AS-Based Routing Reduces Table Size and CPU Load

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current routing protocols require large routing tables, consume excessive resources, and incur high decision times due to the need for frequent updates and parallel operation of multiple protocols, leading to inefficiencies in packet routing.

Innovation Solution

The method involves using Autonomous System (AS) numbers instead of network IDs for building BGP routing tables, allowing routers to determine the next hop based on AS numbers, reducing table size and resource usage, and eliminating the need for label replacement at each router.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If traditional routing protocols (BGP, MPLS) are used with detailed network IDs and labels, then routing accuracy and destination identification are improved, but routing table size and resource consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting accuracyVSAvoidrouting table size
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the routing table into two distinct parts: a global AS-level routing table that all routers share (containing only autonomous system numbers and next-hop information), and a local intra-AS routing table stored only at destination routers (containing detailed network ID to router mappings). This segmentation allows most routers to operate with minimal routing information while maintaining precise destination identification capability through the distributed local tables.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple routing protocols run in parallel (e.g., BGP and MPLS), then routing functionality and protocol compatibility are improved, but CPU resources and processing overhead are doubled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidCPU resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functionality of multiple routing protocols into a unified AS-number-based routing approach. Instead of running BGP and MPLS in parallel with separate routing tables and processing logic, the invention combines their essential functions into a single protocol that uses AS numbers for inter-AS routing while maintaining compatibility with existing IP addressing schemes, thereby halving the CPU resources required for routing operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Measurement precision

If detailed network routing information is maintained at all routers, then path determination accuracy is improved, but decision time and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepath determination accuracyVSAvoidrouting decision time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and distributing only the essential AS-level routing information to all routers in advance. The detailed path determination is then performed locally at the destination router using pre-stored local routing tables, eliminating the need for complex real-time computations at intermediate routers and significantly reducing routing decision time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If routing tables are updated frequently to reflect network changes, then routing information freshness is improved, but network bandwidth consumption and router processing increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting information freshnessVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making routing information updates local rather than global. When network changes occur, only the affected destination router updates its local routing table, and only the relevant AS-level information is propagated to neighboring routers. This localized update mechanism maintains routing information freshness while minimizing network bandwidth consumption and router processing overhead compared to traditional protocols that require full routing table synchronization across the entire network.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3447975B1Methods and apparatus for routing data packets in a network topology
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 TELIASONERA AB
  • EP3447975B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3447975B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3447975B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The embodiments herein relate to methods, a source host device (600), an edge router device (700) and a hop router device (800) for routing data packets in a network topology. A method includes sending (201) a request to a server for requesting an autonomous system number of an autonomous system to which a destination host belongs; receiving (202) a response including the autonomous system number; inserting (203) the received number between layer 2 and layer 3 of the data packet and sending (204) the data packet towards the autonomous system hosting the IP address of the destination host. When a router belonging to the autonomous system receives the packet, the number is removed and forwarded to the destination host.