Ethernet Ring Node Address Table Update Prevention

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing Ethernet ring network protection technologies face repeated updating issues in address tables during local protection switching scenarios, such as switchback after link failure restoration, link unidirectional failure, and manual switch protection switching requests, due to inconsistencies in node and port information within protocol frames.

Innovation Solution

An Ethernet ring network node encapsulates its own node information into the Ethernet ring network protection protocol frame, allowing it to match and verify the identity upon receiving the frame, thereby preventing unnecessary updates to the address table when the information matches.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a node updates the address table whenever receiving a protocol frame with different node number or blocked port index, then the address table can be kept up-to-date, but repeated unnecessary updates occur when the node receives its own sent frames

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress table accuracyVSAvoidswitching efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The node compares the source address in received protocol frames with its own address to detect self-sent frames. This feedback mechanism prevents the node from processing its own frames, thereby avoiding repeated unnecessary address table updates while maintaining accurate address information from other nodes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If protocol frames are broadcast to all nodes for protection switching coordination, then network reliability is improved, but unnecessary broadcasting increases when nodes repeatedly update address tables

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork protection reliabilityVSAvoidbroadcasting overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

By implementing address comparison feedback, the node identifies and filters out its own broadcast frames. This prevents redundant processing and re-broadcasting of the same protection switching information, reducing unnecessary broadcasting overhead while maintaining the reliability of protection switching coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If the node processes every received protocol frame to update address information, then address table freshness is maintained, but processing time and system resources are wasted on self-generated frames

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaddress information freshnessVSAvoidframe processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The node performs a preliminary check by comparing the source address of received protocol frames with its own address before proceeding with full frame processing. This preliminary action filters out self-generated frames early in the processing chain, saving time and resources while ensuring that frames from other nodes are still processed to maintain address information freshness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2469770B1Method and system for preventing repeated updating of address table in ethernet ring network protection
Publication Date: 2015.03.18 ZTE CORP
  • EP2469770B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2469770B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2469770B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses a method for preventing repeated updating of an address table in Ethernet ring network protection, including: an Ethernet ring network node sends an Ethernet ring network protection protocol frame and encapsulates its own node information into the Ethernet ring network protection protocol frame; an Ethernet ring network node receives the Ethernet ring network protection protocol frame and matches the node information encapsulated in the received Ethernet ring network protection protocol frame with its own node information; and when the matching is successful, the Ethernet ring network node does not update the address table. The present disclosure further discloses a system for preventing repeated updating of an address table in Ethernet ring network protection. In the system, a matching unit is used for matching the node information encapsulated in the received Ethernet ring network protection protocol frame with the node information of an Ethernet ring network node itself; and when the matching is successful, the Ethernet ring network node does not update the address table. Through the method and system of the disclosure, the problem of repeated updating of an address table in Ethernet ring network protection in the scenario of requesting local protection switching can be solved.