OAM Message Handling via Link State Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing methods for handling Operations, Administration, and Management (OAM) messages in communication networks result in a significant amount of redundant traffic, requiring substantial bandwidth as OAM messages are frequently sent between network nodes to check connectivity, leading to inefficient use of resources.
Innovation Solution
A method and arrangement that limit the forwarding of OAM messages between network nodes by using a link state indicator to determine if the link status has been updated, allowing intermediate OAM messages to update the indicator, thereby reducing the distribution of redundant OAM messages. This involves generating intermediate OAM messages at a predefined rate and updating the link state indicator based on responses or the absence of responses, which reduces the amount of OAM-related traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If OAM messages are frequently sent between network nodes to check connectivity, then connectivity monitoring reliability is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple OAM messages carrying the same link state information into a single message for forwarding. When multiple OAM messages are received from different sources but refer to the same physical link, the intermediate node consolidates them and forwards only one message, thereby reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining connectivity monitoring reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate node performs preliminary processing of OAM messages by checking if a message has been recently received for the same link before forwarding. This preliminary action prevents redundant message forwarding and reduces bandwidth consumption while ensuring that connectivity monitoring remains reliable through selective message forwarding.
2Adaptability or versatility
If OAM messages are sent for every VLAN over a shared physical link, then connectivity monitoring coverage is improved, but message redundancy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies merging by consolidating multiple OAM messages from different VLANs that traverse the same physical link. The intermediate node identifies that these messages share the same underlying physical connection and combines them into a single forwarded message, reducing message redundancy while preserving comprehensive connectivity monitoring coverage across all VLANs.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediate node implements a universal mechanism that handles OAM messages from multiple VLANs and sources through a single processing logic. This multi-functional approach allows the node to recognize and consolidate messages regardless of their original VLAN or source, reducing redundancy while maintaining universal connectivity monitoring coverage.
3Loss of information
If all received OAM messages are forwarded to the next node, then connectivity information completeness is improved, but network traffic load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The intermediate node performs preliminary filtering and selection of OAM messages before forwarding. By checking whether a message represents new link state information or is a duplicate of recently received messages, the node preliminarily determines which messages warrant forwarding. This preserves connectivity information completeness for unique messages while reducing network traffic load by filtering out redundant ones.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and forwards only the essential OAM messages that contain new or changed link state information, leaving out redundant duplicate messages. This extraction process ensures that connectivity information completeness is maintained for all unique link states while significantly reducing the overall network traffic load by eliminating unnecessary message repetitions.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of and an arrangement for handling OAM messages received from at least one originating end-node of a communication network and having the purpose of providing information on the connectivity between a respective originating end-node and a corresponding terminating end-node is provided. The amount of OAM messages forwarded from the first intermediate node to a second intermediate node via a physical link may be limited by forwarding a received OAM message via the physical link in case a link state indicator associated with the physical link is not updated, and by responding to a received OAM message on the basis of the link state indicator without forwarding it via the physical link in case the indicator is updated. The link state indicator may be updated on the basis of the response to an intermediate OAM message, originating at the first intermediate node.