Controller communications in access networks
AssigneeFuturewei Technologies, Inc.
InventorsJingjing Zhang, Wei Wei, Liurong Qian
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Control plane management based on the physical topology of nodes in software-defined networks (SDNs) is provided. A tree structure in an SDN such as an access network is identified. Control plan management is provided using the tree structure. A controller configures changes in the SDN and provides notifications to other controllers after configuring devices under its control. A controller prioritizes the status of downstream and/or upstream devices based on a type or direction of data flow when making configuration decisions. A controller provides notifications to other controllers by prioritizing notifications based on the hierarchical position of devices.
Claims24
A device, comprising:
- a non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions;
- and
- one or more processors in communication with the memory, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
- receive, at a controller that is coupled to a server at a root node of a software-defined access network having two or more network-connected devices arranged in a hierarchical tree structure, a signal from a network-connected device;
- determine, based on the received signal, one or more instructions to be transmitted to one or more controlled devices positioned in a downstream node relative to the root node;
- transmit the one or more instructions to the one or more controlled devices;
- and
- notify one or more other controllers in the access network of one or more changes to the one or more controlled devices after transmitting the one or more instructions.
A computer-implemented method for managing network consistency, comprising:
- receiving, at a controller for a software-defined network having a hierarchical structure, one or more signals associated with a first status of a first network device at a first node and a second status associated with a second network device at a second node;
- determining that a first hierarchical position of the first network device is higher than a second hierarchical position of the second network device;
- configuring one or more network operations for the software-defined network based on prioritizing the first status of the first network device over the second status of the second network device;
- and
- performing the one or more network operations.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer instructions for managing network consistency, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the steps of:
- receive, at a controller for a software-defined access network, one or more signals identifying a first status of a first network-connected device and a second status of a second network-connected device;
- determine that the second network-connected device has a position downstream to the first network-connected device;
- based on the position of the second network-connected device, transmit a first status notification to one or more other controllers in the access network identifying the first status of the first network-connected device prior to transmitting a second notification to the one or more other controllers identifying the second status of the second network-connected device.
A device, comprising:
- a non-transitory memory storage comprising instructions;
- and
- one or more processors in communication with the memory, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to:
- receive, at a controller, a request for a data transfer from an originating network device to a target network device;
- determine, based on the received request, whether the data transfer involves upstream or downstream communication;
- assign network bandwidth to one or more network devices based on prioritizing a status of upstream network devices in response to a determination that the data transfer involves upstream communication;
- and
- assign network bandwidth to one or more network devices based on prioritizing a status of downstream network devices in response to a determination that the data transfer involves downstream communication.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.