Bandwidth Registration for MP2MP Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies face challenges in efficiently managing bandwidth for multipoint-to-multipoint (MP2MP) services in provider networks, particularly in defining and enforcing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) due to ambiguity in bandwidth allocation and wastage of excess bandwidth.
Innovation Solution
The technique involves using registration protocols like GARP and MRP to advertise maximum bandwidth values for each port direction, ensuring that no port delivers more bandwidth than it can receive, and implementing a connectivity priority to manage bandwidth allocation and enforcement, thereby preventing wastage and ensuring SLA compliance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If maximum bandwidth values are advertised for each port direction in MP2MP services, then bandwidth allocation precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to registration protocol processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments bandwidth management into port-direction-specific registrations, where each port independently advertises its bandwidth capabilities. This allows precise tracking of bandwidth allocation per port while distributing the processing complexity across multiple port-level entities rather than requiring centralized complex processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary bandwidth registration and advertisement before actual data transmission begins. By pre-advertising maximum bandwidth values for each port direction using registration protocols, the system establishes bandwidth allocations in advance, avoiding the need for complex real-time negotiation during data flow.
2Device complexity
If bandwidth is allocated without considering actual port reception capabilities, then device complexity is reduced, but bandwidth wastage increases due to excess transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where each port advertises its maximum bandwidth reception capability through registration protocols, and this information is propagated throughout the network. This feedback loop ensures that bandwidth allocation decisions are based on actual port capabilities, preventing excessive bandwidth allocation and transmission wastage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts bandwidth allocation parameters based on advertised port capabilities. By changing the bandwidth parameter from a fixed or estimated value to a dynamically advertised value reflecting actual port reception capability, the system optimizes bandwidth utilization and reduces wastage.
3Reliability
If Service Level Agreements are strictly enforced with precise bandwidth limits, then reliability is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to complex configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables self-service bandwidth management where network devices automatically advertise their capabilities and enforce SLAs without requiring manual configuration. The registration protocols allow devices to autonomously register their bandwidth parameters, and the system automatically enforces allocations, eliminating complex manual setup while maintaining reliable SLA compliance.
4Ease of operation
If excess bandwidth is transmitted without policing, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of substance increases due to unnecessary bandwidth consumption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary bandwidth policing by rate limiters based on pre-advertised maximum bandwidth values. Before excess bandwidth can be transmitted and wasted, the system has already established rate limits at each port based on advertised capabilities, automatically preventing unnecessary bandwidth consumption without requiring complex operational intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique efficiently manages bandwidth (BW) for multipoint-to-multipoint (MP2MP) services in a provider network of a computer network. According to the novel technique, each bridge having a user-network interface (UNI) port of an MP2MP service generates a registration for the service that carries maximum BW values for each port direction (e.g., for each {service, priority, color} triple), e.g., as defined by a Service Level Agreement (SLA). The registrations are advertised among neighboring bridges throughout the network toward other UNI ports of the MP2MP service. As each bridge receives registrations from each neighboring bridge (or from the UNI port), the bridge advertises registered BW values pertaining to a particular direction on a particular one of its ports that correspond to the sum of the BW values for that direction received on all of the other ports of the bridge, up to a maximum BW value (e.g., configured or physical) for the particular port. The actual BW required for allocation on an active port for each direction is the lower of either the registered value advertised from the port in a particular direction or the registered value received at the port in the opposite direction.