Interface Selection for Device-Group Identifiers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing data-center architectures face challenges in balancing load across interfaces without unnecessarily disrupting traffic when interfaces fail or new interfaces are brought online, leading to unnecessary reassignment of device-group identifiers and increased traffic loss and computational expense.

Innovation Solution

A method where computer networking devices calculate hash values for device-group identifiers and available interfaces to select and assign primary and backup interfaces, minimizing the reassignment of device-group identifiers from functioning interfaces, even when interfaces fail or new interfaces become available.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If device-group identifiers are reassigned in response to interface failures or new interfaces coming online, then load balancing across interfaces is improved, but unnecessary traffic loss and computational expense increase due to moving connections from still-functioning interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload balancingVSAvoidcomputational expense

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the reassignment decision selective rather than uniform. When an interface fails or a new interface comes online, the system identifies only the specific device-group identifiers affected by the change and reassigns only those identifiers. This localized approach avoids the computational expense of globally reassigning all identifiers, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and energy loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If device-group identifiers are reassigned in response to interface failures or new interfaces coming online, then load balancing across interfaces is improved, but unnecessary traffic loss increases due to moving connections from still-functioning interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload balancingVSAvoidtraffic loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the reassignment decision selective rather than uniform. When an interface fails or a new interface comes online, the system identifies only the specific device-group identifiers affected by the change and reassigns only those identifiers. This localized approach avoids unnecessary traffic loss by leaving unaffected identifiers on their current functioning interfaces, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and traffic loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Productivity

If device-group identifiers are reassigned to balance load across interfaces, then interface utilization is improved, but system complexity increases due to managing reassignments and failures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface utilizationVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by limiting the scope of reassignment operations to only those device-group identifiers directly affected by interface changes. This selective approach maintains interface utilization while reducing system complexity by avoiding the need to track and manage reassignments for all identifiers, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If device-group identifiers are reassigned in response to interface failures, then system reliability is improved, but unnecessary disruptions increase to still-functioning interfaces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoidassignment stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by distinguishing between affected and unaffected device-group identifiers when an interface failure occurs. Only the identifiers that were assigned to the failed interface are reassigned to alternative interfaces, while identifiers on still-functioning interfaces remain unchanged. This selective reassignment maintains system reliability by ensuring failed interfaces are handled while preserving assignment stability for unaffected identifiers, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS12079187B2Selecting interfaces for device-group identifiers

Publication Date: 2024.09.03 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a computer networking device calculates a first hash value for an identifier of a group of computing devices, as well as a second hash value for the identifier of the group of computing devices, with each hash value being at least in part on the identifier of the group of computing devices and an identifier of the respective interface. The computer networking device may also analyze the first hash value with respect to the second hash value and select the first interface for association with the identifier of the group of computing devices based at in part on the analyzing. The computer networking device may further store an indication that the identifier of the group of computing devices is associated with the first interface.