Composite Connection Traffic Engineering via Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional connection transport technologies limit network operators' flexibility in traffic engineering due to their single path nature, making it difficult to optimize link capacity and provide performance or throughput guarantees, especially when additional tunnels and client layer functions are required.
Innovation Solution
A network architecture that utilizes a composite connection comprising multiple component connections, with a distribution table and processors to manage and reroute communications, allowing for flexible traffic engineering and fault tolerance by ensuring component communications follow the same path and using bypass connections for fault recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional single path connections are used, then network simplicity is maintained, but traffic engineering flexibility and link capacity optimization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments a single connection into multiple component connections that can be independently managed and configured. Each component connection represents a separate path through the network, allowing traffic engineering operations to selectively activate or deactivate specific paths based on network conditions, thereby providing flexibility without requiring complete redesign of the entire connection structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension to connection management by organizing multiple component connections in parallel, transforming the traditional single-dimension (single path) connection model into a multi-dimension (multiple paths) structure. This enables traffic engineering to operate across multiple dimensions simultaneously, optimizing link capacity utilization while maintaining manageable complexity through structured organization.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional tunnels and client layer functions are created to improve flexibility, then traffic engineering capability is enhanced, but network complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple component connections into a unified composite connection structure that is managed as a single entity. This consolidation allows traffic engineering operations to control multiple underlying paths through a single interface, enhancing engineering capability while avoiding the operational complexity that would arise from managing each tunnel and client layer function separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite connection structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides traffic engineering flexibility through selective path activation, maintains simple single-entity management, enables coordinated failover across component connections, and supports link capacity optimization. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized structures for each function.
3Productivity
If component connections are used for traffic engineering, then link capacity optimization is improved, but fault tolerance and resiliency become more difficult to ensure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares for potential failures by pre-configuring multiple component connections with defined activation conditions. When a fault is detected in one component connection, the system can immediately activate alternative paths without requiring complex real-time decision-making or reconfiguration, thereby maintaining reliability while allowing aggressive link capacity optimization during normal operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The composite connection structure dynamically adjusts which component connections are active based on real-time network conditions and fault status. This dynamic behavior allows the system to optimize link capacity utilization by activating only the necessary paths under normal conditions while automatically transitioning to fault-tolerant mode by activating backup paths when failures occur.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple component connections are activated, then traffic engineering flexibility is improved, but packet ordering and delivery guarantees become more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality requirements to different component connections based on their roles and the traffic they carry. Critical traffic that requires strict ordering guarantees is routed through component connections with enforced sequential processing, while less critical traffic can utilize multiple parallel paths with more relaxed ordering requirements, thereby maintaining delivery precision for important traffic while preserving overall system flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A network comprising a first layer processor (LP) configured to distribute a plurality of component communications to a plurality of component connections using a distribution table comprising a plurality of component communication identifiers (CCIDs) and the component connection associated with each CCID, a second LP configured to collect the packets from the component connections, and a composite connection coupled to the first LP and the second LP, wherein the composite connection comprises a plurality of the component connections and is configured to transport the component communications using the component connections, and wherein the distribution table and composite connection are configured such that component communications associated with at least the same CCID of a component communication takes the same path from the first LP to the second LP as from the second LP to the first LP.