US-12627590-B1 - Enhanced networking for hybrid network

US12627590B1US 12627590 B1US12627590 B1US 12627590B1US-12627590-B1

Abstract

Technologies directed to an approach to handling traffic on a hybrid network is described. The network of nodes may be organized as a first subnetwork having a first topology of wired and wireless connections and a second subnetwork having a second topology of wired and wireless connections. A node may wirelessly receive a first broadcast frame corresponding to the first subnetwork, The node may forward the first broadcast frame across a first wired connection based on a first identifier. The node may wirelessly receive a second broadcast frame corresponding to the second subnetwork. The node may forward the second broadcast frame across a second wired connection based on a second identifier.

Inventors

Brendan Freund
Daniel Lowing Spitler
Ryan N. Thompson
Jasmine Louise Strong
Mete Rodoper

Assignees

AMAZON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240329

Claims (20)

1 . A first node within a hybrid network, the first node comprising: one or more processors; and one or more non-transitory computer readable media storing processor executable instructions which, when executed using the one or more processors, cause the first node to: identify a network of nodes comprising the first node, the network organized as (i) a first virtual local area network (VLAN) having a first topology of wired and wireless connections within the network of nodes and (ii) a second VLAN having a second topology of wired and wireless connections within the network of nodes, wherein the wired and wireless connections being used for the first and second VLANs are organized into respective wired and wireless segments; identify a first wireless segment corresponding to the first VLAN comprising a first set of nodes; identify a first wired segment corresponding to the first VLAN comprising a second set of nodes; determine a third set of nodes, both the first set of nodes and the second set of nodes comprising the third set of nodes, wherein the third set of nodes comprises the first node; identify a second wireless segment corresponding to the second VLAN comprising a fourth set of nodes; identify a second wired segment corresponding to the second VLAN comprising a fifth set of nodes; determine a sixth set of nodes, the fourth set of nodes and the fifth set of nodes comprising the sixth set of nodes, wherein the sixth set of nodes comprises the first node; receive, from a second node of the first wireless segment, a first undesignated frame comprising a first VLAN tag identifying the first VLAN; determine, based on a first comparison of nodes of the third set of nodes, that the first node is to forward undesignated frames received from the first wireless segment; forward the first undesignated frame across the first wired segment; receive, from a third node of the second wireless segment, a second undesignated frame comprising a second VLAN tag identifying the second VLAN; determine, based on a second comparison of nodes of the sixth set of nodes, that the first node is to forward undesignated frames received from the second wireless segment; and forward the second undesignated frame across the second wired segment.
2 . The first node of claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media store processor executable instructions which, when executed using the one or more processors, cause the first node to: receive, from a fourth node of the first wired segment, a third undesignated frame comprising a third VLAN tag identifying the first VLAN; determine, based on a third comparison of nodes of the third set of nodes, that the first node is to forward undesignated frames from the first wired segment; forward the third undesignated frame across the first wireless segment; receive, from a fifth node of the second wired segment, a fourth undesignated frame comprising a fourth VLAN tag identifying the second VLAN; determine, based on a fourth comparison of nodes of the sixth set of nodes, that the first node is to forward undesignated frames received from the second wired segment, wherein a number of nodes belonging to the fifth set of nodes has changed between the second comparison and the fourth comparison; and forward the fourth undesignated frame across the second wireless segment.
3 . The first node of claim 1 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media store processor executable instructions which, when executed using the one or more processors, cause the first node to: receive, from a fourth node of the first wired segment, a third undesignated frame comprising a third VLAN tag identifying the first VLAN; determine, based on a third comparison of nodes of the third set of nodes, that the first node is not to forward undesignated frames received from the first wired segment, wherein a number of nodes belonging to the third set of nodes has changed between the first comparison and the third comparison; and drop the third undesignated frame.
4 . An electronic device comprising: one or more processors; and one or more non-transitory computer readable media storing processor executable instructions which, when executed using the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to; identify one or more nodes of a network of nodes, the network of nodes organized as (i) a first virtual local area network (VLAN) having a first topology of wired and wireless connections within the network of nodes and (ii) a second VLAN having a second topology of wired and wireless connections within the network of nodes; wirelessly receive a first undesignated frame corresponding to the first VLAN; determine that a first identifier indicates that the electronic device is to forward wirelessly received undesignated frames corresponding to the first VLAN; forward the first undesignated frame across a first wired connection corresponding to the first VLAN; wirelessly receive a second undesignated frame corresponding to the second VLAN; determine that a second identifier indicates that the electronic device is to forward wirelessly received undesignated frames corresponding to the second VLAN; and forward the second undesignated frame across a second wired connection corresponding to the second VLAN.
5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media store processor executable instructions which, when executed using the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: receive, from a second node on the first wired connection, a third undesignated frame corresponding to the first VLAN; determine that a third identifier indicates that the electronic device is to forward undesignated frames received from the first wired connection; and forward the third undesignated frame across a first wireless connection corresponding to the first VLAN.
6 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media store processor executable instructions which, when executed using the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: receive, from a second node on the first wired connection, a third undesignated frame corresponding to the first VLAN; determine that a third identifier indicates that the electronic device is not to forward undesignated frames received from the first wired connection; and drop the third undesignated frame.
7 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media store processor executable instructions which, when executed using the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: identify a first set of nodes connected by a first set of wireless connections, the first set of wireless connections corresponding to the first VLAN; identify a second set of nodes connected by a first set of wired connections comprising the first wired connection, the first set of wired connections corresponding to the first VLAN; determine a third set of nodes, wherein both the first set of nodes and the second set of nodes comprise the third set of nodes; identify a fourth set of nodes connected by a fourth set of wireless connections, the fourth set of wireless connections corresponding to the first VLAN; identify a fifth set of nodes connected by a fifth set of wired connections comprising the first wired connection, the fifth set of wired connections corresponding to the first VLAN; and determine a sixth set of nodes, wherein both the fourth set of nodes and the fifth set of nodes comprise the sixth set of nodes.
8 . The electronic device of claim 7 , wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media store processor executable instructions which, when executed using the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: generate, by comparing metrics corresponding to nodes the third set of nodes, the first identifier; and generate, by comparing metrics corresponding to nodes of the sixth set of nodes, the second identifier.
9 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein a first set of nodes is connected to the electronic device via a first set of wired connections corresponding to the first VLAN comprising the first wired connection, and wherein a second set of nodes is connected to the electronic device via a second set of wired connections corresponding to the second VLAN comprising the second wired connection.
10 . The electronic device of claim 9 , wherein the first set of nodes comprises the second set of nodes and a third set of nodes, wherein the second and third sets of nodes are separated by an Ethernet switch that (i) forwards frames corresponding to the first VLAN and (ii) drops frames corresponding to the second VLAN.
11 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the electronic device receives the first undesignated frame via a first wireless connection corresponding to the first VLAN to a second node, and wherein the one or more non-transitory computer readable media store processor executable instructions which, when executed using the one or more processors, cause the electronic device to: determine that a third node is wirelessly connected to the second node via a second wireless connection corresponding to the first VLAN; and generate, in response to determining that the third node is wirelessly connected to the second node via the second wireless connection, a third identifier indicating that the electronic device is not to forward wirelessly received undesignated frames across the first wired connection.
12 . A method, comprising: identifying one or more nodes of a network of nodes, the network of nodes organized as (i) a first virtual local area network (VLAN) having a first topology of wired and wireless connections within the network and (ii) a second VLAN having a second topology of wired and wireless connections within the network; wirelessly receiving, by a first node of the network of nodes, a first undesignated frame corresponding to the first VLAN; forwarding, in response to a determination that a first identifier indicates that the first node is to forward wirelessly received undesignated frames corresponding to the first VLAN, the first undesignated frame across a first wired connection corresponding to the first VLAN; wirelessly receiving, by the first node, a second undesignated frame corresponding to the second VLAN; and forwarding, in response to a determination that a second identifier indicates that the first node is to forward wirelessly received undesignated frames corresponding to the second VLAN, the second undesignated frame across a second wired connection corresponding to the second VLAN.
13 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: receiving, from a second node on the first wired connection, a third undesignated frame corresponding to the first VLAN; and forwarding, in response to a determination that a third identifier indicates that the first node is to forward undesignated frames received from the second node, the third undesignated frame across a first wireless connection corresponding to the first VLAN.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: receiving, from a second node on the first wired connection, a third undesignated frame corresponding to the first VLAN; and not forwarding, in response to a determination that a third identifier indicates that the first node is not to forward undesignated frames received from the second node, the third undesignated frame.
15 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising: identifying a first set of nodes connected by a first set of wireless connections, the first set of wireless connections corresponding to the first VLAN; identifying a second set of nodes connected by a first set of wired connections comprising the first wired connection, the first set of wired connections corresponding to the first VLAN; determining a third set of nodes, wherein both the first set of nodes and the second set of nodes comprise the third set of nodes; identifying a fourth set of nodes connected by a fourth set of wireless connections, the fourth set of wireless connections corresponding to the first VLAN; identifying a fifth set of nodes connected by a fifth set of wired connections comprising the first wired connection, the fifth set of wired connections corresponding to the first VLAN; and determining a sixth set of nodes, wherein both the fourth set of nodes and fifth set of nodes comprise the sixth set of nodes.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the third set of nodes comprises the first node, and wherein the sixth set of nodes comprises the first node.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: generating, by comparing metrics corresponding to nodes the third set, the first identifier; and generating, by comparing metrics corresponding to nodes of the sixth set, the second identifier.
18 . The method of claim 12 , wherein a first set of nodes is connected to the first node via a first set of wired connections corresponding to the first VLAN comprising the first wired connection, and wherein a second set of nodes is connected to the first node via a second set of wired connections corresponding to the second VLAN comprising the second wired connection.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the first set of nodes comprises the second set of nodes and a third set of nodes, wherein the second and third sets of nodes are separated by an Ethernet switch that (i) forwards frames corresponding to the first VLAN and (ii) drops frames corresponding to the second VLAN.
20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the first node receives the first undesignated frame via a first wireless connection corresponding to the first VLAN to a second node, and wherein the method further comprises generating, in response to a determination that a third node is wirelessly connected to the second node via a second wireless connection corresponding to the first VLAN, a third identifier indicating that the first node is not to forward wirelessly received undesignated frames across the first wired connection.

Description

BACKGROUND The modern internet has revolutionized communications by enabling computing devices to transmit large amounts of data quickly over incredibly vast distances. The rate of innovation set by application and web developers is breathtakingly fast, but unfortunately, not all aspects of the internet experience have kept pace. In particular, even as people rely more and more heavily on home networking solutions to enable internet connectivity for a rapidly increasing collection of electronic devices, the technology underpinning those solutions often provides a woefully inadequate user experience. In particular, many users find that a single wireless access point is not able to provide wireless coverage for an entire home or small business. While technology exists to extend the wireless network, it is often both difficult to configure and inefficient in performance. Thus, there is a need in the computer networking field to create new and useful systems and methods for enhanced mesh networking. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS To easily identify the discussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digit or digits in a reference number refer to the figure number in which that element is first introduced. FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a hybrid network including a gateway, a wireless leaf, and a wired leaf, according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an exemplary hybrid network including discontiguous mesh networks and Ethernet connections, according to one embodiment. FIG. 3A includes block diagrams of the exemplary hybrid network illustrating a first topology of a first subnetwork and a second topology of a second subnet, according to one embodiment. FIG. 3B includes block diagrams of the exemplary hybrid network illustrating wireless segments of the first topology of the first subnetwork and the second topology of the second subnetwork, according to one embodiment. FIG. 3C includes block diagrams of the exemplary hybrid network illustrating wired segments of the first topology of the first subnetwork and the second topology of the second subnetwork, according to one embodiment. FIG. 3D includes block diagrams of the exemplary hybrid network illustrating potential and necessary forwarding nodes of the first topology of the first subnetwork and the second topology of the second subnetwork, according to one embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a method of performing a forwarding decision, according to one embodiment. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a wireless device with forwarding decision logic (FDL), according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Technologies directed to an approach to handling traffic on a hybrid network is described. A hybrid network may be defined as multiple nodes interconnected by both wired and wireless connections. Nodes within a hybrid network may be any device that can send, receive or forward information of a communication channel. Some examples of what the nodes may be are routers, modems, switches, wireless access points (WAPs), internet of things (IoT) devices, and end-user devices. A common problem in hybrid networks having Ethernet devices with more than one Ethernet port, including switches, routers, bridges and client devices contain a structure generally referred to as an address resolution list (ARL) or forwarding database (FDB). These devices use this ARL or FDB in order to quickly determine which of their multiple ports leads to a given media access control (MAC) address of a node. Given that Ethernet frames only contain two addresses—destination and source—and the Ethernet protocol is connectionless, the only means of determining where a given node is located on an Ethernet network is by snooping the source address of frames coming from that port. A traditional Ethernet switch, upon receiving a frame, compares it to the addresses currently in its ARL, and if it finds it, will then deliver it to the port noted in the ARL. If it does not find the frame, it will flood it to every port other than the one it came in on. Having done this, it notes that the source address on the frame is present on whichever port it came in on. Some hybrid networks may include both discontiguous wireless mesh networks and Ethernet segments. This is problematic, because mesh networks may not guarantee to deliver frames to attached Ethernet segments in a deterministic fashion. This means that Ethernet switches may become confused by traffic that appears to come from random locations. Moreover, since nodes bordering both a mesh network and an Ethernet segment will see traffic (one or more frames) that has come from the mesh when it lands on the segment, they may decide to take the frames and inject them back into the mesh. This traffic then moves through the mesh and is reinserted back into the Ethernet segment repeatedly, causing the network to eventually become clogged by looping frames. Problems of looping may be solved in wired E