Border Router Packet Replication for Service Provider Link Selection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for selecting the best service provider in a network based on probe data are not accurate, as probes do not fully represent actual traffic flows, leading to potential performance issues when selecting primary links.

Innovation Solution

Replicating actual packets to gather performance metrics such as jitter and packet loss across multiple service provider networks, allowing for a more accurate selection of the best path for forwarding traffic by comparing characteristics of different service providers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If probes are used to represent actual traffic flows for link selection, then the complexity of flow representation is reduced, but the measurement precision of flow characteristics deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow representation complexityVSAvoidflow characteristic accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates duplicate copies of actual traffic packets instead of using simplified probes. The border router replicates packets from the flow and sends them through multiple service provider networks, ensuring the test traffic is an exact copy of the actual traffic rather than a simplified representation, thereby maintaining measurement precision while managing complexity through automated copying mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary packet replication and performance testing before actual traffic routing decisions are made. The border router proactively creates duplicates of packets and sends them through different service provider networks in advance, gathering performance metrics before committing to a primary link selection, thus improving measurement accuracy without compromising system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If actual packets are replicated and sent through multiple service provider networks, then the measurement precision of flow characteristics is improved, but the loss of time for packet transmission increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflow characteristic accuracyVSAvoidpacket transmission time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent sends duplicate packets through multiple service provider networks simultaneously rather than sequentially testing each provider. This parallel approach allows performance metrics from all providers to be gathered concurrently, reducing the total time required for measurement while maintaining high precision through multiple data points from actual packet flows

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent continuously monitors and compares performance metrics from multiple service provider networks in real-time as packets are transmitted. Rather than performing discrete batch tests, the system maintains continuous measurement of jitter, packet loss, and other characteristics, allowing for dynamic route selection that minimizes transmission time while preserving measurement accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Reliability

If duplicate packets are sent through multiple service provider networks, then the reliability of service provider selection is improved, but the quantity of network traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveservice provider selection accuracyVSAvoidnetwork traffic volume

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary duplicate packets for performance testing rather than replicating entire traffic flows. The border router selectively creates duplicates of representative packets from the flow and sends them through multiple service provider networks, isolating the testing function from the main traffic flow, thus improving selection reliability while minimizing additional traffic volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent discards the duplicate packets after they have served their purpose for performance measurement. Once the service provider networks have been tested and performance metrics gathered, the duplicate packets are discarded rather than forwarded to their final destinations, eliminating the need for complex packet management and recovery mechanisms while maintaining reliable service provider selection through accurate measurement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS9154403B2Identifying the best service provider link for performance routing

Publication Date: 2015.10.06 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a first packet included in a flow to be forwarded to a border router, and replicating the first packet to create a duplicate. The first packet is forwarded onto a first set of links, and the duplicate is forwarded onto a second set of links, to the border router. First information relating to the first packet and the first set of links, and second information relating to the duplicate and the second set of links, is obtained. The first information and the second information are used to determine whether to forward the flow on the first set of links. The first set of links is used to forward the flow if it is determined that the first set of links is to be used to forward the flow, otherwise the second set of links is used to forward the flow.