Aggregated BIER Virtual BFER Eliminating Duplicate Multicast Packets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In aggregated Bit Index Explicit Replication (BIER) networking systems, receiver devices often receive duplicate multicast data packets due to the sharing of subscribed receiver devices between aggregated BFER devices, leading to inefficient data packet forwarding.
Innovation Solution
An Information Handling System (IHS) is designed with a processing system and memory that implements an aggregated BIER networking engine, which receives requests from receiver devices, identifies virtual BFER devices, and forwards multicast data packets to each receiver device, preventing duplicate packet transmission by configuring aggregated BIER devices to operate as transit BFR devices while appearing as direct connections to receiver devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple BFER devices are aggregated using VLT protocol to provide redundant connections, then network reliability and load balancing are improved, but receiver devices receive duplicate multicast data packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual BFR device as an intermediary that mediates between the VLT BFER devices and receiver devices. This virtual BFR device receives multicast data packets from the BFIR and distributes them to the appropriate BFER devices, preventing direct duplicate transmissions while maintaining the redundancy benefits of VLT aggregation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the multicast forwarding function by separating the BFER aggregation layer from the receiver connection layer. The virtual BFR device creates a logical separation where BFER devices handle physical connectivity while the virtual BFR manages the multicast distribution logic, preventing duplication at the receiver level.
2Adaptability or versatility
If BFER devices share subscribed receiver devices between them, then resource utilization is improved, but duplicate packet transmission occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual BFR device serves as a mediator that manages the sharing relationships between BFER devices and receiver devices. It tracks which BFER devices are subscribed to which receiver devices and ensures that multicast data packets are forwarded only to the appropriate BFER devices, preventing duplication while maintaining flexible sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where BFER devices advertise their subscriptions to receiver devices to the virtual BFR device. This feedback loop allows the virtual BFR device to maintain accurate forwarding tables and prevent duplicate packets by knowing exactly which BFER devices need which receiver device connections.
3Device complexity
If BIER networking devices are aggregated to operate as a single logical device, then system complexity is reduced, but duplicate multicast data packet reception occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The virtual BFR device acts as a logical intermediary that bridges the physical BFER devices while maintaining a single logical view. It abstracts the complexity of multiple physical devices into a single virtual entity that manages multicast forwarding, reducing operational complexity while preventing packet duplication through intelligent packet distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
An aggregated BIER networking system includes first and second aggregated BFER devices that are each directly connected to first and second receiver devices. The first aggregated BFER device receives a request from the first receiver device for multicast data packets generated by a source device and transmits the request to a BFIR device. The first aggregated BFER device also receives an identification from the second aggregated BFER device of the second receiver device that has requested multicast data packets generated by the source device. The first aggregated BFER device advertises a virtual BFER device that appears to be directly connected to each of the first and second aggregated BFER devices, and each of the first and second receiver devices. The first aggregated BFER device then receives a multicast data packet identifying the virtual BFER device, and forwards the multicast data packet to each of the first and second receiver devices.