Multipath Network Traffic Synchronization via Packet Mirroring
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Solution Overview
Problem
In packet-switched networks, asymmetric data flows often go undetected, leading to improper traffic classification and management, as return acknowledgments may not pass through the same device that sent the packets, causing inefficiencies and potential network instabilities.
Innovation Solution
The method involves mirroring packets of data flows between network devices in a multipath topology to facilitate accurate classification and synchronization, allowing network devices to communicate and enforce rate control policies across autonomous systems, thereby reducing inefficiencies and improving traffic management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If packets are mirrored between multiple network devices in multipath topology, then data flow classification accuracy is improved, but network device complexity and synchronization overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements packet mirroring where copies of packets are sent from one network device to other devices in the multipath topology. This allows each device to have identical packet copies for classification purposes, improving classification accuracy without requiring complex inter-device communication protocols. The copying approach simplifies the synchronization mechanism while achieving the goal of consistent traffic classification across all devices.
2Reliability
If asymmetric data flows are tracked and synchronized across network devices, then traffic management effectiveness is improved, but loss of time for packet processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs packet mirroring and classification data synchronization as preliminary actions before the actual traffic management decisions are made. By pre-distributing packet copies and classification information across network devices, the system avoids time-consuming processing during active traffic management, thus improving effectiveness while minimizing time loss.
3Stability of the object's composition
If rate control policies are enforced across multiple autonomous systems, then network stability is improved, but device complexity and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal packet mirroring mechanism that serves multiple functions simultaneously: it enables classification accuracy improvement, supports asymmetric flow detection, facilitates rate control policy enforcement, and provides network stability. This multi-functional approach reduces the need for separate specialized mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving multiple goals including network stability across autonomous systems.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary embodiment provides for a method for use in a network device operative to facilitate classification of data flows in a multipath network topology by intelligently mirroring one or more packets of the data flows to a set of cooperating network devices. The method, in one implementation, can involve tracking asymmetric data flows and synchronizing at least portions of the asymmetric data flows between a plurality of network devices to facilitate classification and other operations in multipath network topologies. In one implementation, the present invention allows a plurality of network devices, each disposed on the boundaries of an autonomous system (such as an ISP network) to communicate enough information about data flows encountered at each of the network devices to enable more accurate data flow classification. Since mirrored traffic may affect available bandwidth for regular network traffic, certain implementations of the invention include optimization directed to reducing the amount of mirrored traffic between network devices.