Application Link Score for SD-WAN Path Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network path selection methods in enterprise WANs, especially in SD-WANs, face challenges in dynamically adapting to changing conditions and efficiently routing traffic to Internet-hosted applications, as they often rely on resource-intensive active monitoring and may be limited by visibility and data volume, particularly in complex and dynamic networks.
Innovation Solution
The method involves deriving an Application Link Score (ALS) based on performance metrics like latency, jitter, and monetary cost, using a combination of active and passive monitoring at hub and branch nodes, to dynamically select the best path for routing application traffic, with caching mechanisms to maintain performance history and adapt to network changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If active monitoring is used to monitor network path performance, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy increases and device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines active monitoring and passive monitoring into a unified monitoring system that leverages both approaches. Active monitoring provides precise baseline measurements while passive monitoring continuously tracks actual performance with minimal overhead, together resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and energy consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces performance metrics as an intermediary layer that translates raw monitoring data into actionable path selection criteria. This intermediary processing enables accurate path selection without requiring continuous high-resource active monitoring, thus reducing overall infrastructure load while maintaining measurement precision
2Use of energy by moving object
If passive monitoring is used to monitor network path performance, then use of energy is reduced, but measurement precision worsens and quantity of substance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary active monitoring to establish baseline performance characteristics of network paths before transitioning to passive monitoring. This preliminary action captures precise measurement data upfront, enabling subsequent passive monitoring to operate with lower resource consumption while maintaining adequate measurement accuracy through the established baselines
3Measurement precision
If monitoring is performed to track network traffic data, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential performance metrics needed for path selection (such as latency, bandwidth, and packet loss) from the full network traffic data stream. This selective extraction maintains measurement precision for critical parameters while reducing the overall complexity of the monitoring mechanism by ignoring irrelevant data
4Adaptability or versatility
If path selection mechanisms are made adaptable to changing network conditions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic path selection where the monitoring and selection criteria automatically adjust based on changing network conditions. The system transitions between active and passive monitoring modes, and adjusts path selection algorithms in real-time, providing adaptability without requiring complex manual reconfiguration
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments herein disclose methods for selecting one or more paths for routing application traffic based on application performance metrics for hosted applications. In an embodiment, to select the best path, the available paths can be monitored to understand the performance of specific applications through those paths. Subsequently, the performance data is used to derive an application link score (ALS) for any given combination of application and path. The ALS is then be used to determine the best path for a given application.