Ribbon Communications has been granted a patent for methods and apparatus for migrating and changing network interface allocation in a Kubernetes system. The invention allows for the allocation of network interfaces and IP addresses to be changed from a failed Pod to a live Pod, improving system reliability. GlobalData’s report on Ribbon Communications gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Ribbon Communications, Network traffic analysis was a key innovation area identified from patents. Ribbon Communications's grant share as of September 2023 was 59%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Migrating network interfaces in a kubernetes system
A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11777790B2) describes a method and system for operating a Kubernetes system. The method involves establishing a first service within the Kubernetes system, which includes a first Pod and a second Pod. The first Pod is located on a first Kubernetes node, while the second Pod is located on a second Kubernetes node. The first service is initialized by allocating a first network interface to the first Pod, allowing it to communicate with entities within the Kubernetes system. This allocation is known to a first Kubelet managing the first Kubernetes node.
After the initialization of the first Pod, a second network interface is allocated for use by the first Pod. However, this allocation is unknown to the first Kubelet managing the first Kubernetes node. The second network interface serves as an external network interface. In the event of a failure of the first Pod, the allocation of the second network interface is changed from the first Pod to the second Pod. This change is facilitated by operating a first Interface Cleanup Service Pod, which deletes or de-allocates the second network interface from being allocated to the first Pod.
The method also includes operating the first Pod in an active mode of operation, where it provides services to entities and devices external to the Kubernetes system using the second network interface. The second Pod operates in a standby mode and monitors the operation of the first Pod for any indications of failure. Upon detecting a failure, the second Pod initiates a migration procedure to change the allocation of the second network interface from the first Pod to itself.
The migration procedure involves the second Pod communicating a request to delete or de-allocate the second network interface from the first Pod. After receiving confirmation that the second network interface has been deleted or de-allocated from the first Pod, the second Pod requests that the second network interface be allocated to itself. Once the second network interface is allocated to the second Pod, it switches from standby mode to active mode, providing services to external entities and devices using the second network interface.
The patent also describes a Kubernetes system that includes one or more processors controlling the system to perform the aforementioned method. Additionally, a non-transitory computer-readable medium is mentioned, which includes computer executable instructions that, when executed by the processors of a Kubernetes system, cause the system to perform the method described in the patent.
Overall, this patent presents a method and system for operating a Kubernetes system that allows for seamless allocation and reallocation of network interfaces between Pods in response to failures, ensuring uninterrupted service provision.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
