Network Group Manager for Unicast Multicast in Virtual Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Virtualized computing environments face challenges in efficiently implementing multicast communication protocols, leading to additional costs for organizations reliant on these protocols, due to the complexity of replicating data packets across networks.
Innovation Solution
A network group manager is used to create and manage network groups within virtual networks, allowing virtualized computing instances to communicate through unicast transmissions, thereby alleviating multicast issues while enabling simultaneous communication with multiple members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multicast protocols are used in virtual networks, then data can be delivered to multiple recipients simultaneously, but the complexity of replicating data packets across networks increases and additional costs are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network group manager as an intermediary component that handles multicast group management, membership tracking, and packet replication coordination. This mediator abstracts the complex replication logic from individual virtual network functions, centralizing the complexity management while enabling efficient multicast delivery to multiple recipients simultaneously
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a packet replication mechanism where data packets are copied and distributed to multiple members of a multicast group. The network group manager maintains membership information and systematically replicates packets to all group members, enabling simultaneous delivery without requiring each recipient to independently receive and process the original packet
2Adaptability or versatility
If overlay networking is implemented to provide logically isolated virtual networks, then users gain complete control over virtual network configuration, but the complexity of addressing multicast issues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network management functionality by separating virtual network control from physical network operations. The network group manager operates as a distinct layer that handles multicast-specific tasks (group management, membership tracking, packet replication) independently from the underlying overlay network infrastructure, allowing users to maintain virtual network control while simplifying multicast addressing through dedicated management protocols
3Ease of operation
If virtualized computing instances communicate using traditional multicast protocols, then group communication is enabled, but additional costs are incurred for organizations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple unicast communication streams into a single multicast transmission by implementing a network group manager that consolidates communication requests from virtualized computing instances. Instead of establishing separate unicast connections to each recipient, the system combines traffic into unified multicast packets that are replicated efficiently, reducing total network bandwidth consumption and lowering communication costs for organizations
Data Source
AI summary
A technology to create and manage a group network in a virtual network is described. A network address may be registered as a member of a network group in an overlay network within a virtualized computing environment. An open connection may be maintained to the network address. Membership information may be sent over the open connection to the network address as membership of the network group changes. Membership information may be used in communicating with the network group using unicast transmissions.