Simple And Resource-Efficient Resilient Network Systems

Abstract

The invention is related to a method for resilient multi-paths connections between edge devices of a communication network. First are determined connection-specific traffic distribution functions for the multi-paths depending on a plausible failure pattern of active and inactive paths of the multi-path of this connection. Further is selected the traffic distribution function for a multi-path depending on the current failure pattern of active an inactive paths of the multi-path of this connection and is distributed the traffic of the connection onto the path of the corresponding multi-path pursuant to the selected traffic distribution function. An essential advantage of the invention is a significant decrease of network capacity for resilient multi-path connections. Another advantage of the invention is the short reaction time in case of an outage of one or more path of the multi-path connections.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is the US National Stage of International Application No. PCT / EP2004 / 052034, filed Sep. 03, 2004 and claims the benefit thereof. The International Application claims the benefits of European Patent application No. 03020840.9 filed Sep. 13, 2003 and European Patent application No. 03014809.2 filed Sep. 03, 2003, all of the applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The inventive method is related to multi-path connections between edge devices in a communication network. The method is preferred provided for MPLS (Multi-Protocol Label Switching) communication networks. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Carrier grade networks are expected to provide a high degree of availability although of in the networks elements can fail. This challenge arises, e.g., for virtual private networks or in the terrestrial radio access network of the universal mobile telecommunication sys...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012] According to the invention, a novel method for multi-path connections is provided for resilience of paths in communication networks. The method includes a calculation of connection-specific distribution functions for the multi-paths depending on path failure patterns of active an inactive paths of the multi-path of a specific connection. Furthermore, the selecting of the traffic distribution function is provided depending on the current path failure pattern and the distribution of the traffic pursuant to the selected traffic distribution function. An essential advantage of the invention is a significant decrease of network capacity for resilient multi-path connections. Another advantage of the invention is the short reaction time in case of an outage of one or more path of the multi-path connections.

[0013] Preferable, the calculation of the connection-specific distribution functions for the multi-paths further depends on the topology of the communication network, the routes of the paths of the multi-path through the communication network, and both the expected traffic between the edge devices and the available link capacities. Additional, parameters may be used for this calculation to take constraints for different technologies, networks, or characteristics of determined routes into account.

[0014] Pursuant further aspects of the invention, the paths of the multi-paths are logically or physically or link or node disjointed. Of particular importance are physically disjointed paths in multi-path connections because in case of a local outage of network elements the number of affected path is minimized. However, the computation of physically disjoint paths in multi-path connections depends on the topology of the network and can not always be achieved. Therefore, not all the paths of a mulit-paths may be disjoint.

Problems solved by technology

In the discussed networks, the backup capacity for resilience is not used effectively.

However, the computation of physically disjoint paths in multi-path connections depends on the topology of the network and can not always be achieved.

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