Logical Transport Resource Traffic Shaping for Carrier Ethernet
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Solution Overview
Problem
Carrier Ethernet technology faces unpredictable performance due to its asynchronous packet-oriented behavior, leading to traffic bursts and congestion, which hinders its adoption in transport networks despite offering efficiency improvements, as traditional solutions like port rate limiting or underbooking bandwidth are bandwidth inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of Logical Transport Resources (LTRs) with configurable shaping and queuing mechanisms allows for predictable performance by mapping services to LTRs, prioritizing traffic, and dynamically adjusting rates based on load and time periods, enabling efficient bandwidth allocation and usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If port rate limiting is performed to add determinism to Carrier Ethernet network, then predictable performance is improved, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the port traffic into multiple LTRs (Logical Transport Resources) with different service levels and priorities. Each LTR can be independently shaped and managed, allowing deterministic performance for critical services while maintaining efficient bandwidth utilization across the entire port by allowing bursts in lower-priority LTRs when capacity is available.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different quality characteristics to different portions of the traffic stream by assigning packets to different LTRs based on their service requirements. High-priority traffic receives deterministic guaranteed bandwidth, while lower-priority traffic can utilize available bandwidth with burst capability, optimizing overall bandwidth efficiency.
2Stability of the object's composition
If bandwidth is severely under-booked to prevent congestion from traffic bursts, then network stability is improved, but bandwidth efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the available bandwidth for each LTR is not fixed but adjusts based on current network conditions and traffic demands. The shaper dynamically controls the rate at which packets are transmitted from each LTR, allowing the system to maintain stability while efficiently utilizing available bandwidth without severe under-booking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms through OAM (Operations, Administration, and Maintenance) features that monitor network conditions and traffic patterns. This feedback enables the system to adjust bandwidth allocation and shaping parameters in real-time, maintaining network stability while optimizing bandwidth utilization based on actual demand rather than conservative static allocation.
3Productivity
If Carrier Ethernet technology is used to replace SONET/SDH in transport networks, then efficiency is improved, but deterministic performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments Ethernet traffic into multiple LTRs with different service characteristics, enabling deterministic performance for specific service classes while maintaining the overall efficiency of Carrier Ethernet. This segmentation allows the network to provide SONET/SDH-like deterministic guarantees for critical services without sacrificing the bandwidth efficiency of packet-switched Ethernet for other traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the Carrier Ethernet network multi-functional by enabling it to simultaneously provide deterministic guaranteed-service performance for time-sensitive applications and efficient best-effort packet switching for other traffic. The LTR framework allows a single network infrastructure to fulfill multiple transport requirements that traditionally required separate dedicated networks.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing data packets passing through an Ethernet node having multiple ingress ports and multiple egress ports, the ingress ports receiving the data packets from at least one service, and the egress ports configured with at least one Logical Transport Resource (LTR) configured as a predefined path between one of the egress ports and a destination in the Ethernet network. The method comprises mapping one or more of the services to each of the at least one LTR, shaping each of the at least one LTR to a configured rate, and transmitting data packets to the Ethernet network via the egress ports.