Packet Forwarding via Segment Identifiers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems face challenges in path control due to large routing tables, which increase memory requirements and reduce processing performance, and existing methods like source routing and CR-LDP are limited by high overhead and latency, making them unsuitable for data packets.

Innovation Solution

A communication system that uses a path management server to configure forwarding path information by arranging identifiers for communication interfaces, allowing forwarding nodes to perform packet forwarding based on this information included in the packet header, reducing the need for large routing tables and minimizing overhead.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If source routing or CR-LDP is used to control packet forwarding paths, then path control capability is improved, but overhead and latency increase making them unsuitable for data packets

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepath control capabilityVSAvoidlatency and overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the path control information into compact identifiers (such as segment routing headers) that are inserted into packet headers. Instead of using complex source routing or CR-LDP protocols, the path is divided into segments represented by concise identifiers, reducing overhead while maintaining path control capability for data packets

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter representation from detailed routing information (used in source routing and CR-LDP) to compact segment identifiers. This parameter transformation reduces the size of path control data in packet headers, thereby reducing latency and overhead while preserving essential path control functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If large routing tables are used to enable comprehensive path control, then forwarding accuracy is improved, but memory requirements increase and processing performance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveforwarding accuracyVSAvoidprocessing performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential path control information needed for forwarding decisions, removing unnecessary routing table lookups. By using segment identifiers in packet headers, the system extracts and uses only the critical path information, reducing memory requirements and improving processing performance while maintaining forwarding accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of looking up paths in large routing tables (traditional approach), the patent inverts the approach by pre-computing and embedding segment identifiers directly in packet headers. This inversion eliminates the need for large routing tables and complex lookups, improving processing performance while maintaining forwarding accuracy through the embedded path information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS9900249B2Communication system, forwarding node, path management server, communication method, and program

Publication Date: 2018.02.20 CLOUD BYTE LLC

AI summary

A packet forwarding node includes a storage unit to store a packet forwarding table used for forwarding a packet based on an identifier which identifies a link between nodes on a packet forwarding path and a forwarding unit to receive an incoming packet including a plurality of the identifiers, and to forward the incoming packet based on an identifier corresponding to the packet forwarding node.