BIER Anycast Advertisement for Shared BFR-Prefix Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing BIER Anycast solution requires a one-to-one correspondence between Anycast BFR-IDs and BFR-Prefixes, leading to high IP prefix consumption and complex network deployment, especially in large-scale scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The method involves adding Anycast BFR-IDs corresponding to dual-homing BFER devices to the TLV field of advertisement protocol messages, allowing BFR-Prefixes to be advertised without a one-to-one correspondence, thereby reducing the need for dedicated IP prefixes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a one-to-one correspondence between Anycast BFR-IDs and BFR-Prefixes is maintained, then the BIER Anycast function can be implemented, but IP prefix resources are heavily consumed and network deployment becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveBIER Anycast function implementationVSAvoidIP prefix resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by allowing a single BFR-Prefix to serve multiple Anycast BFR-IDs simultaneously. Instead of requiring dedicated prefixes for each Anycast BFR-ID, the system enables one prefix to represent multiple Anycast BFR-IDs that share the same BFER devices, thereby reducing IP prefix consumption while maintaining the Anycast functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the relationship between BFR-Prefixes and Anycast BFR-IDs from a one-to-one mapping to a one-to-many mapping. Multiple Anycast BFR-IDs are combined and associated with a single BFR-Prefix, allowing the system to reduce the number of required IP prefixes while still supporting multiple Anycast groups.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a one-to-one correspondence between Anycast BFR-IDs and BFR-Prefixes is maintained, then the BIER Anycast function can be implemented, but network deployment complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveBIER Anycast function implementationVSAvoidnetwork deployment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces deployment complexity by making the BFR-Prefix universal for multiple Anycast BFR-IDs. Network operators no longer need to plan and allocate separate prefixes for each Anycast group, significantly simplifying the deployment process while maintaining full Anycast functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the strict one-to-one binding requirement between BFR-Prefixes and Anycast BFR-IDs. By removing this constraint, the system allows flexible association where one prefix can serve multiple Anycast BFR-IDs, thereby reducing deployment complexity and resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If dedicated IP prefixes are allocated for each Anycast BFR-ID, then Anycast routing can be established, but network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveAnycast routing establishmentVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes IP prefix resources more efficient by allowing each prefix to serve multiple Anycast BFR-IDs. This multi-functional use of prefixes reduces the total number of prefixes required in the network, thereby conserving network resources while maintaining proper Anycast routing establishment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the binding parameter from one-to-one to one-to-many between BFR-Prefixes and Anycast BFR-IDs. This parameter change allows the system to reduce IP prefix consumption while still establishing correct Anycast routing, as the routing protocol can handle the many-to-one relationship efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4716175A1Message advertisement method, apparatus, storage medium and electronic apparatus
Publication Date: 2026.03.25 ZTE CORP
  • EP4716175A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4716175A1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP4716175A1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Provided are a message advertisement method and apparatus, a storage medium, and an electronic device. The method comprises: adding an Anycast BFR-ID corresponding to dual-homing BFER devices to a TLV field of a first advertisement protocol message, so as to obtain a second advertisement protocol message, wherein the dual-homing BFER devices comprise a first BFER device and a second BFER device; the dual-homing BFER devices are configured to forward multicast traffic to a same receiving device; and the advertisement protocol message comprises a bit-forwarding router prefix (BFR-Prefix) of the first BFER device or the BFR-Prefix of the second BFER device; and advertising the second advertisement protocol message to other devices within a domain.