Collapsed Forwarding via Hierarchical Next-Hop Identification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In routing systems, network traffic often traverses internal switching fabrics multiple times due to inadequate next-hop information, leading to increased latency, resource consumption, and inefficiency, as data plane components may not support external interfaces necessary for reaching destination devices.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a mechanism where a first routing instance provides forwarding information that identifies a specific data plane component or interface as a next-hop for a destination, allowing a second routing instance to directly forward network traffic to that component via an interface associated with optimal routing metrics, reducing internal switching fabric traversals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If forwarding information does not identify specific data plane components or interfaces as next-hop, then routing flexibility and component support are maintained, but network traffic traverses internal switching fabrics multiple times causing increased latency and resource consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The forwarding information is segmented into multiple hierarchical levels: routing instance level, data plane component level, and interface level. This segmentation allows the system to provide specific next-hop information without overcomplicating the overall forwarding structure, enabling direct forwarding paths while maintaining modularity and flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional layer in the forwarding information hierarchy by adding data plane component identification between routing instance and interface levels. This additional dimension enables precise traffic steering through internal switching fabrics without requiring complete restructuring of existing forwarding mechanisms.
2Productivity
If forwarding information identifies specific data plane components as next-hop, then internal switching fabric traversals are reduced, but forwarding information complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing forwarding information that identifies specific data plane components and their associated interfaces as next-hop targets. This advance preparation enables direct forwarding decisions without requiring complex real-time computations, thereby improving routing efficiency while keeping the forwarding information structure manageable through hierarchical organization.
3Device complexity
If data plane components do not support external interfaces for reaching destination devices, then component design simplicity is maintained, but multiple internal switching fabric traversals are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces forwarding information as an intermediary mechanism that bridges the gap between data plane components lacking direct external interface support and destination devices. This intermediary forwarding information enables indirect but efficient routing paths through the internal switching fabric, reducing the number of traversals needed while maintaining component design simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A first routing instance may receive, from a second routing instance, forwarding information identifying a next-hop. The first routing instance may receive, via a component of the first routing instance, network traffic. The first routing instance may determine, based on the network traffic and the forwarding information, an interface to a component of the second routing instance. The first routing instance may provide, to the component of the second routing instance, the network traffic via the interface. The second routing instance may provide the network traffic to the next-hop.