BGP Route Target Matching with Address Family Identifier
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing outbound route filtering (ORF) protocol in BGP updates leads to network bandwidth waste and reduced processing capabilities due to the transmission of redundant routes, as devices match routes solely based on route targets without considering address family identifiers.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution extends the ORF protocol by including route targets and address family identifiers in BGP update packets, allowing devices to precisely match and send only expected routes, thereby avoiding redundant route transmissions and improving processing capabilities and bandwidth utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If route matching is performed based only on route target, then route selection is simple, but redundant routes are transmitted causing bandwidth waste
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the matching parameters from only route target to a combination of route target and address family identifier. This parameter enhancement allows precise matching without increasing system complexity, eliminating redundant route transmissions and reducing bandwidth waste while maintaining simple matching logic.
2Reliability
If multiple routes are transmitted to ensure route availability, then route reliability is improved, but processing capabilities of devices are weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the address family identifier from the route information and uses it as a separate matching criterion. This extraction enables devices to filter routes more efficiently by matching both route target and address family identifier, ensuring reliable route delivery while reducing unnecessary processing of redundant routes.
3Loss of energy
If precise route matching is implemented using route target and address family identifier, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the address family identifier a universal matching criterion that works across different route types and BGP update scenarios. This multi-functional parameter enables precise matching for various route conditions without requiring separate protocols or complex conditional logic, maintaining protocol simplicity while achieving bandwidth efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication method and a communications device are provided. The communication method includes: a first device receives a first BGP update packet from a second device. The first BGP update packet includes a route target and a first address family identifier. The first device determines a first route associated with the route target and the first address family identifier. The first device sends the first route to the second device.