Adaptive Load Balancing Freeze Mode for Link Failure Rerouting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing load balancing schemes in computer networks are inefficient in rerouting around link failures, often exposing systems to routing blackholes due to their exploratory nature, which increases vulnerability to link failures.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a temporary 'freeze' mode in adaptive load balancing schemes that prevents further path exploration upon detecting blackholes, utilizing only a subset of validated routing options known to be reliable.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If adaptive load balancing schemes continuously explore all viable forwarding options to achieve ideal load balancing performance, then bandwidth utilization is improved, but exposure to link failures and routing blackholes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth utilizationVSAvoidexposure to link failures

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the load balancing behavior by introducing a freeze mode that temporarily disables path exploration when blackholes are detected. This dynamic switching between exploration and conservation modes allows the system to optimize bandwidth utilization during normal operation while protecting against link failures when problems are detected, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where blackhole detection triggers a response that freezes further path explorations. This feedback loop allows the system to adapt its behavior based on network conditions, stopping exploration when failures are detected and potentially resuming when conditions improve, thereby balancing bandwidth utilization with protection against link failures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If load balancing schemes attempt to explore new routing options, then adaptability to network conditions is improved, but vulnerability to routing blackholes increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to network conditionsVSAvoidvulnerability to routing blackholes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies preliminary anti-action by preemptively freezing path explorations when blackholes are detected, preventing further exposure to harmful routing conditions. This protective measure stops the system from actively seeking new paths that could lead to blackholes, thus reducing vulnerability while maintaining the ability to adapt when conditions are safe

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

3Reliability

If the system uses a subset of validated routing options during freeze mode, then reliability is improved, but bandwidth utilization may decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork performance reliabilityVSAvoidbandwidth utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

During freeze mode, the system applies partial action by using only a subset of validated routing options rather than all available paths. This partial utilization of routing options maintains sufficient network performance and reliability while avoiding the risks associated with exploring unvalidated paths, thus balancing reliability with acceptable bandwidth utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20260058907A1Loss mitigation via path choice freezing

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

In a computing network implementing an adaptive load balancing scheme, an indication of a link failure in the computing network is received. In response to receiving the indication, a temporary freeze mode is implemented that prevents the adaptive load balancing scheme from attempting further path exploration. A subset of routing options is used that is known to having been recently acknowledged to be valid.