Multicast Transport Migration via BGP Protocol Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current multicast procedures lack mechanisms for efficiently migrating networks from a variety of multicast options to leverage the benefits of newer technologies, leading to inefficiencies and incomplete utilization of network resources due to incompatibilities between different transport protocols.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for optimizing communications by enabling nodes in a network to advertise and translate between multiple supported transport protocols, allowing resources to be allocated and communicated across nodes using shared protocols, thereby facilitating seamless migration and utilization of diverse transport protocols.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single transport protocol is used for multicasting and unicasting, then network compatibility and stability are maintained, but the network cannot leverage the benefits of newer transport protocols and suffers from incomplete utilization of network resources
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables nodes to support multiple transport protocols simultaneously (GRE, MLDP, P2MP-TE) and dynamically select appropriate protocols based on node capabilities and resource requirements. This multi-functionality allows the network to maintain compatibility with legacy protocols while simultaneously leveraging newer protocols for improved performance, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability and productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary nodes that can translate between different transport protocols. These intermediary nodes receive traffic from sources using one protocol and forward to destinations using another protocol, enabling seamless migration and resource utilization across the network without requiring all nodes to support all protocols simultaneously
2Productivity
If the network migrates from older multicast protocols to newer technologies, then newer protocol benefits are achieved, but service interruptions occur and hardware upgrades cannot be performed in phases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects transport protocols based on real-time node capabilities, resource availability, and traffic requirements. Nodes can transition between different protocols without fixed configuration, allowing gradual migration strategies where newer protocols are introduced incrementally while maintaining service continuity through fallback options
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary advertising of node capabilities and resource availability before actual traffic migration. Nodes advertise their supported protocols and available resources in advance, allowing the network to plan and execute protocol transitions smoothly without service interruptions, as destinations are pre-aware of their ability to handle incoming traffic
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple transport protocols are supported across nodes, then network adaptability and resource utilization improve, but protocol translation complexity and gateway requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the network into domains based on protocol support capabilities. Not all nodes need to support all protocols - the network is divided into segments where each segment uses protocols appropriate for its nodes' capabilities. This reduces the complexity burden on individual nodes while maintaining overall network adaptability through protocol translation at segment boundaries
Data Source
AI summary
The present technology provides solutions for optimizing communications between nodes and can include receiving, by a first node from a second node, an advertisement indicating an advertisement transport protocol supported by the second node, where the first node supports a plurality of transport protocols, and the advertisement transport protocol is one of the plurality of transport protocols, where the first node and the second node are nodes of a border gateway protocol (BGP) community, receiving, by the first node, from a requesting node a request to join the BGP community, where the request includes an attribute indicating a request transport protocol supported by the requesting node, allocating, by the first node and based on the attribute, a resource for the request transport protocol supported by the requesting node, and providing, by the first node, a notification to the second node indicating allocation of the resource for the request transport protocol.