Object-Based Prefix and Attribute Distribution for Network Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current routing protocols face inefficiencies due to the re-transmission of redundant attribute information with prefix updates, leading to convergence delays and reduced network throughput in large networks.

Innovation Solution

The use of attribute and prefix objects, where attribute objects contain unique attributes without prefixes and prefix objects contain attribute identifiers, allows for efficient updates by separating and managing these elements independently, reducing redundant data transmission and processing requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If route advertisements are transmitted between routers using traditional routing protocols, then routing information is shared across the network, but convergence delays occur due to redundant attribute re-transmission with large numbers of prefixes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting convergenceVSAvoidconvergence delay

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments routing information into two distinct objects: prefix objects (containing network address prefixes) and attribute objects (containing routing attributes). This segmentation allows routers to independently manage and update prefixes and attributes, avoiding redundant re-transmission of attribute information when only prefixes change, thereby reducing convergence delays in large networks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts attribute information from prefix advertisements and stores it separately in attribute objects. When routing updates occur, only the necessary components (prefixes or attributes) are re-transmitted, rather than re-transmitting complete prefix advertisements with redundant attributes, thus reducing update message sizes and accelerating convergence

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If complete routing information including all attributes is re-transmitted with each prefix update, then routing accuracy is maintained, but data transmission redundancy increases leading to reduced network throughput

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting accuracyVSAvoidnetwork throughput

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

Attribute information is extracted from prefix advertisements and stored in separate attribute objects. Routers reference attributes by identifier rather than re-transmitting complete attribute data with each prefix update, maintaining routing accuracy while significantly reducing redundant data transmission and improving network throughput

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The attribute object structure serves multiple functions: it stores routing attributes, provides unique identifiers for reference, and enables efficient updates. A single attribute object can serve multiple prefix objects, reducing overall data transmission requirements while maintaining complete routing information for accurate path selection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional routing protocols are used with large numbers of prefixes, then comprehensive routing coverage is achieved, but processing requirements and update message sizes increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting coverageVSAvoidprocessing requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Routing information is segmented into prefix objects and attribute objects, allowing routers to process and store routing data more efficiently. This segmentation reduces the complexity of managing large numbers of prefixes by separating the prefix data from attribute data, enabling independent optimization of each component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of re-transmitting complete routing information, routers transmit references (identifiers) to attribute objects that already exist in the network. This copying approach reduces processing requirements and update message sizes while maintaining comprehensive routing coverage across the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS10505809B1Object-based prefix and attribute distribution for network devices

Publication Date: 2019.12.10 AMAZON TECH INC

AI summary

A protocol can be used to share routing information with neighbor network devices in the form of related objects of attributes and prefixes. The attribute object includes a set of unique attributes that are known for a given prefix or prefixes, but without including the prefixes within the attribute object. The attribute object includes an identifier of the attribute object for future reference by other messages. The prefix object includes one or more prefixes and the associated attribute identifier common to the prefixes. In the case where a subset of prefix or prefixes change so as to have new attributes associated with them, then a re-advertisement of the prefixes with the new attribute identifier is generated. In this way, routing updates become more efficient resulting in peers only needing to update the attribute object or the prefix object.