Packet Network Virtual Circuit Provisioning Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
In conventional telecommunication systems, virtual circuits within packet networks can fail due to errors in provisioning, causing packets to be dropped and wasting bandwidth, as nodes may not be adequately configured to support the virtual circuit, leading to unsuccessful packet transmission.
Innovation Solution
A method where nodes in a packet network communicate to determine if adjacent nodes are provisioned to support virtual circuits, and if not, they drop packets to prevent resource wastage, using VC mapping data and EVC Advertisement messages to manage and update drop indicators, ensuring efficient packet handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If nodes forward packets based on VC identifier mappings without verifying adjacent node provisioning, then packet transmission continues without interruption, but bandwidth is wasted and network resources are consumed uselessly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary provisioning verification by exchanging EVC Advertisement messages between adjacent nodes before packet transmission begins. Each node checks whether the adjacent node is properly provisioned to support the virtual circuit, and only establishes packet forwarding paths when verification succeeds. This prevents wasteful packet transmission in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where nodes exchange provisioning status information through EVC Advertisement messages. When a node detects that an adjacent node is not provisioned, it sends feedback to stop packet forwarding on that path. This feedback loop enables the network to adapt and prevent resource wastage dynamically.
2Loss of energy
If nodes verify provisioning status of adjacent nodes before packet forwarding, then bandwidth wastage is reduced, but network complexity and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The EVC Advertisement message mechanism serves multiple functions: it verifies provisioning status, establishes virtual circuit paths, and provides feedback for packet dropping decisions. By consolidating these functions into a single standardized message exchange protocol, the system reduces overall complexity despite adding verification capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameter of packet forwarding from unconditional to conditional based on provisioning verification results. When the provisioning verification parameter indicates success, normal forwarding occurs; when it indicates failure, packet dropping is activated. This parameter-based control simplifies the decision logic at each node.
3Loss of energy
If packets are dropped at unprovisioned nodes, then resource wastage is prevented, but packet transmission reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary anti-action by preventing packet transmission to unprovisioned nodes before the transmission occurs. Through proactive provisioning verification using EVC Advertisement messages, the system identifies and blocks invalid paths in advance, ensuring that packets are only dropped when necessary due to genuine provisioning failures rather than transient errors.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure generally pertains to network systems and methods that efficiently drop packets carried by virtual circuits. In one exemplary embodiment, a packet network has at least a first node having a first port that is coupled directly to a second port of a second node. A virtual circuit is established such that a virtual connection exists between the two ports. The first node communicates with the second node to determine whether the second node is provisioned such that the second port is a member of the virtual circuit. If the second node is not provisioned such that the second port is a member of the virtual circuit, then the first node drops the data packets that (1) are carried by the virtual circuit and (2) are to be forwarded to the first port, as indicated by virtual circuit (VC) mapping data in the first node. Thus, the dropped packets are prevented from usurping capacity that otherwise could be used to transmit other packets between the two nodes.