Multipoint Node Path Planning via Conceptual Destinations

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Solution Overview

Problem

In programmable communication networks with multipoint nodes, existing systems face challenges in preventing redundant delivery of communication packets to the same interface, especially during failover conditions, which can lead to network congestion and data packet loss.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a path planning method and system that identifies multipoint nodes and translates destinations into conceptual destinations to avoid redundant packet delivery, using an SDN controller to configure network flows and ensure packets are delivered to each interface of the multipoint node without duplication, even under failover scenarios.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If redundant communication paths are established to multipoint nodes, then network reliability is improved, but redundant packet delivery occurs causing network congestion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork congestion

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network path planning by introducing conceptual destinations that represent unique interface-level destinations. Each interface of a multipoint node is treated as a separate conceptual destination, allowing the SDN controller to plan paths to specific interfaces rather than duplicating packets to all interfaces of a multipoint node, thereby preventing redundant delivery and network congestion while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces conceptual destinations as an intermediary layer between the SDN controller and physical network interfaces. This intermediary abstraction allows the controller to manage redundant paths without causing redundant packet delivery, as the conceptual destination layer intercepts and manages packet routing to prevent duplication at the multipoint node interfaces.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If packet duplication is used to deliver to multiple interfaces, then failover capability is improved, but data packet loss increases due to redundant delivery

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefailover capabilityVSAvoiddata packet loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the destination concept into interface-specific conceptual destinations. Instead of duplicating packets to multiple interfaces of a multipoint node, the system plans unique paths to each conceptual destination (interface), ensuring that packets are delivered only once per interface while maintaining failover capability through redundant path planning at the conceptual level.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the routing parameter from node-level addressing to interface-level conceptual destination addressing. This parameter change allows the SDN controller to distinguish between different interfaces of a multipoint node and plan unique paths to each, preventing redundant packet delivery and associated packet loss while maintaining failover capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If traditional routing is used without path planning, then device complexity is reduced, but redundant packet delivery occurs to the same interface

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting complexityVSAvoidredundant packet delivery

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces conceptual destinations as an intermediary that adds minimal complexity to the routing process. The SDN controller plans paths to conceptual destinations (interface-level abstractions) rather than directly to physical interfaces, which prevents redundant packet delivery without significantly increasing device complexity. The complexity is centralized in the controller's path planning algorithm rather than distributed across network devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal path planning mechanism that handles both single-point and multipoint nodes through the same conceptual destination abstraction. This multi-functional approach allows the same routing infrastructure to manage diverse network topologies without requiring complex device-specific routing logic, preventing redundant delivery while maintaining manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11165685B2Multipoint redundant network device path planning for programmable networks

Publication Date: 2021.11.02 SCHWEITZER ENGINEERING LABORATORIES INC

AI summary

Disclosed are systems and methods for path planning in a programmable communications network with multipoint nodes. The multipoint nodes include nodes with multiple connections to the programmable communication network. Path planning determines source multipoint nodes and destination multipoint nodes. Paths are planned to avoid redundant delivery of messages to a single interface of the multipoint nodes. A network controller programs network communications devices with the determined paths. Multipoint nodes may include multipoint devices or traditional tie points.