Hierarchical FIB Traffic Mapping for Active-Path Load Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional networking technologies struggle to distinguish active paths from inactive paths within a network and determine traffic load distributions across those paths, limiting effective traffic management.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for identifying active paths and calculating traffic loads within a network's hierarchical Forwarding Information Base (FIB) to make informed trafficking decisions, including modules for identification, computation, and determination of load distributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional networking technologies are used, then network infrastructure is maintained, but the ability to distinguish active paths from inactive paths and determine traffic load distributions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the FIB into multiple hierarchical levels (e.g., aggregate routes at higher levels, specific routes at lower levels). Each level contains routes that are further divided into active and inactive paths. This segmentation enables precise tracking of traffic load distributions across different path types without requiring a complete flattening of all routing information in a single table, thus improving measurement precision while managing device complexity through structured organization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the traditional flat FIB structure by organizing routes across multiple levels with aggregate routes at upper levels and specific routes at lower levels. This dimensional transformation allows the system to determine traffic load distributions by analyzing relationships across hierarchical levels rather than examining a single flat table, thereby improving measurement capability without linearly increasing device complexity.
2Productivity
If hierarchical FIB routes are implemented, then routing efficiency is improved, but the complexity of determining traffic load distributions across multiple active paths increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary organization of routing information by maintaining hierarchical FIB structures where aggregate routes and specific routes are pre-organized across multiple levels. Active and inactive paths are identified and categorized in advance within this hierarchical framework. This preliminary structuring enables faster traffic load determination because the system doesn't need to analyze all possible paths from scratch, but can leverage the pre-established hierarchical relationships to efficiently calculate load distributions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces aggregate routes as intermediary elements between specific routes at different hierarchical levels. These aggregate routes serve as mediators that summarize traffic characteristics from multiple specific routes, allowing the system to determine traffic load distributions by analyzing the hierarchical relationships through these intermediaries rather than directly examining all individual path characteristics, thus reducing determination complexity.
3Reliability
If multiple active paths are used for traffic forwarding, then network redundancy and load balancing are improved, but the ability to monitor and manage traffic loads across these paths becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal hierarchical FIB structure that simultaneously serves multiple functions: it maintains routing information for multiple active paths, identifies inactive backup paths, and provides the framework for determining traffic load distributions. This multi-functional structure allows the same hierarchical organization to support redundancy, load balancing, and monitoring capabilities without requiring separate systems, thereby improving reliability while making traffic load detection more manageable through a unified approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes feedback mechanisms by continuously determining traffic load distributions across active paths based on the hierarchical FIB structure. The system monitors traffic loads on multiple active paths and uses this information to identify when load balancing adjustments are needed or when paths should be transitioned between active and inactive states. This feedback loop improves reliability by enabling dynamic path management while reducing monitoring difficulty through automated load distribution analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed method may include (1) identifying a route installed in a Forwarding Information Base (FIB) of a network device included in a network, (2) identifying a plurality of active paths that lead from the network device to a destination device of the route installed in the FIB, (3) determining a load distribution of the plurality of active paths by calculating a plurality of traffic loads that represent amounts of traffic that traverse from the network device to the destination device via the plurality of active paths, and (4) making a trafficking decision in connection with the plurality of active paths based at least in part on the load distribution of the plurality of active paths. Various other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also disclosed.