Centralized IP Routing Control via Packet Header Modification

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current IP routing systems, particularly in video production and large-scale networks, face inefficiencies in dynamically routing signals due to the need for extensive communication with multiple sources and destinations, leading to increased network traffic, cost, and complex management of routing parameters.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a Packet Header Modification (PHM) device that modifies address information in IP streams to reroute data based on external control commands, allowing for centralized control of IP routing by defining sources and destinations within the IP router, supporting both unicast and multicast streams.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If IP routing is controlled by communicating with every source and destination device, then routing flexibility is improved, but network traffic increases and system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized controller as an intermediary device that manages IP routing decisions. Instead of direct communication between control systems and numerous source/destination devices, the controller acts as a mediator that receives routing requests, determines optimal paths, and manages the routing table. This intermediary approach maintains routing flexibility while significantly reducing system complexity and network traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized controller performs multiple routing-related functions including path determination, routing table management, conflict avoidance, and transition timing control. By consolidating these diverse routing management tasks into a single universal controller, the system achieves adaptability without requiring complex distributed coordination among multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If IP routing is controlled by communicating with every source and destination device, then routing control accuracy is improved, but network traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol accuracyVSAvoidnetwork traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized controller serves as an intermediary that consolidates routing control communications. Instead of generating separate control messages to every source and destination device, the controller receives routing requests and manages all routing decisions centrally, dramatically reducing network traffic while maintaining precise control through the routing table and conflict avoidance mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple routing control functions and communications into a single centralized controller. By combining path determination, routing table management, and device coordination into one location, the system maintains accurate routing control while eliminating redundant network communications that would otherwise be sent to numerous individual devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If routing parameters are managed in distributed systems with multiple sources and destinations, then routing adaptability is improved, but management difficulty increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting adaptabilityVSAvoidmanagement difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized controller acts as an intermediary that simplifies routing parameter management. It maintains a routing table that tracks source-destination relationships and automatically manages adaptability decisions, reducing the operational burden on system administrators while maintaining flexible routing capabilities across diverse sources and destinations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller implements feedback mechanisms through the routing table that automatically track and manage routing states. This feedback system monitors routing decisions, detects conflicts, and adjusts paths accordingly, enabling adaptive routing management without requiring complex manual intervention or difficult-to-manage distributed coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If centralized control is implemented through PHM device modifying address information, then routing efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting efficiencyVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The PHM (Packet Header Modification) device serves as an intermediary that efficiently modifies address information in IP packets to implement routing decisions. By placing this specialized address modification function in a dedicated intermediary device rather than distributing it across multiple systems, the patent achieves high routing efficiency while concentrating the complexity in a single manageable component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10938718B2Devices, methods, and systems for centralized control of IP routing

Publication Date: 2021.03.02 OSTROM CARL D

AI summary

Devices, methods, and systems are described for the execution of centralized control of IP routing. The described methods may be used for video production systems. The methods may also be configured for other applications or in any IP routing environment to provide centralized routing control of any IP traffic.