OSPF Opaque LSA IP Address Announcement Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing OSPF protocols are limited in announcing 32-bit IP addresses, requiring impractical configurations and lacking accurate correspondence between addresses and nodes, especially since only loopback interfaces and specific types of LSAs can announce such addresses, restricting flexibility and practicality in IP address announcements.

Innovation Solution

Expanding the AS-scoped Opaque LSA in the OSPF protocol to enable 32-bit IP address announcements without requiring PTMP interface configurations, using an announcement control switch to control the flooding of AS-scoped Opaque LSAs, allowing IP addresses to originate from any interface or address pool, and enabling announcements and flooding based on router capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If LSA 1 is used to announce 32-bit IP address by configuring interface as PTMP interface, then IP address can be announced, but configuration becomes impractical and complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of IP address announcement configurationVSAvoidinterface configuration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the IP address announcement function from the interface configuration requirements. By using Opaque LSA type 11, the announcement mechanism is separated from the PTMP interface constraint, allowing standard interface configurations to announce IP addresses without special PTMP setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The Opaque LSA type 11 provides a universal mechanism that can announce 32-bit IP addresses from any interface type (not just PTMP), making the announcement process applicable across diverse interface configurations without requiring interface-specific setup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If LSA 3 is used to transform LSA 1 for 32-bit routing, then routing information can be propagated, but accurate correspondence between address and node is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting information propagation efficiencyVSAvoidaddress-node correspondence accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces Opaque LSA type 11 as an intermediary that carries both the 32-bit IP address and the node identity (router ID) together through the OSPF domain. This intermediary structure preserves the address-node correspondence while enabling efficient propagation, unlike LSA 3 which transforms and loses this correspondence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If only loopback interface IP addresses are announced, then simple configuration is possible, but flexibility and practicality of IP address management is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of configurationVSAvoidflexibility of IP address announcement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The Opaque LSA type 11 mechanism enables universality by allowing IP address announcements from any interface type (physical, logical, loopback, etc.) and from address pools, not just loopback interfaces. This maintains ease of operation while dramatically increasing adaptability and flexibility in IP address management scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2985967B1Method, device, and computer storage medium for implementing IP address advertisement

Publication Date: 2019.11.20 ZTE CORP

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AI summary

Disclosed are a method, device, and computer storage medium for implementing IP address advertisement. An advertisement for controlling LSA11 and an advertisement control switch for flooding are added into a router. The router performs, according to a state indicated by the advertisement control switch, IP address advertisement or flooding for LSA11 encapsulated with an IP address.