System and method for creating virtual interfaces based on network characteristics
View Patent ↗A network-configuring system creates stable virtual interfaces for groups of neighboring network nodes. During operation, the system can obtain network-neighborhood information from one or more network neighbors. This network-neighborhood information includes duplex-neighborhood information that indicates at least a set of neighboring devices to the network neighbor, and a set of remote network nodes which are accessible via a respective neighbor. The system can use the network-neighborhood information to determine one or more groups of network neighbors with common network characteristics, such that a respective group includes one or more mutually-connected network peers. The system can then define a virtual interface for a respective group of stable network neighbors, such that the virtual interface's member nodes include the local network node and the respective group's mutually-connected network peers.
1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:
obtaining, by a local network node, network-neighborhood information from one or more network neighbors, wherein the network-neighborhood information includes duplex-neighborhood information that indicates at least a set of neighboring devices to the network neighbor, and a set of remote network nodes accessible via a respective neighbor;
determining, based on the network-neighborhood information, one or more groups of network neighbors with common network characteristics, wherein a respective group includes one or more mutually-connected network peers; and
defining, by the local network node based on the determining, a virtual interface for a respective group of stable network neighbors, wherein the virtual interface's member nodes include the local network node and the respective group's mutually-connected network peers.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein member network nodes of a respective virtual interface include multiple network neighbors which communicate with the local network node via a common physical or virtual interface of the local network node.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the multiple network neighbors include a stable set of network neighbors that communicate with the local network node via a persistent network connection over the common physical or virtual interface of the local network node.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the network-neighborhood information for a respective network node can include at least one of:
connectivity information for the respective network node;
whether the respective network node is a gateway to a remote network;
a pre-exiting configuration for the respective network node;
routing information;
link characteristics;
a pre-existing link characteristic;
historical connectivity information; or
predicted connectivity information.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein member network nodes of a respective virtual interface include a network neighbor which communicates with the local network node via physical interface or virtual interface for a personal area network (PAN).
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the physical or virtual interface for the PAN includes at least one of:
a Bluetooth interface;
a wireless optical communication interface;
a line-of-sight communication interface;
a wireless universal serial bus (USB) interface.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring network packets transmitted by one or more neighboring network nodes;
determining that a network neighbor has left a network neighborhood of the local network node;
determining a virtual interface associated with the determined network neighbor; and
removing the determined network neighbor from the determined virtual interface.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring network packets transmitted by one or more neighboring network nodes;
determining that a network neighbor has entered a network neighborhood of the local network node; and
creating a new virtual interface for the determined network neighbor.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving updated network-neighborhood information from one or more network neighbors;
determining, from the updated network-neighborhood information, that a network neighbor's network characteristics has changed; and
responsive to determining that the determined network neighbor's network characteristics are not compatible with that of a virtual interface to which the determined network neighbor belongs:
removing the network neighbor from the virtual interface; and
creating a new virtual interface for the determined network neighbor.
10. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
obtaining network-neighborhood information from one or more network neighbors, wherein the network-neighborhood information includes duplex-neighborhood information that indicates at least a set of neighboring devices to the network neighbor, and a set of remote network nodes accessible via a respective neighbor;
determining, based on the network-neighborhood information, one or more groups of network neighbors with common network characteristics, wherein a respective group includes one or more mutually-connected network peers; and
defining a virtual interface, based on the determining, for a respective group of stable network neighbors, wherein the virtual interface's member nodes include a local network node and the respective group's mutually-connected network peers.
11. The storage medium of claim 10 , wherein member network nodes of a respective virtual interface include multiple network neighbors which communicate with the local network node via a common physical or virtual interface of the local network node.
12. The storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the multiple network neighbors include a stable set of network neighbors that communicate with the local network node via a persistent network connection over the common physical or virtual interface of the local network node.
13. The storage medium of claim 11 , wherein the network-neighborhood information for a respective network node can include at least one of:
connectivity information for the respective network node;
whether the respective network node is a gateway to a remote network;
a pre-exiting configuration for the respective network node;
routing information;
link characteristics;
a pre-existing link characteristic;
historical connectivity information; or
predicted connectivity information.
14. The storage medium of claim 10 , wherein member network nodes of a respective virtual interface include a network neighbor which communicates with the local network node via physical interface or virtual interface for a personal area network (PAN).
15. The storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
monitoring network packets transmitted by one or more neighboring network nodes;
determining that a network neighbor has left a network neighborhood of the local network node;
determining a virtual interface associated with the determined network neighbor; and
removing the determined network neighbor from the determined virtual interface.
16. The storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
monitoring network packets transmitted by one or more neighboring network nodes;
determining that a network neighbor has entered a network neighborhood of the local network node; and
creating a new virtual interface for the determined network neighbor.
17. The storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving updated network-neighborhood information from one or more network neighbors;
determining, from the updated network-neighborhood information, that a network neighbor's network characteristics has changed; and
responsive to determining that the determined network neighbor's network characteristics are not compatible with that of a virtual interface to which the determined network neighbor belongs:
removing the network neighbor from the virtual interface; and
creating a new virtual interface for the determined network neighbor.
18. A computer system, comprising:
one or more processors;
a memory; and
a computer-readable medium coupled to the one or more processors storing instructions stored that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform a method comprising:
obtaining network-neighborhood information from one or more network neighbors, wherein the network-neighborhood information includes duplex-neighborhood information that indicates at least a set of neighboring devices to the network neighbor, and a set of remote network nodes accessible via a respective neighbor;
determining, based on the network-neighborhood information, one or more groups of network neighbors with common network characteristics, wherein a respective group includes one or more mutually-connected network peers; and
defining a virtual interface, based on the determining, for a respective group of stable network neighbors, wherein the virtual interface's member nodes include a local network node and the respective group's mutually-connected network peers.
19. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein member network nodes of a respective virtual interface include multiple network neighbors which communicate with the local network node via a common physical or virtual interface of the local network node.
20. The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the multiple network neighbors include a stable set of network neighbors that communicate with the local network node via a persistent network connection over the common physical or virtual interface of the local network node.
21. The computer system of claim 19 , wherein the network-neighborhood information for a respective network node can include at least one of:
connectivity information for the respective network node;
whether the respective network node is a gateway to a remote network;
a pre-exiting configuration for the respective network node;
routing information;
link characteristics;
a pre-existing link characteristic;
historical connectivity information; or
predicted connectivity information.
22. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein member network nodes of a respective virtual interface include a network neighbor which communicates with the local network node via physical interface or virtual interface for a personal area network (PAN).
23. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
monitoring network packets transmitted by one or more neighboring network nodes;
determining that a network neighbor has left a network neighborhood of the local network node;
determining a virtual interface associated with the determined network neighbor; and
removing the determined network neighbor from the determined virtual interface.
24. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
monitoring network packets transmitted by one or more neighboring network nodes;
determining that a network neighbor has entered a network neighborhood of the local network node; and
creating a new virtual interface for the determined network neighbor.
25. The computer system of claim 18 , wherein the method further comprises:
receiving updated network-neighborhood information from one or more network neighbors;
determining, from the updated network-neighborhood information, that a network neighbor's network characteristics has changed; and
responsive to determining that the determined network neighbor's network characteristics are not compatible with that of a virtual interface to which the determined network neighbor belongs:
removing the network neighbor from the virtual interface; and
creating a new virtual interface for the determined network neighbor.