Cloudcasting Network Elements for Multi-Protocol Virtualization Interconnectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network virtualization technologies, such as VXLAN, NVGRE, and MPLS, are limited in their ability to seamlessly communicate across different virtual networks employing different virtualization protocols, hindering interconnectivity and scalability in cloud computing environments.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a cloudcasting network architecture that employs an encapsulation scheme adding outer, inner, and virtualization headers to data packets based on post messages, allowing communication between devices on different virtual networks using various virtualization protocols like VXLAN, NVGRE, and MPLS, through a unified cloudcasting network system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a unified communication mechanism is implemented across different virtualization protocols, then interconnectivity and scalability are improved, but device complexity and protocol compatibility requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cloudcasting network elements (CSPs) as intermediary devices that mediate communication between different virtualization protocols. These CSPs perform protocol translation and packet encapsulation/decapsulation, allowing VXLAN, NVGRE, MPLS, and other protocols to communicate without direct compatibility. The intermediary handles the complexity of protocol conversion, isolating the complexity from the end devices while enabling universal interconnectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of packet structure by introducing encapsulation layers. Original packets are wrapped with additional headers that contain protocol translation information, allowing the same physical infrastructure to carry multiple virtualization protocols. This parameter change enables a single communication path to adapt to different protocol requirements dynamically.
2Ease of manufacture
If protocol-specific communication is used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but communication between different virtual networks is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication function into two parts: simple protocol-specific packet generation at the source, and protocol translation at the cloudcasting network element. This segmentation allows end devices to maintain implementation simplicity while the network infrastructure handles the complexity of cross-protocol communication through dedicated CSPs that perform the actual translation.
Solution Approach 2:
Cloudcasting network elements serve as mediators that receive packets from simple protocol implementations and forward them to destination protocols. This intermediary approach preserves the simplicity of protocol implementation at endpoints while enabling versatile communication through the mediating CSPs that handle protocol conversion.
3Speed
If direct peer-to-peer communication is implemented, then communication speed is improved, but protocol compatibility across different virtual networks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cloudcasting network elements as intermediaries in the communication path. While this adds a middle layer, the CSPs are optimized to perform rapid packet encapsulation and decapsulation, minimizing processing delay. The intermediary enables protocol compatibility that would otherwise require complex peer-to-peer protocol matching, and the optimized processing maintains acceptable communication speeds.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing protocol translation rules and packet format mappings in the cloudcasting network elements. This preparation allows the CSPs to quickly translate protocols without complex real-time negotiations, maintaining communication speed while enabling protocol compatibility through pre-configured translation capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A network element (NE) configured as a local cloud switch point (CSP) comprises a memory configured to store remote virtual routing information in association with an identifier (ID) of a remote CSP in a mapping table, wherein the remote virtual routing information is associated with a remote virtual network associated with the remote CSP, and wherein the remote virtual routing information comprises a virtual extensible network (VXN) type identifier (ID), an address family ID (AFI), and a subsequent AFI (SAFI). The NE further comprises a processor coupled to the memory and configured to perform encapsulation on a data packet to generate a encapsulated data packet by adding an outer header to the data packet based on the AFI, adding a virtualization header to the data packet based on the VXN type ID, and adding an inner header to the data packet based on the SAFI. The NE further comprises a transmitter coupled to the processor and configured to transmit the encapsulated data packet to the remote CSP.