One-Way Routing Synchronization for Network Resource Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current routing protocols, such as EIGRP, perform unnecessary two-way transfers of routing table data during synchronization, which burdens network resources and affects performance, even when only specific neighbors' data needs to be updated.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a one-way transfer mechanism for synchronizing routing table data, where an initiating router determines a subset of neighbors and sends an EIGRP UPDATE message indicating one-way direction, reducing processing and communication bandwidth consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If two-way synchronization of routing table data is performed among all neighboring routers, then routing information consistency is maintained, but network resource consumption increases and performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting information consistencyVSAvoidnetwork resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the routing synchronization process by introducing a bit field in the EIGRP UPDATE message that indicates whether one-way or two-way transfer is required. This allows the system to divide the synchronization approach based on specific conditions (inbound filter changes vs. outbound filter changes), performing one-way transfer when sufficient and two-way transfer when necessary, thereby reducing unnecessary network resource consumption while maintaining routing consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by implementing one-way transfer as a simplified version of the traditional two-way synchronization. When the initiating router's outbound filter changes, only the affected neighbors need to receive updates (partial action), rather than all routers performing full two-way synchronization. This reduces the excessive resource consumption associated with complete two-way transfers while maintaining sufficient routing information consistency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Loss of information

If two-way transfer of routing table data is performed during re-synchronization, then all neighbors receive updated information, but processing overhead and bandwidth consumption increase unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting information completenessVSAvoidnetwork performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by making the transfer mode (one-way or two-way) dependent on the specific type of filter change and the local needs of the initiating router. When only the initiating router's outbound filter changes, one-way transfer to affected neighbors is sufficient (local solution). When inbound filters change, two-way transfer is performed locally at the initiating router to receive necessary updates. This localized approach maintains information completeness where needed while improving network performance by avoiding unnecessary global synchronization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If full routing table data is exchanged with all neighbors, then routing synchronization is ensured, but communication bandwidth and processing time are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesynchronization accuracyVSAvoidsynchronization time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamics into the routing synchronization process by making the transfer mode adaptive based on the type of filter change detected. The system dynamically selects between one-way and two-way transfer modes using a bit field indicator in the EIGRP UPDATE message. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to use the more efficient one-way transfer when possible (reducing time and bandwidth) while switching to two-way transfer when synchronization accuracy requires it, thereby resolving the contradiction between reliability and time loss

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2052329B1Techniques for one-way synchronization of routing information among intermediate nodes
Publication Date: 2013.06.19 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP2052329B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2052329B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2052329B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

Techniques for synchronizing routing data include determining whether conditions are satisfied for one-way transfer with an adjacent router. If it is determined that conditions are satisfied for one-way transfer of routing table data with the adjacent router, then a refresh-notice message is sent from the initiating router to the adjacent router. The refresh-notice message includes data that indicates a particular direction for transfer of routing table data. If the particular direction is inbound, then a copy of an adjacent routing table is received without sending a copy of the initiating router's own routing table. If the particular direction is outbound, then a copy of the own routing table is sent without receiving a copy of the adjacent routing table.