MPLS Hot Zone Clearing via LSP Rerouting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current MPLS networks face challenges in maintaining efficiency and scalability for network-wide engineering and management, particularly in handling traffic migration from voice to data traffic, where traditional methods fail to provide disruption-free reconfigurability and efficient resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for MPLS network tuning that includes a hot zone clearing subsystem to recursively identify and reroute LSPs, coupled with an LSP ordering subsystem to create a migration sequence that reduces load on hot zones without service disruption, using heuristics such as link count, bandwidth, and load distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If traditional MPLS TE methods are used to route individual LSPs, then routing flexibility is provided, but network-wide efficiency deteriorates due to fragmented capacity and inability to optimize end-to-end traffic distribution

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork-wide efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the network tuning process into multiple phases: flow design phase (optimizing LSP routes) and path migration phase (executing rerouting). It also segments the migration into discrete steps with dependency tracking, allowing systematic reconfiguration without disruption. This segmentation enables network-wide optimization while maintaining operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary flow design optimization before actual path migration. It calculates optimal LSP routes and prepares migration sequences in advance, determining the complete rerouting plan before execution. This preliminary action allows the system to optimize network-wide efficiency while having a predetermined disruption-free migration strategy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If network tuning is performed to optimize end-to-end traffic, then network utilization improves, but service disruption occurs during LSP reconfiguration

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork utilizationVSAvoidservice continuity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If LSP rerouting is executed to clear hot zones, then load distribution improves, but computational complexity increases due to scaling challenges

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload distributionVSAvoidcomputational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor network state during tuning operations. It tracks LSP status, available bandwidth, and hot zone conditions to dynamically adjust the tuning process. This feedback allows the system to handle scaling challenges by adapting to real-time network conditions rather than executing fixed complex computations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If make-before-break reconfiguration is used, then disruption-free routing is achieved, but hitless packet delivery is not guaranteed without additional resiliency mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereconfiguration simplicityVSAvoidhitless packet delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system prepares alternative paths and reserves bandwidth capacity in advance during the flow design phase. It calculates backup routes and ensures sufficient headroom in the network topology before actual reconfiguration occurs. This beforehand cushioning enables the system to handle failures and disruptions without losing packet delivery reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7872976B2System and method for multi-protocol label switching network tuning

Publication Date: 2011.01.18 WSOU INVESTMENTS LLC

AI summary

A system for and method of multi-protocol label switching (MPLS) network tuning. In one embodiment, the system includes a hot zone clearing subsystem that recursively identifies label switched paths (LSPs) to be rerouted from a defined hot zone subject to edges to be avoided. In that embodiment, the system further includes an LSP ordering subsystem, which is coupled to the hot zone clearing subsystem, that orders the LSPs to be rerouted to yield a migration sequence. The migration sequence is employable to reduce a load of the hot zone.