Centralized L3VPN Route Controller for Simplified Network Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

The complexity of the BGP L3VPN technology leads to increased difficulty in deployment, maintenance, and reliability issues in LTE bearer networks, necessitating a simplified and easy-to-use L3VPN solution.

Innovation Solution

A method and device for layer 3 virtual private network route control that centralizes route control and management through an L3VPN route controller, eliminating the need for complex BGP protocol deployment by interacting with PE nodes via existing management interfaces and configuring VPNs on local and remote PE nodes to facilitate data packet forwarding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If BGP L3VPN technology is deployed to enable packet intercommunication between CE nodes, then network functionality is improved, but deployment and maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket intercommunication capabilityVSAvoiddeployment and maintenance complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a centralized control device as an intermediary that manages L3VPN routing information. This control device acts as a mediator between PE nodes and CE nodes, automatically generating and distributing routing tables to PE nodes based on CE node information. This intermediary approach eliminates the need for complex manual BGP configuration while maintaining full L3VPN functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between network capability and deployment complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by enabling PE nodes to automatically receive and apply routing tables from the centralized control device. The control device automatically discovers CE nodes, generates appropriate routing information, and pushes it to relevant PE nodes without manual intervention. This automated self-configuration process significantly reduces deployment and maintenance complexity while preserving complete L3VPN intercommunication capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If BGP protocol is used for route management in L3VPN, then routing control capability is improved, but reliability decreases due to complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting control capabilityVSAvoidnetwork reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized control device serves as a reliable intermediary that centralizes routing control functions. By consolidating route management in a single controlled entity rather than distributed BGP peering, the system improves reliability through centralized oversight and automated consistency management. The control device ensures all PE nodes receive accurate, synchronized routing information, eliminating the reliability issues associated with complex BGP protocol interactions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges multiple routing control functions into a single centralized control device. Instead of relying on multiple PE nodes running complex BGP protocol interactions, all routing control capabilities are combined in one place. This consolidation simplifies the system architecture, reduces failure points, and improves overall reliability while maintaining full routing control capability through automated route generation and distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Manufacturing precision

If manual BGP configuration is performed on each PE node, then routing precision is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting configuration precisionVSAvoiddeployment time
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized control device performs preliminary actions by automatically discovering CE nodes, generating routing tables, and pushing them to PE nodes before actual data transmission begins. This advance automation of the configuration process eliminates the need for manual BGP setup on each PE node, maintaining routing precision through automated generation while dramatically reducing deployment time. The system prepares all routing information in advance, ensuring accuracy without time-consuming manual configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device creates and distributes standardized routing table copies to multiple PE nodes automatically. Instead of manually configuring each PE node individually, the system generates a master routing table and automatically copies and pushes it to all relevant PE nodes. This copying approach ensures consistent, precise routing configuration across the network while reducing deployment time from hours of manual work to automated rapid distribution.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP2720415B1Routing control method, apparatus and system of layer 3 virtual private network
Publication Date: 2016.01.20 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2720415B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2720415B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2720415B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a layer 3 virtual private network system, method and a route controller. The route controller is an independent centralized route controller, and is configured to acquire VPN attribute information of a VPN created on a local PE node and a local CE node routing table entry belonging to the VPN, acquire VPN attribute information of a VPN created on a remote PE node, generate a remote CE node routing table entry according to the VPN attribute information of the local PE node and the local CE node routing table entry, and send the remote CE node routing table entry to the remote PE node, so that the remote PE node forwards a data packet that is from a remote CE node to a local CE node. In the implementation of the present invention, L3VPN route control and transfer are centralized in an L3VPN route controller, which simplifies route control and management of each PE node in an L3VPN, thereby greatly reducing costs of deployment and maintenance while providing an L3VPN route automatic control function.