Communication Gateway TTL Modification for Cross-VLAN Bonjour

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Solution Overview

Problem

Bonjour protocol generates excessive network traffic and is limited to a single subnet, preventing multicast data from crossing Virtual Local Area Networks (VLANs), leading to inconvenience in multi-VLAN networks and inefficient use of network resources.

Innovation Solution

A communication gateway that receives broadcast packets, modifies the Time to Live (TTL) value and other fields if necessary, and forwards them through an aggregated VPN connection, allowing Bonjour protocol data to span across VLANs while managing network resource consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If multicast data is blocked at network boundaries, then network traffic is reduced, but multicast data cannot be transmitted across VLANs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork trafficVSAvoidmulticast data transmission

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a communication gateway as an intermediary device between VLANs. The gateway receives broadcast packets from one VLAN, modifies their TTL values, and forwards them to other VLANs. This mediator approach allows multicast data to cross VLAN boundaries while maintaining control over traffic flow and preventing unnecessary network congestion.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If TTL value is modified to enable cross-VLAN transmission, then multicast data can span VLANs, but network resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulticast data transmissionVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the TTL (Time to Live) parameter of broadcast packets to enable cross-VLAN transmission. By incrementing the TTL value when packets traverse VLAN boundaries, the system extends the packet's lifetime and allows it to reach destination networks. This parameter change is applied selectively only when needed for cross-VLAN routing, balancing functionality with resource efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If Bonjour protocol is used for service discovery, then automatic device discovery is enabled, but excessive network traffic is generated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic device discoveryVSAvoidnetwork traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and forwards only the essential service discovery packets across VLAN boundaries while filtering out redundant traffic. The communication gateway selectively processes Bonjour protocol packets, taking out only those that need to be transmitted across VLANs, thereby maintaining automatic device discovery functionality while reducing overall network traffic volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS10050867B2Methods and systems for transmitting broadcast data

Publication Date: 2018.08.14 PISMO LABS TECH

AI summary

The present invention discloses methods and systems for transmitting broadcast data at a communication gateway. When the communication gateway receives a broadcast packet from a host or node, the communication gateway determines whether the broadcast packet satisfies at least one condition. If the broadcast packet satisfies the at least one condition, it is determined whether or not to modify a time to live (TTL) value. The TTL value of the broadcast packet is modified if it is determined to modify the TTL value. The broadcast packet is then forwarded to the destination address of the broadcast packet based on the TTL value. The destination address is reachable through an interconnected network.