software-defined network (SDN), each end user premises device functioning as an edge device or an edge switch at an end user's premises in the SDN, the method comprising:

identifying, by a management server, a first flow that is to be implemented on a first end user premises device to provide a service to a first end user's premises where the first end user premises device is located;
sending, by the management server, one or more communications directly to a first virtual switch that is executing on the first end user premises device, the one or more communications defining the first flow that is to be implemented on the first end user premises device to provide the service to the end user's premises where the first end user premises device is located;
and
in response to receiving the one or more communications from the management server, creating, by the first virtual switch, the first flow in a flow table maintained by the first virtual switch that is executing on the first end user premises device to thereby provide the service to the end user's premises where the first end user premises device is located.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

End user premises device controller

Life of this patent

End user premises device controller

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20