Dynamic MPLS TE-LSP Splitting for Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing Traffic Engineering (TE) Label Switched Paths (LSPs) face challenges in resizing to accommodate increased bandwidth demands, often requiring sub-optimal paths due to constraints like bandwidth, cost, and delay, leading to inefficient network resource utilization and cumbersome manual configuration.
Innovation Solution
A technique for dynamically splitting TE-LSPs, where a head-end node splits a larger TE-LSP into smaller ones over best available paths, reserving maximum bandwidth and recursively creating split TE-LSPs until all bandwidth is allocated, with the option to re-groom split TE-LSPs later for improved metrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single TE-LSP is used to accommodate increased bandwidth demands, then bandwidth capacity is improved, but path optimality deteriorates due to constraints like cost and delay
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single large-bandwidth TE-LSP into multiple smaller TE-LSPs, each carrying a portion of the total traffic. This segmentation allows each individual LSP to use optimized paths for its specific bandwidth requirements, rather than forcing all traffic through a single constrained path. The head-end node dynamically creates multiple LSPs with different bandwidth allocations, achieving both high bandwidth capacity and path optimality.
2Ease of operation
If manual configuration is used to resize TE-LSPs, then configuration control is improved, but operational complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic dynamic splitting at the head-end node without requiring manual configuration. The system self-adjusts by monitoring bandwidth demands and automatically creating, resizing, or consolidating TE-LSPs based on current network conditions. This eliminates the need for operators to manually calculate and configure multiple LSPs, reducing operational complexity while maintaining full configuration control through automated decision-making algorithms.
3Reliability
If a single optimal path is used for TE-LSP, then path quality is improved, but bandwidth availability deteriorates due to resource constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single-dimension approach (one optimal path) to a multi-dimensional approach by creating multiple TE-LSPs that can utilize different paths simultaneously. Instead of being constrained to a single path, the system distributes traffic across multiple paths in the network space, allowing each LSP to maintain high path quality while the aggregate system achieves high bandwidth availability through parallel path utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique dynamically splits Traffic Engineering (TE) Label Switched Paths (LSPs) in a computer network. According to the novel technique, a head-end node may determine that a TE-LSP to a destination needs to be sized to a larger bandwidth (a “larger” TE-LSP) than currently available over a single path to the destination (e.g., a path that may also be required to meet other constraints, such as cost, delay, etc.). In response, the head-end node may dynamically “split” the larger TE-LSP, and create a first split TE-LSP over a best (e.g., shortest) available path (e.g., that meets other constraints). The first split TE-LSP may reserve a maximum available bandwidth for that best available path. The head-end node may then continue recursively creating subsequent split TE-LSPs for any remaining bandwidth of the larger TE-LSP over available paths until the larger TE-LSP may no longer be split (e.g., all bandwidth has been placed, configurable maximum number of splits reached, etc.). Notably, the split TE-LSPs may be “re-groomed” at a later time to recombine and reorganize the split TE-LSPs.