Bidirectional LSP Association via PATH Message Objects
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for establishing associated bidirectional Label-Switched Paths (LSPs) in Packet Transport Networks (PTNs) are inefficient due to static binding processes at head and end nodes, leading to increased interactions between the control and forwarding planes and potential mismatches in network management.
Innovation Solution
A method where a head node sends a PATH message with an association object to an end node, and the end node responds with a corresponding reverse LSP message, associating the LSPs if attribute values match, simplifying the association process and reducing interactions between planes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If static binding is used at head and end nodes to associate reverse LSPs, then bidirectional LSP association can be achieved, but multiple interactions between control plane and forwarding plane occur, reducing establishment efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the association relationship between forward and reverse LSPs through carrying an association object in the PATH message from the head node. This allows the end node to directly identify and bind the reverse LSP without requiring multiple subsequent control-plane interventions, thus resolving the contradiction between achieving reliable bidirectional association and maintaining high establishment efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the association binding operation from the dynamic control-plane interaction process and embeds it into the static PATH message structure through the association object. This separation allows the binding relationship to be predetermined and transmitted along with path information, eliminating the need for multiple control-plane forwarding-plane interactions and improving establishment efficiency
2Reliability
If network management plane designates two LSPs to be bound, then bidirectional association can be established, but the process becomes complex and mismatches between two ends may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the end node to autonomously identify and bind the reverse LSP using the association object carried in the PATH message from the head node. This eliminates the need for complex network management plane designation processes and reduces the risk of mismatches, as each node independently performs the binding based on the embedded association information
Solution Approach 2:
The association object serves as an intermediary that carries binding information from the head node to the end node within the PATH message. This intermediary structure simplifies the management plane process by encoding the association relationship directly in the signaling message, allowing automatic binding without complex management-plane coordination and reducing mismatch risks
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure discloses a method and a system for establishing an associated bidirectional Label-Switched Path (LSP). The method includes the following steps: a head node sends a PATH message for establishing or updating an LSP to an end node, wherein the message carries an object for identifying association; the end node sends to the head node a PATH message for establishing or updating an LSP as a reverse LSP corresponding to the above LSP, wherein the message carries an object for identifying association; in the case that the attributes of the objects for identifying association carried in the PATH messages sent by the head node and the end node are the same, the LSP and the reverse LSP are associated with each other by the head node and the end node and become an associated bidirectional LSP. The method for establishing an associated bidirectional LSP in the disclosure can be applied to transition from a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network to a MPLS-Transport Profile (MPLS-TP) network and binding a reverse LSP with a unidirectional LSP.