Link Management Protocol Extension Fields for Network Information Distribution

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current routing protocols in optical communications networks, such as OSPF, have high overhead requirements and processing costs for distributing routing, topology, reachability, and recovery information across interfaces between nodes, making them inefficient for automated network provisioning and management.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a link management interface with extension fields in link management protocol messages to distribute routing, topology, and recovery information, reducing the need for full routing protocol messages and minimizing processing overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If full routing protocol messages (e.g., OSPF) are used to distribute routing, topology, reachability, and recovery information, then complete network information is obtained, but processing overhead and implementation costs increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork information completenessVSAvoidprocessing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the necessary information fields from full routing protocol messages and incorporates them into link management protocol messages. Specifically, it extracts routing, topology, reachability, and recovery information from OSPF-like protocols and integrates these fields directly into LMP messages, eliminating the need for separate routing protocol processing while maintaining essential network information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the link management protocol multi-functional by enabling it to carry not only traditional link management information but also routing, topology, reachability, and recovery information. This is achieved by defining extension fields within the LMP message structure that can convey multiple types of network information, allowing a single protocol to serve multiple purposes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If full routing protocols are implemented for automated network provisioning and management, then comprehensive routing control is achieved, but development and implementation costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated network provisioningVSAvoiddevelopment and implementation costs

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the functions of link management and routing control into a single integrated protocol. By combining link management protocol messages with routing, topology, reachability, and recovery information fields, it eliminates the need for separate routing protocol implementations, thereby reducing development and implementation costs while maintaining automated network provisioning capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of information

If routing protocol messages are exchanged across all interfaces, then complete topology information is distributed, but message overhead and processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetopology information distributionVSAvoidmessage overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the topology information distribution process by exchanging only relevant topology information across individual interfaces rather than flooding complete routing protocol messages throughout the entire network. This selective information exchange reduces message overhead while maintaining necessary topology awareness at each interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8432909B2Methods and systems for using a link management interface to distribute information in a communications network

Publication Date: 2013.04.30 CIENA CORP

AI summary

In various exemplary embodiments, the present invention provides a low-cost, low-processing overhead mechanism for distributing routing, topology, reachability, and recovery information across the interface between two nodes that may then be used by a network or client device to populate a topology database, route a connection, recover from a connection failure, etc. Specifically, the methods and systems of the present invention use a link management interface and the associated link management protocol(s) to distribute this routing, topology, reachability, and recovery information, adding it to the normal link management protocol(s).