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EP-3349404-B1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TRAFFIC LOAD BALANCING ON MULTIPLE WAN BACKHAULS AND MULTIPLE DISTINCT LAN NETWORKS

EP3349404B1EP 3349404 B1EP3349404 B1EP 3349404B1EP-3349404-B1

Inventors

  • CHOW, PETER
  • BHAGAVATULA, Ramya
  • RHEE, WONJONG
  • TEHRANI, ARDAVAN, MALEKI
  • CIOFFI, JOHN
  • GALLI, STEFANO
  • YUN, SUNGHO
  • KERPEZ, KENNETH
  • GOLDBURG, MARC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20111205

Claims (13)

  1. A network manager comprising: a first interface connectable or connected to a first LAN access device (310A) for a first LAN; a second interface connectable or connected to a first WAN backhaul; a third interface connectable or connected to a second WAN backhaul, wherein the first WAN backhaul is operationally distinct from the second WAN backhaul; a fourth interface connectable or connected to a second LAN access device for a second LAN (310B), wherein the first LAN (310A) and the second LAN (310B) are operationally distinct and the second WAN backhaul is configured to provide the second LAN access device with WAN connectivity, wherein the network manager is arranged to load-balance traffic from at least one of the first LAN access device and the second LAN access device such that a portion of traffic from one of the first LAN and the second LAN is directed to the first WAN backhaul and another portion of traffic from the one of the first LAN and the second LAN is directed to the second WAN backhaul; and a traffic aggregation unit arranged to form a logically bonded WAN interface over the first WAN backhaul and the second WAN backhaul.
  2. The network manager of claim 1 wherein the first interface, the second interface and the third interface comprise at least one interface type selected from a group consisting of logical, wireless, wired, software, or hardware interfaces.
  3. The network manager of claim 1 wherein the fourth interface comprises at least one interface type selected from a group consisting of logical, wireless, wired, software, or hardware interfaces.
  4. The network manager of claim 3 wherein the network manager is arranged to direct traffic from the first LAN entirely to the first WAN backhaul when there is a failure condition in one or more of the second WAN backhaul, and the second LAN.
  5. The network manager of any one of the preceding claims wherein the network manager is a hardware or software component within the first LAN access device or a device in the first LAN.
  6. The network manager of any one of the preceding claims wherein the first LAN access device is selected from the group of access devices consisting of: an access point; a wireless LAN access point; a modem; a router; a gateway; a Digital Subscriber Line Customer Premises Equipment modem or gateway; a cable modem or gateway; an IEEE P1901 standards compatible access Broadband over Power Line device; an Ethernet gateway; an Ethernet connected computer peripheral device; an Ethernet connected router; an Ethernet connected wireless bridge; an Ethernet connected network bridge; an Ethernet connected network switch. a G.hn compatible device; a HomePlug device; a Home Phoneline Network Alliance based device; an in-home coax distribution device; an in-home power line device; an in-home metering communication device; an in-home appliance interfaced with the LAN; a set-top box/set-top unit customer electronics device; a wireless femtocell base station; a wireless compatible base station; a wireless mobile device repeater; a wireless mobile device base station; an Internet Protocol enabled television; an Internet Protocol enabled media player; an Internet Protocol enabled gaming console; a cellular telephone; a Personal Digital Assistant a personal computer; a tablet computing device; and a computing device connected to the LAN.
  7. The network manager of any one of the preceding claims wherein the network manager is arranged to direct traffic from the first LAN to the first WAN backhaul when there is a failure condition in the second WAN backhaul.
  8. The network manager of any one of the preceding claims wherein the first LAN access device is a Wi-Fi access point coupled to the first WAN backhaul, and wherein the first LAN is a Wi-Fi local area network.
  9. The network manager of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the first LAN access device is a wireless mobile device base station coupled to the second WAN backhaul, and wherein the first LAN is a mobile cellular wireless network.
  10. The network manager of claim 8 or 9 wherein the second WAN backhaul is a mobile connection.
  11. A method for load-balancing traffic from at least one LAN across a plurality of WAN backhauls, the method carried out by a network manager of any one of claims 1-10 and comprising the steps of: receiving traffic from at least one of the first LAN (310A) and the second LAN (310B); directing a first portion of received traffic from one of the first LAN (310A) and the second LAN (310B) to a first WAN backhaul; directing a second portion of the received traffic from the same one of the first LAN (310A) and the second LAN (310B) to a second WAN backhaul.
  12. The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of directing the first portion of the received traffic and directing the second portion of the received traffic are performed within a first LAN access device or a first LAN device.
  13. The method of claim 11 wherein the traffic is received from the first LAN and the first portion of traffic is directed to the first WAN backhaul at a rate that is less than a potential maximum transfer rate of the connection between the first LAN and the first WAN backhaul, and/or wherein traffic from the first LAN is directed entirely to the first WAN backhaul when there is a failure condition in the second WAN backhaul.

Description

COPYRIGHT NOTICE A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever. TECHNICAL FIELD The subject matter described herein relates generally to the field of computing, and more particularly, to a network manager and a method for traffic load balancing on multiple WAN backhauls and multiple distinct LAN networks . BACKGROUND The subject matter discussed in the background section should not be assumed to be prior art merely as a result of its mention in the background section. Similarly, a problem mentioned in the background section or associated with the subject matter of the background section should not be assumed to have been previously recognized in the prior art. The subject matter in the background section merely represents different approaches, which in and of themselves may also correspond to embodiments of the claimed subject matter. The "Internet" is a Wide Area Network that joins together many other networks, providing a communications path between devices operating within distinct and often geographically dispersed networks. A Local Area Network (LAN) enables multiple distinct devices within an end-user's premises to communicate amongst themselves locally. Home LAN technologies include wired Ethernet, WiFi, power line, coax, phoneline and other transmission systems. An end-user's LAN is often connected to the Internet via a WAN backhaul connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that provides the end-user consumer with Internet connectivity and Internet Bandwidth. WAN backhaul technologies include DSL, cable modems, fiber, and wireless. Devices within the end-user's LAN may communicate with devices external to the LAN over the WAN backhaul connection provided by the end-user's ISP. Traditionally, the WAN is controlled, managed and maintained by service providers, such as Internet Service Providers, Telecommunications Operators, etc. Conversely, a LAN is typically managed and maintained at a customer's premises by end users/customers, which may be residential users or commercial/business customers. Moreover, operators and service providers typically refrain from addressing any LAN related problems, notwithstanding the fact that, at times, some problems and issues exhibited via the LAN may be related to WAN configurations and settings. Opportunities for enhanced management of the LAN to WAN interfaces may benefit LANs, LAN devices, and end-to-end service delivery. However, such enhanced management opportunities have not yet been made available to the relevant consuming public and have not yet been explored in earnest by relevant Service Providers. The present state of the art may therefore benefit from systems and methods for traffic aggregation on multiple WAN backhauls and multiple distinct LAN networks; systems and methods for traffic load balancing on multiple WAN backhauls and multiple distinct LAN networks; and systems and methods for performing self-healing operations utilizing multiple WAN backhauls serving multiple distinct LAN networks, each of which are described herein. US2006126613 discusses a multi-homed broadband router for use by an internal network to communicate with an external communications network, such as the Internet. US2003031180 discusses a controller for increasing bandwidth between a local area network and other networks by using multiple routers on the given LAN. US 2011/182182 discusses a packet forwarding device stores a predetermined threshold and a predetermined condition value of a first wide area network (WAN) port, and forwards packets that comply with the predetermined condition value via the first WAN port and forwards packets that do not comply with the predetermined condition value via a second WAN port. SUMMARY OF INVENTION The presently claimed invention is set out in the appended set of claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, and will be more fully understood with reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the figures in which: Figure 1 illustrates an exemplary architecture in which embodiments may operate;Figures 2A,2B,2C,2D,2E,2F,2G, and2H illustrate alternative exemplary architectures in which embodiments may operate;Figures 3A,3B,3C,3D, and3E illustrate alternative exemplary architectures in which embodiments may operate;Figures 4A,4B,4C,4D,4E,4F, and4G illustrate alternative exemplary architectures in which embodiments may operate;Figures 5Aand5B show diagrammatic representations of systems in accordance with which embodiments may operate, be installed, integrated, or configured;Figures 6A,6B, and6C are flow diagrams illu