Forwarder Packet Reporting Control for SDN Stability

Solution Overview

Problem

In a control and forwarding decoupled architecture, the generation of excessive packet reporting messages leads to resource consumption and overload in the forwarder and controller, particularly during burst transmissions or high user switching scenarios, causing inefficiencies and stability issues.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a packet processing method where the forwarder acquires packet reporting control information, including a reporting control indication and control threshold, to manage and reduce packet reporting messages by stopping unnecessary reports based on maximum frequency, duration, or quantity of reporting, and buffering or discarding unreported packets until flow entry installation is completed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the forwarder sends a packet reporting message for each packet that cannot match any flow entry, then the controller can obtain accurate real-time packet information, but the control interface becomes overloaded and system stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket information accuracyVSAvoidsystem stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by selectively reporting packets based on matching criteria. Instead of reporting every unmatched packet, the forwarder only reports packets that meet specific conditions (e.g., first packet of a flow, packets with specific protocols), thereby reducing control interface load while maintaining sufficient monitoring accuracy for system stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring flow entries with reporting control information before packet arrival. The controller预先 sets up flow tables with parameters such as packet reporting thresholds, control thresholds, and matching rules, so that forwarders can make immediate decisions without real-time controller intervention, reducing control interface overload

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If the forwarder sends packet reporting messages for burst transmissions or simultaneous user switching, then complete packet flow information is obtained, but computing resources and signaling transmission resources are excessively consumed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket flow information completenessVSAvoidcomputing and signaling resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by implementing packet sampling and selective reporting during burst transmissions. Instead of reporting every packet, the forwarder reports only a subset based on pre-configured thresholds and matching rules, significantly reducing computing and signaling resource consumption while maintaining representative packet flow information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements periodic action by using time-based and count-based control thresholds. Packet reporting occurs periodically or after reaching predetermined intervals rather than continuously for every packet, reducing resource consumption during burst transmissions while maintaining adequate monitoring of packet flow patterns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

3Speed

If multiple concurrent packet reporting messages are sent simultaneously, then real-time packet processing is achieved, but the control interface enters an overload state and packet transmission fails

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket processing speedVSAvoidcontrol interface throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-configuring flow entries with reporting control information before packet arrival. The controller预先 sets up flow tables with parameters such as packet reporting thresholds, control thresholds, and matching rules, so that forwarders can make immediate decisions without real-time controller intervention, reducing control interface overload

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by selectively reporting packets based on matching criteria. Instead of reporting every unmatched packet, the forwarder only reports packets that meet specific conditions (e.g., first packet of a flow, packets with specific protocols), thereby reducing control interface load while maintaining sufficient monitoring accuracy for system stability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9800479B2Packet processing method, forwarder, packet processing device, and packet processing system

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a packet processing method, a forwarder, a packet processing device, and a packet processing system that are applicable to a control and forwarding decoupled architecture including a forwarder and a controller. The method includes: acquiring, by the forwarder, packet reporting control information including a reporting control indication and a control threshold; and stopping, by the forwarder according to the reporting control indication in a case in which a control parameter reaches or exceeds the control threshold, sending a packet reporting message related to one flow.