Multicast Routing via Centralized Conductor and STEP Protocol
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current service-oriented routing platforms face challenges in efficiently distributing multicast information and managing access control policies across a large number of Session Smart Routers (SSRs), leading to difficulties in extending service configuration and ensuring accurate routing of packets.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a routing system that includes a multicast source router and receiver routers, enforcing access control policies through a datastore and controller, which manage tenant-based access policies and exchange multicast information to determine optimal rendezvous points for packet distribution, using the Service and Topology Exchange Protocol (STEP) to propagate network state and manage services across routers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multicast information is distributed across a large number of Session Smart Routers using traditional service-oriented configuration, then service coverage is extended, but configuration management complexity and difficulty increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized Conductor as an intermediary that mediates between administrators and distributed SSRs. The Conductor maintains a network-wide service data model and automatically distributes service configurations to appropriate SSRs, eliminating the need for manual explicit configuration on each router while enabling extended service coverage across the network.
2Measurement precision
If access control policies are enforced on each individual router, then security control precision is improved, but policy management overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges access control policy management into the centralized Conductor, which maintains a unified service data model including receiver access policies and sender access policies. The Conductor enforces these policies across all SSRs through automated configuration distribution, achieving precise access control without requiring each router to independently manage policies, thus reducing overall system complexity.
3Manufacturing precision
If multicast service configuration is manually exported to external routers, then service configuration accuracy is maintained, but scalability to large numbers of routers is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service mechanism where the centralized Conductor automatically discovers which SSRs should receive specific multicast services and distributes configurations autonomously. Administrators define services in the network-wide data model, and the Conductor automatically pushes configurations to appropriate routers without manual intervention, maintaining configuration accuracy while enabling scalable deployment to large numbers of routers.
4Loss of information
If a centralized controller manages multicast services across distributed routers, then network-wide service visibility is improved, but control plane complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal service data model in the Conductor that handles multiple functions including service configuration management, access control policy enforcement, and multicast service orchestration. This multi-functional approach consolidates control plane complexity into a single standardized framework rather than requiring separate mechanisms for each function, thereby providing network-wide visibility without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A routing system for distributing multicast routing information for a multicast service includes a plurality of routers including a multicast source router and a plurality of multicast receiver routers, the plurality of routers providing a multicast service, wherein the routers are configured to exchange multicast information associated with the multicast service including identification of multicast sources and the multicast receivers.