Application-Aware Virtual Topology Routing for WAN Path Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network devices in wide area networks are unaware of all possible paths between themselves and cannot determine the best-suited paths for specific applications, limiting efficient network traffic management.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an application-aware virtual topology (AAVT) routing table that includes all paths and path metrics, constructed by network controllers using BGP and route reflector agents, to enable network devices to select optimal paths for different applications based on latency, jitter, bandwidth, and utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network devices use traditional routing protocols to discover paths, then basic connectivity is established, but the devices cannot determine the best-suited paths for specific applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces route reflector agents and network controllers as intermediary components that collect, aggregate, and distribute comprehensive path information to network devices. These intermediaries enable devices to access application-specific path metrics without requiring direct peer-to-peer information exchange, thus resolving the information asymmetry while maintaining scalable architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network into hierarchical levels with route reflector agents at individual devices and network controllers at regional levels. This segmentation allows path information to be collected, processed, and distributed in manageable units, enabling comprehensive path awareness without overwhelming individual network devices with complete network-state information.
2Productivity
If network devices maintain simple routing tables, then device complexity is low, but traffic optimization for different applications is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic routing tables that can be customized per application type. Network devices maintain multiple routing tables or dynamic entry structures that adapt to different application requirements (e.g., low-latency for voice, high-bandwidth for video). This dynamic structure allows traffic optimization without requiring permanent complex configurations for all possible scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by maintaining different routing table characteristics for different applications or traffic types. Each application gets optimized path selection based on its specific requirements, with routing entries tailored to local quality-of-service needs rather than using a uniform routing approach for all traffic.
3Reliability
If all path information is distributed to network devices, then complete path awareness is achieved, but network overhead and processing burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by distributing only the necessary path information to each network device based on its specific routing needs and application requirements. Network controllers aggregate and filter path information, providing subset data to individual devices rather than complete network-state information, thus reducing processing overhead while maintaining sufficient path selection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for generating an application-aware virtual topology (AAVT) routing table for a network device among network devices connected via a wide area network is provided. The method is executed by a network controller connected to the network and includes: receiving, from the network devices, path information of the network devices; generating, using the path information, an underlay graph specifying a path topology of the network device; generating, based on the path topology specified in the underlay graph, the AAVT routing table for the network device where the AAVT routing table includes a set of paths; and transmitting, in response to generating the AAVT routing table, the AAVT routing table to the network device to cause the network device to program the set of paths.