Dynamic Protocol Priority Migration Between LSPs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current routing protocols in computer networks, such as Interior Gateway Protocol (IGP), require synchronized routing topology information across all routers within a domain, leading to inefficiencies in traffic engineering and path management, particularly when migrating data traffic between Label Switched Paths (LSPs) with different initial protocol priority values.
Innovation Solution
A centralized controller manages network devices to update protocol priority values for LSPs, allowing data traffic to be migrated from an LSP with a higher initial priority to another with a lower initial priority by sending configuration messages via Path Computation Element Protocol (PCEP), enabling routers to forward traffic based on new priority settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a higher initial protocol priority value is assigned to resource reservation LSP compared to segment routing LSP, then resource reservation LSP is preferred for traffic forwarding, but traffic cannot be migrated to segment routing LSP even when desired
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic protocol priority values that can be modified at any time through controller intervention. The priority values are no longer static but can be adjusted to enable traffic migration between LSPs of different protocol types. The controller sends messages to routers to update priority values, allowing the network to adapt traffic flow dynamically based on operational needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The core mechanism involves changing the protocol priority parameter from a fixed initial value to a modifiable value. The controller alters the priority parameter assigned to segment routing LSP (or resource reservation LSP) to reverse the preference relationship, enabling traffic to migrate to the previously lower-priority protocol type without requiring protocol changes or complex reconfiguration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If centralized controller modifies protocol priority values dynamically, then flexible traffic migration between LSPs is enabled, but additional control signaling and message passing is required
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it not only computes paths and establishes LSPs but also dynamically manages protocol priority values across the network. This multi-functionality consolidates control tasks, allowing the same control entity that sets up LSPs to also modify their priority characteristics, reducing the need for separate control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller proactively modifies protocol priority values before traffic migration is initiated. By pre-adjusting the priority parameters, the controller ensures that when traffic migration is desired, the path is already prepared and the priority relationship is correctly configured, eliminating the need for reactive adjustments during traffic flow changes.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are described for migrating data traffic, based on a new protocol priority value, from one Label Switched Path (LSP) assigned a higher initial protocol priority value to another LSP assigned a lower initial protocol priority value. For example, a network may initially establish a resource reservation LSP associated with a resource reservation protocol assigned a higher initial protocol priority value than a segment routing protocol used to establish a segment routed LSP. Rather than being unable to send data traffic on an established segment routed LSP because the segment routing protocol has a lower initial protocol priority than the resource reservation protocol, an ingress router may receive from a centralized controller a message specifying a new protocol priority value assigned to the segment routed LSP in response to which the ingress router may create or update its initial protocol priorities, and forward data traffic along the segment routed LSP.