Dynamic Multipath Load Balancing With Remote Path Quality
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load balancing techniques in network devices do not consider the quality of remote links, leading to suboptimal path selection and congestion, which affects latency, throughput, and resource utilization, especially for AI/ML traffic.
Innovation Solution
Implement dynamic multipath load balancing by monitoring local and remote path quality across network devices, enabling optimal end-to-end path determination based on local and remote path quality information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing load balancing techniques are used that only consider local links, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but path quality is suboptimal and congestion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the path quality assessment into two distinct components: local path quality (monitored by each network device for directly connected links) and remote path quality (monitored by other network devices and shared via messages). This segmentation allows each device to maintain manageable complexity while collectively achieving comprehensive path quality awareness through division of monitoring responsibilities across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces path quality messages as intermediaries that carry remote path quality information between network devices. These messages enable devices to share monitoring data without requiring direct complex interactions, allowing each device to receive and process standardized quality information from neighbors, thereby improving overall path selection quality while maintaining individual device simplicity.
2Productivity
If dynamic multipath load balancing with remote link monitoring is implemented, then path quality and resource utilization are improved, but device complexity and measurement difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
Each network device monitors and assesses the quality of its own locally connected links independently, generating path quality messages that reflect its local conditions. This self-service approach eliminates the need for centralized monitoring or complex inter-device coordination, allowing devices to contribute their local measurements to the overall load balancing decision while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where path quality messages are continuously exchanged between network devices, providing real-time information about remote link conditions. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of load balancing decisions based on current network state, improving throughput and resource utilization while distributing the measurement burden across all participating devices rather than requiring complex centralized measurement.
3Quantity of substance
If load balancing distributes traffic across multiple links, then resource utilization is improved, but congestion and packet drops increase when remote link quality is not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the decision parameters for load balancing from simple local link metrics to composite path quality metrics that incorporate both local and remote link conditions. By using standardized path quality messages that encode remote link state information, devices can adjust traffic distribution based on end-to-end path quality rather than just local availability, optimizing resource utilization while avoiding congestion on poor-quality remote links.
Data Source
AI summary
In some implementations, a first network device may receive a first message generated by an originating network device that includes a route location identifier attribute associated with an address identifier. The first network device may determine, based on the route location identifier attribute, route information associated with the address identifier.