Overlay Controller Service Chaining via Label-Based Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network solutions lack awareness of service locations and fail to efficiently route traffic through multiple services, leading to disruptions when a service along the path experiences issues, as they rely on routing protocols that are not service-aware.
Innovation Solution
A network system with an overlay architecture that allows service locations to make independent forwarding decisions based on policy, enabling service chaining and awareness of service availability, using an overlay controller, mapping server, and edge routers to create secure tunnels and distribute policies for optimal path selection and service delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If routing protocols are used for traffic forwarding, then traffic can be routed through the network, but the routing protocols lack awareness of service locations and cannot efficiently route traffic through specific services
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces service routers as intermediary devices between standard routing protocols and service locations. These service routers maintain service location information and forwarding state, acting as mediators that enable routing protocols to indirectly access service location awareness without modifying the protocols themselves. The service routers translate service-aware forwarding requirements into standard routing operations.
2Reliability
If a single service location is used, then the forwarding path is simple, but the system lacks redundancy and resilience when service disruptions occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic forwarding paths where service routers can switch between primary and backup service locations based on service availability. The forwarding state includes information about alternative paths, and the system can dynamically adjust the active path when disruptions occur, providing both redundancy and simplicity through conditional path selection.
3Reliability
If traffic is tied to a specific hop-by-hop forwarding path, then the path is deterministic, but any service disruption along the path requires complex rerouting without service location awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-establishes multiple forwarding paths including primary and backup routes through different service locations. The service routers maintain forwarding state that includes alternative path information in advance. When a service disruption occurs, the system can immediately switch to pre-configured backup paths without complex real-time rerouting calculations, as the alternative paths were prepared beforehand.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple services are chained together, then comprehensive service delivery is achieved, but the network requires awareness of service locations and chaining relationships
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service chaining function into independent service routers, each responsible for a specific service location. Each service router maintains forwarding state for its local service and collaborates with other service routers to form complete service chains. This segmentation allows complex service chaining to be managed through simpler, localized decisions at each service router rather than requiring end-to-end chain management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for routing is disclosed. The method comprises establishing an overlay network, comprising a plurality of network elements and an overlay controller; wherein the overlay controller is in communication with each network element via a secure tunnel established through an underlying transport network; receiving by the overlay controller, information from each service-hosting network element information said information identifying a service hosted at that service-hosting network element, and label associated with the service-hosting network element; identifying by the overlay controller, at least one policy that associates traffic from a site with a service; and causing by said overly controller, the at least one policy to be executed so that traffic from the site identified in the policy is routed using the underlying transport network to the service-hosting network element associated with the said service.