MAC Address Distribution via Slice ID Correlation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wide area networks (WANs) experience traffic loss due to the deletion and re-learning of MAC addresses during updates, leading to gaps in communication and inefficiencies in MAC address management across geographically dispersed sites.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method where edge devices store MAC addresses in the same slices each time they are learned, avoiding the need for deletion before addition by using a slice ID correlation system that maintains consistent storage across remote edge devices, thus preventing traffic loss during MAC address updates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If MAC addresses are updated in conventional WANs by deleting and re-learning, then the MAC address database can be updated with new addresses, but traffic loss occurs during the deletion and re-learning gap
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-allocating slice resources and maintaining MAC address mappings before actual traffic needs arise. Edge devices proactively learn and store MAC addresses in designated slices, and the system pre-establishes the relationships between MAC addresses and slice IDs. This allows MAC address updates to occur without traffic interruption because the forwarding infrastructure is already in place and ready to handle new MAC addresses immediately when they are learned.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces slice ID as an intermediary between MAC addresses and forwarding resources. Instead of directly managing MAC addresses in a flat database, the system uses slice IDs as intermediate identifiers that organize and manage MAC addresses in structured slices. This intermediary layer allows MAC addresses to be updated, added, or removed within slices without affecting the overall forwarding database structure, enabling seamless MAC address updates without traffic loss.
2Ease of operation
If MAC addresses are stored without slice organization, then storage and retrieval are simpler, but traffic loss occurs during updates due to deletion and re-learning cycles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MAC address database into multiple slices, where each slice is a logical container that can independently manage a subset of MAC addresses. Each slice is assigned a unique slice ID and can be independently updated, added, or removed without affecting other slices. This segmentation allows the system to maintain simplicity in individual slice management while achieving reliability at the system level through modular, independent slice operations that prevent cascading failures during MAC address updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the organizational parameter of MAC address storage from a flat, unstructured database to a hierarchical structure with slice IDs as an additional organizing dimension. By introducing slice ID as a parameter, the system transforms MAC address management into a two-dimensional space (MAC address + slice ID), enabling more flexible and reliable updates. This parameter change allows the system to maintain ease of operation within each slice while achieving overall system reliability through structured organization.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional MAC address management is used, then implementation is straightforward, but inefficiencies occur due to repeated deletion and re-learning operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing slice structures and MAC address-to-slice mappings during system initialization or when slices are created. Edge devices proactively learn MAC addresses and assign them to appropriate slices before traffic demands require these mappings. This preliminary organization eliminates the need for repeated deletion and re-learning operations, as MAC addresses are already in their correct slice locations and can be directly used for forwarding decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by distributing slice information and MAC address mappings between peer edge devices through link state packets. Instead of each edge device independently managing all MAC addresses, the system creates copies of relevant slice and MAC address information across the network. This copying mechanism allows edge devices to efficiently share MAC address knowledge without requiring complex coordination or repeated learning cycles, improving overall management efficiency while maintaining implementation simplicity through standardized packet exchange.
Data Source
AI summary
According to an example, in a method for MAC address distribution by an apparatus, a MAC address is received in the apparatus, in which the apparatus includes a data store on which is stored a local slice set containing a plurality of slices, and in which each of the plurality of slices is assigned a respective slice identifier. An address value for the received MAC address may be determined and a correlation between the determined address value and one of the slice IDs of the plurality of slices may be identified. In addition, the received MAC address may be stored in the slice having the slice identifier identified as being correlated to the determined address value.