Metric-Based Multi-Hop Routing for SLA-Aware Path Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Routers in computer networks lack a global view of the performance of multi-hop paths based on granular performance metrics, leading to suboptimal path selection that may not meet Service Level Agreements (SLAs) despite individual links complying with requirements.
Innovation Solution
Routers receive and analyze network performance metrics for each link of a multi-hop path, determining end-to-end performance and selecting paths that meet SLAs, enabling service-specific path switchover or failover without affecting other services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If routers perform local independent path selection based on individual link metrics, then routing decisions can be made autonomously at each router, but the overall multi-hop path performance cannot be optimized because routers lack global path view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where end-to-end path performance metrics are collected from destination to source and fed back to source routers. This enables source routers to make informed path selection decisions based on actual multi-hop path performance rather than just local link metrics, resolving the information asymmetry problem.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (path computation element or controller) that aggregates link metrics from multiple routers and computes end-to-end path performance. This intermediary translates distributed local metrics into centralized global path information, enabling optimized path selection without requiring direct peer-to-peer communication between all routers.
2Device complexity
If routers use shortest path first algorithms based on local link metrics, then routing complexity at each router is reduced, but the selected paths may not meet Service Level Agreements due to cumulative performance degradation across multiple hops
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing decision-making process into two parts: (1) local routers continue to use simple SPF algorithms for next-hop selection based on local link metrics, maintaining low routing complexity; and (2) source routers perform end-to-end path computation using aggregated metrics to ensure SLA compliance. This segmentation allows simple local decisions to be coordinated with global path objectives.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters used for path selection from purely local link metrics to composite end-to-end path metrics that aggregate performance across all hops. By transforming individual link parameters (bandwidth, latency, jitter) into cumulative path parameters, the system can evaluate overall path quality while routers maintain their existing SPF-based forwarding logic.
3Measurement precision
If detailed granular metrics are collected for each link in a multi-hop path, then end-to-end path performance can be accurately assessed, but the amount of network traffic and processing required increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the collection of granular link metrics into a unified end-to-end path measurement process. Instead of each router independently measuring and reporting all link metrics, the system combines local link measurements along a path into aggregate path performance metrics, reducing redundant data collection and processing while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts only the essential path performance parameters needed for routing decisions from the complete set of available link metrics. By selecting and measuring only the critical parameters (such as cumulative latency, minimum bandwidth, maximum jitter) rather than all possible link attributes, the system achieves accurate path assessment with minimal measurement and reporting overhead.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques are described for a router providing metric-based multi-hop path selection. For example, a first router of a plurality of routers receives a plurality of network performance metrics for a plurality of links interconnecting the plurality of routers. The plurality of links form a plurality of multi-hop paths through the plurality of routers to a service instance. The router determines, based on the plurality of network performance metrics for the plurality of links, an end-to-end performance of each of the plurality of multi-hop paths. The router selects a multi-hop path over which to forward traffic associated with the session based on the end-to-end performance of each of the plurality of multi-hop paths and one or more performance requirements for a service associated between a session between a client device and the service instance. The router forwards the traffic to the service instance along the selected multi-hop path.