Device And Method For Managing Inter-Domain Communications Of A Network Node Assigned To The Device Within A Software-Defined Production Network System

Abstract

A device for managing inter-domain communications of a network node assigned to the device within a software-defined production network system is suggested. The software-defined production network system includes a plurality of subnets, each subnet being associated with one domain and including a plurality of network nodes. The device includes an internal communication control unit for controlling communication of the network node with a network node in the same subnet by communicating with an intra-domain control unit and includes a gateway communication control unit for controlling communication of the network node with a network node of another subnet by communicating with an inter-domain control unit adapted to control resources in the software-defined production network system.

Claims

1. A device for managing inter-domain communications of a network node assigned to the device within a software-defined production network system, the software-defined production network system including a plurality of subnets, each subnet being associated with one domain and including a plurality of network nodes, the device comprising: an internal communication controller for controlling communication of a first one of the network nodes with a second one of the network nodes in a first subnet of the subnets by communicating with an intra-domain controller assigned to the first subnet, and a gateway communication controller for controlling communication of the first network node with a third one of the network nodes of a second subnet of the subnets by communicating with an inter-domain controller configured to control resources in the software-defined production network system, wherein the internal communication controller and the gateway communication controller are configured to control the communications based on quality of service requirements of the first network node and are adapted to interact to provide a path within the software-defined production network system in order to provide the quality of service requirements of the first network node.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the gateway communication controller is connected to a gateway communication controller of the second subnet.

3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a transformation unit for transforming a communication language used by the internal communication controller into a communication language used by the gateway communication controller and vice versa.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the internal communication controller is configured to register the first network node with the intra-domain controller of the first subnet.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the gateway communication controlleris configured to communicate with the inter-domain controller for receiving information with respect to a path between the first and second subnets from the first network node to the third or a fourth network node within the second subnet.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the gateway communication controller is configured to register the first network node with the inter-domain controller.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the gateway communication controller is configured to provide the inter-domain controller with information of other connected gateway communication controllers of the second or a third subnet.

8-10. (canceled)

11. A method for managing inter-domain communications within a software-defined production network system, the software-defined production network system including first and second subnets, each of the first and second subnets being associated with one domain and including a plurality of network nodes, the method comprising: controlling, in a first subnet internal communication of a first network node with a second network node by communicating with an intra-domain control unit assigned to the first subnet, and controlling external communication of the first network node with a third network node of the second subnet by communicating with an inter-domain control unit adapted to control resources in the software-defined production network system, wherein communications are controlled based on quality of service requirements of the first network node and are controlled using the internal communication and the external communication to provide a path within the software-defined production network system in order to provide the quality of service requirements of the first network node.

12. (canceled)

13. The device according to claim 2, further comprising a transformation unit for transforming a communication language used by the internal communication controller into a communication language used by the gateway communication controller and vice versa.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the internal communication controller is configured to register the first network node with the intra-domain controller of the first subnet.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the gateway communication controller.is configured to communicate with the inter-domain controller for receiving information with respect to a path between the first and second subnets from the first network node to the third or a fourth network node within the second subnet.

16. A software-defined production network system comprising: a plurality of subnets, each subnet being associated with one domain and including an intra-domain controller and a plurality of network nodes, each network node comprising a device, and an inter-domain controller for managing communication between the plurality of subnets by communicating with the devices, wherein each device comprises (1) an internal communication controller for controlling communication of a first one of the network nodes in a first subnet of the subnets with a second one of the network nodes in the first subnet of by communicating with an intra-domain controller assigned to the first subnet, and (2) a gateway communication controller for controlling communication of the first network node with a third one of the network nodes of a second subnet of the subnets by communicating with the inter-domain controller, which is configured to control resources in the software-defined production network system, wherein the internal communication controller and the gateway communication controller are configured to control the communications based on quality of service requirements of the first network node and are adapted to interact to provide a path within the software-defined production network system in order to provide the quality of service requirements of the first network node.

17. The software-defined production network system according to claim 16, wherein the inter-domain controller is configured to communicate with the gateway communication controllers of other ones of the devices.

18. The software-defined production network system according to claim 17, wherein the inter-domain controller is configured to receive information with respect to resources and/or network topology of each of the network nodes.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] Further embodiments, features and advantages will become apparent from the subsequent description and dependent claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a device for managing inter-domain communications of a network node;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a schematic overview of an example software-defined production network system including the device of FIG. 1; and

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a sequence of one embodiment of method acts of a method for managing inter-domain communications of a network node.

[0055] In the Figures, like reference numerals designate like or functionally equivalent elements, unless otherwise indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] FIG. 1 shows a subnet 1 of a software-defined production network system 100, which will be described later with reference to FIG. 2.

[0057] The subnet 1 includes at least one network node 20 which may be a router or switch 22 (shown in FIG. 2) or a lower-level device 21 or a higher-level device including a plurality of lower-level devices 21. The network node 20 is assigned to a device 10 for managing inter-domain communications of the network node 20. The device 10 may be integrated into the network node 20.

[0058] The device 10 includes an internal communication control unit or controller 11 for controlling communication of the network node 20 with another network node 20 in the same subnet 1.

[0059] The device 10 further includes a gateway communication control unit or controller 12 for controlling communication of the network node 20 with a network node 20 of another subnet 1.

[0060] In addition, the device 10 includes a transformation unit or controller 13 for transforming a communication language used by the internal communication control unit 11 into a communication language used by the gateway communication control unit 12 and vice versa.

[0061] The internal communication control unit 11 and the gateway communication control unit 12 may be called internal SEP agent and external SEP agent, respectively.

[0062] Such a network node 20 or device 10 running both an internal SEP agent 11 and an external SEP agent 12 has to be physically connected to two domains (i.e., to two subnets 1), as shown in FIG. 2.

[0063] In FIG. 2, two subnets 1, 3 are shown as an example. The other subnets within the network system 100 are only represented via the gateway communication control units 12. The structure of the subnets 1, 3 is identical. Each includes one network node 20 including a device 10 illustrated by an internal communication control unit 11 and a gateway communication control unit 12. Further, the subnets 1, 3 include a plurality of network nodes 20, for example lower-level devices 21 which have only an internal communication control unit 11 or higher-level devices including a plurality of lower-level devices 21. As can be seen, the network nodes 21 and 20 within the subnets 1, 3 communicate via their internal communication control units 11. For the communication within one subnet 1, 3, an internal control unit or slice manager (controller) 30 is provided.

[0064] If one network node 20, 21 wants or needs to communicate with a network node 20, 21 of another subnet 1, 3, this communication is carried out via one or more network nodes 20 including an internal communication control unit 11 and a gateway communication control unit 12. In the example of FIG. 2, the network node 20 being able to control communication outside the subnet 1, 3 is a router or switch 22.

[0065] The gateway communication control unit 12 communicates with an inter-domain control unit 2 or inter-domain slice manager (controller) 2.

[0066] The inter-domain slice manager 2 may query the registries of each local (or internal) slice manager 30 when receiving a slice request to communicate between a network node 20, 21 in subnet 1 to a network node 20, 21 in subnet 3. Once the node ID is located and its coordinating internal slice manager 30 as well, the slice request may be forwarded to the internal slice manager 30 only mentioning the gateway SEP 12 and the internal node ID plus the type of resources requested in between the two. The route and resources allocated between two gateway SEPs 12 are managed and configured by the inter-domain slice manager 2.

[0067] If a CPPU hosting a slice manager 30 and several SEPs 20 interconnected to a CPPC, depending on the network size, the SEPs 20 may simply merge with the CPPU's slice manager, or may keep their internal slice manager 30, while selecting one node 20 to act as a gateway SEP, and the local slice manager 30 registers with the CPPC's slice manager which is then considered as level one intra-domain slice manager 2. Thus, the structure may be extended vertically as well as horizontally.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a method for managing inter-domain communications of a network node 20 as carried out by the device 10 of FIG. 1.

[0069] In a first act 301, internal communication of the network node 20 with a network node 20 in the same subnet 1, 3 are controlled by communicating with an intra-domain control unit 30 assigned to the same subnet 1, 3.

[0070] In a second act 302, external communication of the network node 20 with a network node 20 of another subnet 1, 3 is controlled by communicating with an inter-domain control unit 2 adapted to control resources in the software-defined production network system 100.

[0071] Although the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred embodiments, it is obvious for the person skilled in the art that modifications are possible in all embodiments.

[0072] It is to be understood that the elements and features recited in the appended claims may be combined in different ways to produce new claims that likewise fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, whereas the dependent claims appended below depend from only a single independent or dependent claim, it is to be understood that these dependent claims can, alternatively, be made to depend in the alternative from any preceding or following claim, whether independent or dependent, and that such new combinations are to be understood as forming a part of the present specification.

[0073] While the present invention has been described above by reference to various embodiments, it should be understood that many changes and modifications can be made to the described embodiments. It is therefore intended that the foregoing description be regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be understood that all equivalents and/or combinations of embodiments are intended to be included in this description.