Distributed Dynamic Routing via Edge Device Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional packet routing in telecommunication networks is inefficient due to repeated routing decisions at each router, leading to slow fault detection and recovery at the L3 layer level, and results in complex routers with increased complexity and limited dynamics, especially in large networks with multiple quality classes.
Innovation Solution
Packets are routed in a distributed and dynamic manner through internal telecommunication networks using edge devices that connect to external networks, making a single routing decision at the L2 layer level, allowing direct transmission to a target edge device within the internal network, thereby bypassing multiple routers and enabling faster fault detection and recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If routing decisions are made at each router at L3 layer level, then routing functionality is achieved, but fault detection and recovery become slow and router complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing function from the forwarding function. Edge devices perform routing decisions only at the network edge, while core routers perform only L2 forwarding based on MAC addresses. This segmentation eliminates the need for complex routing tables and processing in core routers, reducing their complexity to simple bridge-like devices while enabling faster fault detection at the edge.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing function is extracted from core routers and concentrated at edge devices. Core routers are relieved of L3 routing responsibilities and operate purely at L2, becoming simpler forwarding devices. This extraction resolves the contradiction by removing the source of complexity from the majority of routers in the network.
2Productivity
If routing decisions are made at each router, then packets can be routed through the network, but the number of routing decisions increases leading to inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The routing process is segmented into a single routing decision at the edge device followed by rapid L2 forwarding through core routers. This eliminates the cumulative time of multiple L3 routing decisions, as only one routing lookup is performed at the edge while intermediate routers perform fast L2 forwarding based on source MAC address.
3Ease of operation
If routers maintain routing tables with destination address prefixes, then routing functionality is provided, but router complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Routing tables and destination address prefix matching logic are extracted from core routers and relocated to edge devices. Core routers maintain only simple MAC address forwarding tables, reducing their complexity significantly while preserving complete routing functionality through the network.
4Adaptability or versatility
If flow routing is implemented to manage different quality classes, then service differentiation is achieved, but router complexity increases due to maintaining status data for each flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments flow management responsibilities to edge devices, which classify packets and set appropriate MAC addresses in the frame header. Core routers perform simple L2 forwarding based on these MAC addresses without needing to maintain flow status data, achieving quality of service differentiation while keeping core router complexity low.
Data Source
AI summary
In the present invention, packets are routed in a distributed and dynamic manner via an internal packet-switched telecommunication network comprising edge devices. A data packet is received from an external telecommunication network to a source edge device, wherein there is determined the address of the next-hop corresponding to the destination address prefix of the received data packet. The address and network interface of the target edge device corresponding to the determined next hop are determined and there is generated a transmission packet addressed to the determined target edge device, the transmission packet comprising the received data packet and the determined address of the next hop and the determined network interface of the target edge device. The generated transmission packet is transmitted from the source edge device to the target edge device via one or more internal telecommunication networks at the data link layer level. The data packet is sent further via the network interface of the target edge device based on the next-hop address in question.