Self Healing Networking Device Systems And Related Methods

Abstract

In one embodiment, a networking system can comprise a networking device comprising an operating system module and performance management modules. Other examples and related methods are described herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A networking system comprising:
 a networking device comprising:
 an operating system module; and 
 performance management modules controllable by the operating system module. 
   
     
     
         2 . The networking system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the performance management modules comprise at least one of:
 a channel hopping module configured to switch the networking device from a first channel to a second channel having less interference than the first channel; or 
 a channel bonding module configured to toggle the networking device between a single-channel communications mode via a single channel and a bonded channel communications mode via bonded channels; 
   and   the operating system module is configured to actuate at least one of the performance management modules to sustain a performance level of the networking device in response to:
 one or more triggering events from a performance review operation executed by the operating system module. 
   
     
     
         3 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the one or more triggering events comprise a periodic trigger enabled upon expiration of a periodic predetermined timeframe; and   the performance review operation is configured to actuate one or more of the performance management modules each time the periodic trigger is enabled.   
     
     
         4 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the operating system module is configured to:
 monitor one or more software applications or hardware elements of the networking device for the one or more triggering events. 
   
     
     
         5 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the one or more triggering events comprise:
 an extended idle time threshold trigger enabled when an idle time of the networking device exceeds a predetermined idle time value; 
   and   when the extended idle time threshold trigger is enabled:
 the channel hopping module is actuated to:
 determine the second channel out of available channels based on an interference level of the available channels; and 
 switch the networking device from the first channel to the second channel. 
 
   
     
     
         6 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the one or more triggering events comprise:
 a client poor signal strength trigger enabled when a signal strength for an active client falls below a predetermined client signal strength value; 
   and   when the client poor signal strength trigger is enabled:
 the channel bonding module is actuated to:
 toggle the networking device from:
 (a) one of the single-channel communications mode or the bonded channel communications mode, to 
 (b) a different one of the single-channel communications mode or the bonded channel communications mode. 
 
 
   
     
     
         7 . The networking system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 when the client poor signal strength trigger remains enabled after the networking device has been toggled by the channel bonding module:
 the channel hopping module is actuated to:
 determine the second channel out of available channels based on an interference level of the available channels; and 
 switch the networking device from the first channel to the second channel. 
 
   
     
     
         8 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the one or more triggering events comprise:
 a congested channel trigger enabled when the first channel experiences an interference level exceeding at least one of:
 a noise level threshold indicative of a low signal-to-noise ratio; or 
 a threshold number of network devices sharing the first channel; 
 
   and   when the congested channel trigger is enabled:
 at least one of the following is actuated:
 the channel bonding module to toggle the networking device from:
 (a) one of the single-channel communications mode or the bonded channel communications mode, to 
 (b) a different one of the single-channel communications mode or the bonded channel communications mode; 
 
 or 
 the channel hopping module to:
 determine the second channel out of available channels based on an interference level of the available channels; and 
 switch the networking device from the first channel to the second channel. 
 
 
   
     
     
         9 . The networking system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 when the congested channel trigger is enabled, and after the channel bonding module has been actuated:
 the channel hopping module is actuated if the congested channel trigger remains enabled. 
   
     
     
         10 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the performance management modules comprise:
 a PPPoE re-credential module; 
   the one or more triggering events comprise:
 an internet connection status trigger enabled when communication with the internet is unavailable for the networking device; 
   and   when the internet connection status trigger is enabled:
 the PPPoE re-credential module is actuated to re-register the networking device with a new set of credentials from a PPPoE server. 
   
     
     
         11 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the networking device comprises:
 a memory module comprising:
 the operating system module; and 
 a routing table of the networking device; 
 
   the performance management modules comprise:
 a routing table garbage collection module; 
   the one or more triggering events comprise:
 a routing table congestion trigger enabled when entries of the routing table exceed a capacity threshold of the routing table; 
   and   when the routing table congestion trigger enabled:
 the routing table garbage collection module is actuated to determine dispensable routing table entries in the routing table and to flag the dispensable routing table entries as overwriteable. 
   
     
     
         12 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the networking device comprises:
 a memory module comprising:
 the operating system module; and 
 a routing table of the networking device; 
 
   the performance management modules comprise:
 a routing table garbage collection module; and 
 a memory clearing module; 
   the one or more triggering events comprise:
 a memory full trigger enabled when the memory module of the networking device exceeds a capacity threshold of the memory module; 
   and   when the memory full trigger is enabled, at least one of the following is actuated:
 the routing table garbage collection module, to determine dispensable routing table entries in the routing table and to flag the dispensable routing table entries as overwriteable; or 
 the memory clearing module, to determine dispensable memory portions of the memory module and to flag the dispensable memory portions as overwriteable. 
   
     
     
         13 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the operating system module comprises a watchdog module configured to monitor a status of one or more software applications or hardware elements of the networking device.   
     
     
         14 . The networking system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the watchdog module is configured to actuate one or more of the performance management modules pursuant to at least one of:
 a status of one or more software applications or hardware elements of the networking device; 
 a setup operation of the networking system; 
 a boot-up operation of the networking device; 
 an expiration of a periodic predetermined timeframe; or 
 the one or more triggering events from the performance review operation. 
   
     
     
         15 . The networking system of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the watchdog module is configured to execute the performance review operation.   
     
     
         16 . The networking system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the operating system module is configured to continuously execute the performance review operation to iteratively scan for at least a portion of the one or more triggering events.   
     
     
         17 . The networking system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a remote management module coupled to and external to the networking device;   wherein the remote management module is configured to actuate one or more of the performance management modules of the networking device based on user input.   
     
     
         18 . A router comprising:
 an operating system module; and   performance management modules controllable by the operating system module.   
     
     
         19 . The router of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 a memory module comprising:
 the operating system module; and 
 a routing table of the router; 
   wherein:
 the performance management modules comprise at least one of:
 a channel hopping module configured to switch the router from a first channel to a second channel having less interference than the first channel; or 
 a channel bonding module configured to toggle the router between a single-channel communications mode via a single channel and a bonded channel communications mode via dual channels; 
 
 the operating system module is configured to actuate at least one of the performance management modules to sustain a performance level of the router in response to at least one of:
 a periodic trigger enabled upon expiration of a periodic predetermined timeframe; or 
 one or more triggering events from a performance review operation executed by the operating system module. 
 
 the operating system module is configured to iteratively scan for each of the one or more triggering events; 
 the performance management modules further comprise at least one of:
 a PPoE re-credential module; 
 a memory clearing module; or 
 a routing table garbage collection module; 
 
 the operating system module is further configured to:
 execute the performance review operation by ascertaining a status of one or more software applications or hardware elements of the router; and 
 actuate the at least one of the performance management modules in response to the one or more triggering events from the performance review operation; 
 
 the one or more triggering events comprise at least one of:
 an extended idle time threshold trigger enabled when an idle time of the router exceeds a predetermined idle time value; 
 a client poor signal strength trigger enabled when a signal strength for an active client falls below a predetermined client signal strength value; 
 a congested channel trigger enabled when the first channel experiences an interference level exceeding at least one of:
 a noise level threshold indicative of a low signal-to-noise ratio; or 
 a threshold number of network devices sharing the first channel; 
 
 an internet connection status trigger enabled when communication with the internet is unavailable for the router; 
 a memory full trigger enabled when the memory module of the router exceeds a capacity threshold of the memory module; or 
 a routing table congestion trigger enabled when entries of the routing table exceeds a capacity threshold of the routing table; 
 
 when the extended idle time threshold trigger is enabled:
 the channel hopping module is actuated to:
 determine the second channel out of available channels based on the interference level of the available channels; and 
 switch the router from the first channel to the second channel; 
 
 
 when the client poor signal strength trigger is enabled:
 the channel bonding module is actuated to:
 toggle the router from: 
  (a) one of the single-channel communications mode or the bonded channel communications mode, to 
  (b) a different one of the single-channel communications mode or the bonded channel communications mode; 
 
 and 
 when the client poor signal strength trigger remains enabled after the router has been toggled by the channel bonding module:
 the channel hopping module is actuated; 
 
 
 when the congested channel trigger is enabled:
 the channel bonding module is actuated, and then, if the congested channel trigger remains enabled, the channel hopping module is actuated; 
 
 when the internet connection status trigger is enabled:
 the PPPoE re-credential module is actuated to re-register the router with a new set of credentials from a PPPoE server; 
 
 when the routing table congestion trigger is enabled:
 the routing table garbage collection module is actuated to determine dispensable routing table entries in the routing table and to flag the dispensable routing table entries as overwriteable; 
 
 and 
 when the memory full trigger is enabled, at least one of the following is actuated:
 the routing table garbage collection module; or 
 the memory clearing module to determine dispensable memory portions of the memory module and to flag the dispensable memory portions as overwriteable. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . A method for providing a networking system, the method comprising:
 providing a networking device;   providing an operating system module for the networking device; and   providing performance management modules for the networking device and controllable by the operating system module.