Converged Forwarding Table Filtering for Faster Rail Lookups

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Solution Overview

Problem

In rail-optimized networks, using a converged forwarding table increases lookup times due to larger table sizes, and configuring separate private forwarding tables per port is inefficient and time-consuming.

Innovation Solution

Implement a converged forwarding table with filters applied per ingress port to mask egress ports belonging to different rails, reducing the search space and maintaining lookup efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a converged forwarding table is used for all ports, then configuration time and management control bandwidth are reduced, but lookup times increase due to larger table sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconfiguration efficiencyVSAvoidlookup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the forwarding table into multiple segments, each corresponding to a specific rail. Filters are applied to mask egress ports that do not belong to the same rail as the ingress port, effectively segmenting the search space. This allows the system to use a converged forwarding table structure while maintaining fast lookup times by only searching relevant segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Speed

If separate private forwarding tables are configured per port, then lookup times are reduced, but configuration time and management overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelookup timeVSAvoidconfiguration time

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the forwarding table functionality into a single converged forwarding table that serves all ports, eliminating the need to configure separate private forwarding tables for each port. This consolidation reduces configuration time and management overhead while maintaining efficient lookup performance through the application of rail-specific filters that limit the search space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of energy

If a converged forwarding table is used, then management control bandwidth is reduced, but the table size increases requiring more memory

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanagement control bandwidthVSAvoidforwarding table size

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the forwarding table search space using rail-based filters, the patent enables a converged forwarding table to be implemented without proportionally increasing the effective search space for each lookup. The filters mask irrelevant egress ports, ensuring that while the table contains all possible entries, each lookup operation only examines a subset corresponding to the appropriate rail, thus managing memory usage efficiently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12592879B2Converged forwarding table

Publication Date: 2026.03.31 MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES LTD(IL)

AI summary

A network device, system, and method are provided. In one example, a system is described that includes a plurality of communication nodes and a network device that interconnects and facilitates a transmission of packets between the plurality of communication nodes. The system may be configured such that the packets are transmitted between the plurality of communication nodes by applying a filter to a converged forwarding table.