Network Map Generator for Traffic Engineering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for selecting server or peer in IP-based computer networks are often inaccurate and rely on external infrastructure, leading to suboptimal load balancing and traffic engineering, which can result in congestion and increased transit costs.
Innovation Solution
A central network element associated with the provider generates a detailed representation of the network by monitoring data communication, calculating performance characteristics, and ranking source-destination pairs to optimize traffic engineering and user experience by selecting the best destination for data communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If active measurements (ping, trace-route) are used for server selection, then selection accuracy is improved, but user load and measurement time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary network measurements and builds a comprehensive network map in advance, storing performance characteristics of multiple paths before actual server selection is needed. This pre-computed network map includes metrics like latency, bandwidth, and congestion levels, allowing rapid server selection without performing measurements at the moment of user request.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a network map generator and central network element that act as intermediaries between users and servers. Instead of users directly performing measurements, the intermediary maintains a pre-computed network map and provides server recommendations based on current network conditions, eliminating the need for users to perform time-consuming measurements.
2Ease of manufacture
If round robin DNS load balancing is used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but load balancing effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system assigns different qualities or weights to different server paths based on their actual network performance characteristics. Instead of treating all servers equally as in round robin, the network map generator evaluates each path's latency, bandwidth, and congestion levels, then recommends servers with locally optimized qualities for each specific user location and destination pair.
3Device complexity
If external infrastructure is used for server selection, then system complexity is reduced, but selection accuracy and traffic engineering control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The network provider's own network elements (routers, switches) provide measurement data and network information directly to the network map generator. Instead of relying on external third-party services, the network infrastructure serves itself by contributing its own operational data, enabling accurate traffic engineering while maintaining relatively simple system architecture.
Data Source
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AI summary
For traffic engineering in a network, such as reducing the congestion in heavy loaded links, bypass links that are down or reduce transit costs, the invention proposes a method for controlling data communication, wherein a central network element (100) associated with a network provider generates and updates a representation (130) of the network by retrieving network information (110) and/or by monitoring data communication within the network, from a client network element (180) a request is transmitted to the central network element (100), identifying a source network element and at least two destination network elements, for each destination network element a ranking value is determined by the central network element (100) based on the representation (130) of the network, an ordered list is generated based on the respective ranking values and is transmitted to the client network element (180), and based on the ordered list at least one of the destination network elements is selected for data communication with the source network element. The invention further proposes a system and a network element for performing the inventive method.