Client-Managed Tunnel Virtual Network for Inbound Traffic Engineering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for optimizing inbound data communications traffic over multiple Internet Service Provider (ISP) connections do not allow end-user clients to directly manage traffic distribution, relying on centralized entities for traffic shaping and requiring explicit server configurations.
Innovation Solution
A method where a client provides a traffic engineering specification to a server, allowing the client to configure and manage its own tunnel virtual network link across multiple ISP connections, with the server ensuring traffic is distributed according to the client's specifications, using a Client Identifier and ISP Identifiers for packet encapsulation, enabling stable connection management even with changing network addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If centralized entities manage traffic shapers through ISP network management workstations or explicit Server configurations, then traffic distribution can be controlled, but end-user clients cannot directly manage their own traffic engineering or provide specific instructions for inbound traffic distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables clients to self-configure traffic engineering by allowing them to directly provide traffic engineering specifications to the server. The client can independently manage its own inbound traffic distribution across multiple ISP connections without requiring centralized ISP network management workstation intervention or complex explicit server configurations, thus achieving self-service traffic engineering management
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that receives traffic engineering specifications from clients and uses these specifications to distribute inbound traffic. This intermediary mechanism allows clients to control traffic engineering while maintaining system coordination, resolving the contradiction between client autonomy and system complexity
2Adaptability or versatility
If tunnel virtual network links are configured over multiple ISP connections, then communication redundancy and flexibility are improved, but stable connection management becomes difficult when ISP connection addresses change
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by establishing a tunnel virtual network link configuration before ISP connection address changes occur. The client configures the tunnel virtual interface and provides traffic engineering specifications in advance, creating a stable framework that can accommodate future address changes without requiring reconfiguration, thus maintaining connection stability while preserving flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by allowing the tunnel virtual network link to adaptively use multiple ISP connections while maintaining a stable logical configuration. The system can dynamically route traffic through different ISP connections based on the traffic engineering specification, enabling the connection to remain stable at the logical level even as physical address configurations change
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing network traffic is described which includes receiving a traffic engineering specification at a Server from a Client, receiving a communication at the Server, a destination of the communication being the Client, and sending the communication from the Server to the Client via a tunnel virtual interface configured over one or more of Internet service provider (ISP) connections associated with the Client based on the traffic engineering specification, the tunnel virtual interface being a point of connection to a tunnel virtual network link.