Overlapping Rate Region Zoning for Network Traffic Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
In large networks, especially those with wireless components, coordinating traffic rate and resource handling between distributed TE zones leads to significant signaling overhead and latency, necessitating more efficient methods for traffic flow management.
Innovation Solution
The method involves exchanging information about overlapping rate regions between zones, including constraint functions and utility functions, to anticipate communication capabilities and reduce interactions, using techniques like iterative algorithms and penalty functions to optimize traffic forwarding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If distributed TE zones are used to manage large networks, then scalability and complexity are improved, but signaling overhead and latency increase due to extensive communication between zones
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and exchanges constraint function parameters between adjacent zones before traffic routing decisions are needed. By anticipating communication capabilities and pre-establishing zone boundaries and constraints, the system eliminates the need for extensive real-time communication during traffic engineering operations, thus reducing signaling latency while maintaining scalability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces constraint functions as intermediary mathematical models that mediate between adjacent zones. These constraint functions encapsulate zone capabilities and requirements, allowing zones to make routing decisions independently without needing direct extensive communication. The constraint functions act as a shared understanding mechanism that reduces signaling overhead while enabling coordinated traffic engineering.
2Reliability
If distributed TE zones coordinate traffic rate handling, then traffic flow management is improved, but communication between zones increases signaling overhead
Solution Approach 1:
The system transforms detailed traffic coordination requirements into simplified parameter exchanges. Instead of exchanging complete traffic flow information between zones, the system exchanges constrained function parameters (such as rate constraints, capacity limits, and priority levels). This parameter abstraction maintains reliable traffic flow management while dramatically reducing the quantity of signaling data that must be communicated between zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The constraint functions serve multiple purposes simultaneously: they define zone capabilities, establish traffic rate constraints, and enable routing decisions. By making the coordination mechanism multi-functional, the system reduces the need for separate communication protocols and signaling messages, thereby reducing overall signaling overhead while maintaining effective traffic flow management.
Data Source
AI summary
System and method embodiments are provided for configuring a network to forward traffic from a first network zone to a second network zone. In an embodiment, a first zone controller of the first zone receives information indicating network capability. The information includes a plurality of parameters of a constraint function. The first network controller provisions a network node, e.g., at the second zone, to forward traffic from the first zone to the second zone in accordance with the received information. The information indicating network capability includes one or more variables relating to the constraint. The constraint relates to at least one current traffic level or at least one wireless link in the second zone.