MPLS Routing Controller for Session Attribute-Aware Path Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unified Communication (UC) systems face challenges in selecting optimal routing paths for data flows across networks, as existing systems are unaware of individual flow attributes, leading to inefficiencies in routing and responding to signal quality changes.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of techniques that leverage attributes of communication sessions, such as media and bandwidth requirements, to identify and select the best Label Switched Paths (LSPs) across a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network, allowing for real-time optimization and rerouting to maintain performance and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If UC data flows are routed over networks that are unaware of individual flow attributes, then network simplicity is maintained, but routing optimization and response to signal quality changes become challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (routing controller or network controller) that sits between the end systems and the network infrastructure. This controller maintains flow attribute information and makes intelligent routing decisions, allowing the underlying network to remain simple while achieving optimized routing through the intermediary's awareness and management of flow characteristics.
2Speed
If routing paths are selected without awareness of flow attributes, then routing decision speed is maintained, but routing optimality and quality of service deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing flow attribute information and pre-calculating or pre-identifying suitable routing paths based on those attributes. When routing decisions are needed, the system can quickly select from pre-identified paths or make decisions based on pre-gathered flow information, maintaining speed while ensuring optimality through attribute-aware selection.
3Reliability
If dynamic rerouting based on performance degradation is implemented, then communication session quality is improved, but system complexity and overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors communication session performance and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust routing decisions. When performance degradation is detected, the feedback loop triggers rerouting to alternative paths, ensuring quality maintenance while managing complexity through systematic monitoring and response protocols.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for routing communication sessions are described. According to various embodiments, a set of routing paths are available for routing a communication session across a network. For instance, the routing paths represent Label Switched Paths (LSPs) across a Multi-Protocol Label Switching (MPLS) network. According to various embodiments, attributes of a communication session are leveraged to identify a routing path for routing the communication session. According to various embodiments, performance degradation in a communication session across a particular routing path is detected such that a replacement routing path is selected.