Endpoint Node Site Detection via Route Tracing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Managing large corporate networks with numerous endpoint nodes and subnets is complex and time-consuming, especially for service providers, due to continuous changes in IP ranges, leading to costly and burdensome manual table updates and inefficient content delivery.

Innovation Solution

A method and device that categorize endpoint nodes into sites by tracing routes through routing nodes and comparing information to identify common routers, automatically creating IP ranges and facilitating efficient content delivery and network management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual tracking of IP ranges is performed for each subnet, then network management accuracy is maintained, but the complexity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIP range tracking accuracyVSAvoidnetwork management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically discovering and tracking IP ranges through route tracing operations. Instead of requiring manual intervention to maintain IP range tables, the network management system autonomously queries routing nodes, collects route information, and updates site categorizations without human input, thereby maintaining accuracy while reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the approach from static manual IP range tables to dynamic route-based categorization. By using route tracing parameters and comparing routing paths to endpoints, the system automatically adapts IP range assignments based on current network topology, eliminating the need for manual updates while maintaining precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If manual updates of IP range tables are performed continuously, then accurate site information is maintained, but the time and resources required increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesite information accuracyVSAvoidtable update time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary route tracing and site categorization actions proactively before services require this information. By continuously discovering endpoint sites and categorizing them in advance, the network management system ensures accurate IP range tables are ready when needed, eliminating the need for reactive manual updates and reducing time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention implements continuous automatic route tracing and site discovery operations that maintain up-to-date site information without interruption. This continuous useful action replaces periodic manual updates, ensuring information accuracy is maintained constantly without the time and resource overhead of manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Measurement precision

If route tracing is performed for all endpoint nodes, then accurate site categorization is achieved, but the network traffic and processing load increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesite categorization accuracyVSAvoidnetwork processing load
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by performing route tracing for a selected number of routing nodes closest to each endpoint rather than tracing the entire path to the core network. This partial tracing approach achieves sufficient site categorization accuracy while significantly reducing the network traffic and processing load compared to complete route tracing for all endpoints

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3170286B1Site detection in a communications network
Publication Date: 2017.12.27 HIVE STREAMING
  • EP3170286B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3170286B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3170286B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method and device of categorization of endpoint nodes into sites in a communications network. The invention further relates to a computer program performing the method according to the present invention, and a computer program product comprising computer readable medium having the computer programs embodied therein. A method of categorizing endpoint nodes into sites in a communications network is provided. The method comprises acquiring information pertaining to tracing of a route from each of a plurality of the endpoint nodes via a number of routing nodes in the communications network, which information identifies the routing nodes encountered in each traced route. The method further comprises performing a comparison, for each of the plurality of endpoint nodes with the remaining ones of the plurality of endpoint nodes, of the acquired information for a selected number of routing nodes closest to the endpoint node for each traced route. Moreover, the method comprises categorizing the endpoint nodes having at least one routing node in common among the selected number of routing nodes as belonging to a same site.