BIER Packet Forwarding via VPN Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Bit Index Explicit Replication (BIER) technology is limited to provider networks, preventing sites in customer networks from communicating with each other, and results in network overload due to the need for the provider network to maintain a large quantity of packets, limiting its extensibility.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a packet transmission method that uses Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) to distinguish between customer networks, allowing BIER packets to be forwarded within VPNs across the provider network, thereby enabling communication between customer sites and reducing the network load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If BIER technology is deployed only in provider network, then provider network can forward packets, but customer network sites cannot communicate with each other and provider network becomes overloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network into customer networks and provider network by introducing VPN boundaries. BIER packets are segmented and forwarded independently within each VPN, allowing customer sites to communicate without overloading the provider network. The provider network acts as a transit backbone while customer networks maintain independent BIER domains.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces PE (Provider Edge) devices as intermediaries between customer networks and the provider network. These PE devices perform BIER packet encapsulation and decapsulation, acting as mediators that allow customer network communication while protecting the provider network from direct packet processing loads.
2Ease of operation
If BIER packets are transmitted across provider network without VPN segmentation, then customer sites can communicate, but provider network must maintain large quantity of packets causing overload
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments packet forwarding by introducing VPN identifiers that divide the provider network into multiple isolated forwarding domains. Each VPN's BIER packets are segmented and processed independently, allowing communication between customer sites while improving network efficiency through targeted, non-broadcast forwarding.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by enabling BIER forwarding only within specific VPN domains rather than globally across the entire provider network. Each PE device maintains forwarding state locally for its assigned VPNs, improving network efficiency by eliminating unnecessary packet processing in unrelated network segments.
3Reliability
If provider network maintains all BIER packets, then packet forwarding is possible, but network becomes overloaded and extensibility is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet forwarding function by introducing VPN boundaries that divide the provider network into multiple independent forwarding domains. Each VPN maintains its own BIER packet forwarding state, ensuring reliable delivery within the VPN while enabling network extensibility through independent VPN creation and management.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a VPN identifier dimension to BIER packet forwarding, transforming the flat provider network into a multi-layered structure. This dimensional change allows packets to be routed not only by destination but also by VPN membership, ensuring reliable forwarding while enabling extensive network expansion through additional VPNs.
Data Source
AI summary
This application provides a packet transmission method, a correspondence obtaining method, and an apparatus and a system that are related to the foregoing method. For the packet transmission method, a first PE receives a first BIER packet sent by a first CE, determines, based on the received first BIER packet, a first VPN to which the first CE belongs, and transmits the first BIER packet based on the first VPN.