IOAM Message Sampling for Network Bandwidth and Server Load

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing IOAM technology in data center networks faces issues of excessive network bandwidth occupation due to IOAM information being added to all messages, leading to reduced effective bandwidth and payload utilization, as well as server processing capability limitations during high-rate message output.

Innovation Solution

A message sampling method in the IOAM mechanism where an encapsulation node samples and encapsulates only target messages based on a pre-configured mode, reducing network load and server processing requirements by executing the IOAM function only on selected messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If IOAM function is executed on all messages, then network visualization capability is improved, but network bandwidth occupation increases and effective bandwidth decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork visualization capabilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth occupation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by executing the IOAM function only on sampled messages rather than all messages. The encapsulation node samples messages at a predetermined rate and applies IOAM encapsulation only to the sampled subset, thereby maintaining network visualization capability while significantly reducing bandwidth occupation and overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the message stream into sampled and non-sampled portions. The encapsulation node identifies and processes only the sampled messages with IOAM encapsulation, while leaving non-sampled messages to traverse the network without additional overhead, thus dividing the processing load and bandwidth consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If IOAM information is added to all messages, then network monitoring completeness is improved, but payload utilization rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork monitoring completenessVSAvoidpayload utilization rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by adding IOAM information only to sampled messages rather than all messages. This maintains sufficient monitoring capability for network analysis while preserving payload utilization rate by avoiding unnecessary overhead on the majority of non-sampled messages.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If IOAM function is executed on all messages, then network operation data acquisition is improved, but server processing capability requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork operation data acquisitionVSAvoidserver processing capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by processing only sampled messages through the IOAM function. The encapsulation node samples messages at a predetermined rate and applies IOAM encapsulation only to the sampled subset, significantly reducing the processing load on servers while maintaining network operation data acquisition capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the processing workload by separating sampled messages (requiring IOAM processing) from non-sampled messages (bypassing IOAM processing). This division reduces the overall processing complexity and server capability requirements while maintaining adequate monitoring coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If IOAM function is executed on all messages, then network fault detection capability is improved, but network load increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork fault detection capabilityVSAvoidnetwork load
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by executing the IOAM function only on sampled messages rather than all messages. This maintains network fault detection capability through statistical sampling while significantly reducing network load and overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3902204B1Message sampling method, decapsulation method, node, system and storage medium
Publication Date: 2025.09.10 ZTE CORP
  • EP3902204B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3902204B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3902204B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

Disclosed by the embodiments of the present application are a message sampling method in an in-situ operation administration and maintenance (IOAM) mechanism, a method for unpacking data on the basis of the message sampling method in the IOAM mechanism, a packaging node, an unpacking node, a message sampling system and a storage medium, the message sampling method comprising: receiving transmission data; and according to a configured sampling mode, carrying out an IOAM function on a target message matching a sampling mode in the transmission data.