Intelligent Layer-2 Forwarding Switch
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Solution Overview
Problem
In layer-2 communication networks, unnecessary forwarding of traffic via designated ports to peer switches in a blocking state leads to bandwidth and resource wastage, congestion, and increased carbon footprint due to the Spanning Tree Protocol's (STP) flooding mechanism.
Innovation Solution
A switch dynamically constructs and sends notification messages to peer switches about blocking states, allowing them to suppress flooding and update forwarding tables, thereby preventing unnecessary traffic forwarding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If STP flooding mechanism forwards traffic via designated ports to peer switches, then traffic delivery is ensured, but bandwidth and resources are wasted due to unnecessary forwarding to blocked ports
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the local switch send a blocked port notification message to the peer switch before actually blocking the port. This allows the peer switch to proactively suppress flooding traffic to the blocked port, preventing unnecessary bandwidth consumption while ensuring reliable traffic delivery through intelligent forwarding control.
2Stability of the object's composition
If STP disables links to provide loop-free topology, then network stability is improved, but redundant links cannot be utilized for load balancing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by enabling intelligent forwarding control at the peer switch level. Each peer switch can independently suppress flooding traffic to its locally blocked port based on received notification messages, while still allowing other ports to forward traffic normally. This maintains loop-free topology stability while enabling load balancing across active links.
3Reliability
If STP reconstructs spanning tree upon link failure, then network resilience is improved, but convergence time increases due to re-computation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and storing alternative blocked ports in the forwarding table before actual link failures occur. When a link failure happens, the switch can immediately switch to pre-identified alternative ports without waiting for full spanning tree re-computation, significantly reducing convergence time while maintaining network resilience.
4Ease of operation
If manual enabling/disabling of backup links is required, then precise control is achieved, but operational complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by implementing automatic blocked port notification and suppression mechanisms. The switches autonomously exchange notification messages and adjust their forwarding behavior based on the blocking state of peer ports, eliminating the need for manual enabling/disabling of backup links while maintaining precise control over traffic flow.
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention provides a switch. The switch includes a port management module and a notification module. During operation, the port management module identifies a local port selected to be in a blocking state associated with a spanning tree. The notification module constructs a notification message associated with the blocking state.