Aggregate Port MAC Address Keep-Alive Mechanism

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In two-layer network equipment, aggregate ports do not have a valid keep-alive mechanism for MAC addresses, leading to false aging and increased bandwidth occupation due to message flooding when MAC addresses are erroneously deleted.

Innovation Solution

A device and method that involves a global aggregate port MAC address management module sending keep-alive messages to all subsystems within the MAC address aging period to prevent erroneous deletion of MAC addresses on aggregate ports, utilizing a MAC keep-alive message transceiver module and MAC table management module to synchronize and manage MAC addresses across subsystems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If MAC address keep-alive is performed based on physical port subsystem affiliation, then subsystem-specific MAC address management is simplified, but MAC addresses of aggregate ports are erroneously deleted due to false aging

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveMAC address management simplicityVSAvoidMAC address retention accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the keep-alive mechanism into two parts: physical port-level message reception and aggregate port-level MAC address management. Physical ports continue to receive keep-alive messages independently, while the aggregate port MAC address management module centrally coordinates keep-alive actions across all subsystems, preventing erroneous deletion while maintaining operational simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The aggregate port MAC address management module acts as an intermediary between physical ports and the MAC table management module. It receives keep-alive messages from any subsystem, validates them, and coordinates the keep-alive action across all subsystems, ensuring that MAC addresses are not erroneously deleted while maintaining the simplicity of subsystem-specific management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If MAC addresses are deleted after aging period without proper keep-alive verification, then hardware and software resources are released, but message flooding occurs increasing bandwidth occupation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource release efficiencyVSAvoidmessage flooding

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification of keep-alive messages at the aggregate port MAC address management module before allowing MAC address deletion. This preliminary action ensures that valid MAC addresses are protected from false aging, preventing the harmful effect of message flooding while still allowing resource release for truly inactive addresses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where keep-alive messages received at any physical port are communicated to the aggregate port MAC address management module, which then provides feedback to the MAC table management module to prevent deletion. This feedback loop ensures accurate MAC address retention decisions, balancing resource release with prevention of message flooding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Adaptability or versatility

If keep-alive messages are processed at each subsystem independently, then subsystem autonomy is maintained, but coordination failures lead to MAC address deletion inconsistencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesubsystem independenceVSAvoidMAC address table consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the keep-alive coordination function into a centralized aggregate port MAC address management module while maintaining subsystem independence for message reception and processing. This combination ensures that all subsystems work together consistently to maintain MAC address validity, achieving both subsystem autonomy and MAC address table consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The aggregate port MAC address management module provides a universal coordination mechanism that works across all subsystems regardless of which physical port receives the keep-alive message. This multi-functional approach maintains subsystem independence while ensuring consistent MAC address management across the entire system, achieving both adaptability and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2549690B1Media access control address keep-alive device and method for convergence port

Publication Date: 2019.10.02 ZTE CORP

Figure 1~2
Figure 3

AI summary

The disclosure provides a device and a method for keeping a Media Access Control (MAC) address of an aggregate port alive, and the method includes: a subsystem receiving a message within an MAC address aging period sends an MAC keep-alive message to a global aggregate port MAC address management module; and the global aggregate port MAC address management module sends the MAC keep-alive message received to all subsystems for keeping the MAC address alive. By means of the device and the method of the disclosure, an MAC address of an aggregate port can be kept alive within an MAC address aging period, flooding of destination messages on two-layer network equipment caused due to erroneous deletion of the MAC address of the aggregate port can be avoided effectively, and an occupation rate of network bandwidth can be saved effectively.