Host Route Convergence via Sequence Value Ranking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current routing protocols in computer networks experience delays and bandwidth issues due to the time-consuming transmission and receipt of withdraw messages when a host moves between network devices, leading to potential packet loss during route convergence.
Innovation Solution
Assigning a sequence value to a host and using it in advertisements to rank network devices, allowing data transmission to the highest-ranked device without waiting for withdraw messages from the old device, thus facilitating faster route convergence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If current routing protocols wait for withdraw messages before updating routes, then routing accuracy is maintained, but route convergence time increases and network bandwidth is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having network devices proactively advertise route changes before withdraw messages are processed. When a host moves to a new network device, the new device immediately advertises the updated route information with a higher sequence value, allowing other devices to preemptively update their routing tables without waiting for the old device's withdraw message to propagate through the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses parameter changes by introducing sequence values that increment with each host movement event. Each advertisement includes an updated sequence value parameter, allowing receiving devices to compare sequence values and determine the most current route information. This parameter change mechanism enables rapid route convergence by providing a clear indicator of route freshness without requiring waiting for withdraw message completion.
2Reliability
If withdraw messages are transmitted to ensure accurate route updates, then routing reliability is maintained, but network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential routing update information from the traditional withdraw message mechanism and incorporates it directly into advertisement messages. Instead of relying on separate withdraw messages that consume additional bandwidth, the solution embeds route change information, host identifiers, and sequence values within regular advertisement transmissions, eliminating the need for dedicated withdraw message bandwidth allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the route update notification function with the existing advertisement message structure. By combining route convergence information, host movement data, and sequence value updates into a single advertisement message type, the solution eliminates the need for separate withdraw message transmissions, thereby reducing overall network bandwidth consumption while maintaining routing accuracy.
3Reliability
If network devices wait for withdraw messages before updating routes, then packet loss is minimized, but network productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by enabling network devices to update their routing tables in advance based on received advertisements with updated sequence values. Devices proactively prepare for route changes by validating sequence values and pre-calculating alternative paths, ensuring that when host movements occur, data transmission can immediately redirect to the new location without waiting for withdraw message confirmation, thus preventing packet loss while maintaining high throughput.
4Speed
If sequence values are used for immediate route updates, then route convergence speed increases, but message complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by designing the sequence value field to serve multiple functions simultaneously. The sequence value not only indicates route freshness for convergence speed but also acts as a validation mechanism for advertisement authenticity, a tie-breaker for equal-cost paths, and a trigger for routing table updates. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate fields or messages, thereby limiting the increase in message complexity while achieving fast convergence.
Data Source
AI summary
In an example embodiment, a method is provided that assigns a sequence value to a host. The host is identified by a host network layer address. After the assignment, the host network layer address and the sequence value are included in an advertisement for transmission. In another example embodiment, another method is provided. Here, a first sequence value associated with the host network layer address is received from a network device. In addition, a second sequence value associated with the same host network layer address is received from a different network device. The first sequence value is ranked relative to the second sequence value and data is transmitted to the network device based on the ranking.