Interconnected Ring Protection Bandwidth Utilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing MPLS ring protection schemes suffer from low bandwidth utilization rates, with actual utilization being only 50% for internal ring protection and 25% for end-to-end cross-ring services, due to the need for separate bandwidth allocation for work and protection rings.

Innovation Solution

The proposed method for interconnected ring protection does not require establishing an end-to-end protection tunnel for cross-ring services, allowing for the reservation of protection bandwidth and improving utilization by forwarding cross-ring services between intersection nodes without establishing a dedicated end-to-end tunnel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate bandwidth allocation for work and protection rings is implemented, then reliability of transmission is improved, but bandwidth utilization rate deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereliability of transmissionVSAvoidbandwidth utilization rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the protection functions of multiple rings by establishing a protection tunnel that spans across interconnected rings rather than requiring separate protection paths within each individual ring. This allows bandwidth resources to be shared and utilized more efficiently across the network while maintaining transmission reliability through the unified protection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The protection tunnel established in the patent serves multiple rings simultaneously, providing universal protection functionality across interconnected rings. Instead of dedicating separate protection bandwidth to each ring, a single protection tunnel can protect multiple service streams across multiple rings, thereby improving overall bandwidth utilization while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If end-to-end protection tunnel is established for cross-ring services, then protection of cross-ring services is improved, but bandwidth utilization rate deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection of cross-ring servicesVSAvoidbandwidth utilization rate
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the protection function from the traditional end-to-end protection tunnel approach and implements it through a more flexible mechanism that allows protection without requiring dedicated end-to-end tunnels. This extraction enables the separation of protection functionality from rigid tunnel structures, allowing for more efficient bandwidth utilization while maintaining service protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamic bandwidth allocation and protection switching mechanisms that allow the network to adaptively utilize bandwidth based on actual service requirements. Instead of statically allocating bandwidth for end-to-end protection tunnels, the system dynamically adjusts resource allocation, enabling higher bandwidth utilization while maintaining protection capabilities for cross-ring services.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3654664B1Method for interconnected ring protection, computer-readable storage medium and computer program product
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3654664B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3654664B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3654664B1 patent drawingFigure 5a

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method, an apparatus and a system for interconnected ring protection, relates to the communication field, realizes the protection of the interconnected ring network using a narrow bandwidth, and improves the bandwidth utilization rate. The method of the present invention comprises: a first intersection node in an intersection node group receiving an cross-ring service, the first intersection node determining an off-ring node of the cross-ring service on a second ring according to service information of the cross-ring service; and if the first intersection node does not communicate with the off-ring node of the cross-ring service on the second ring, and the first intersection node is not the last intersection node, the first intersection node forwarding the cross-ring service to a second intersection node.