Packet Switching Device Adaptive Bandwidth Link Rerouting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Microwave links in communications networks are susceptible to interference from weather conditions, leading to diminished packet transport capacity, which existing technologies struggle to address effectively by rerouting traffic efficiently.
Innovation Solution
A packet switching device that receives notifications of diminished adaptive bandwidth microwave links adjusts forwarding information to reroute non-critical packet traffic away from affected links while maintaining critical traffic on those links, using protocols like ITU-T G.8013/Y.1731 and routing protocols to precompute and implement rerouting paths, ensuring continuous network performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If packet traffic is rerouted around diminished capacity microwave links, then network reliability is improved, but device complexity and routing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-computes and stores alternative routing paths before link failures occur. When a microwave link experiences diminished capacity due to weather interference, the packet switching device can immediately switch to pre-calculated reroute paths without performing complex real-time routing computations, thus maintaining network reliability while minimizing the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments packet traffic into different priority levels (critical and non-critical traffic). By separating traffic types, the system can apply different routing strategies - critical traffic may continue on original paths while non-critical traffic is rerouted, or both can be rerouted using simpler routing decisions rather than complex global optimization
2Productivity
If all packet traffic is rerouted away from diminished capacity links, then network performance is maintained, but loss of time and increased device complexity occur
Solution Approach 1:
Alternative routing paths are pre-computed and stored in the packet switching device before any link failure occurs. When weather conditions cause diminished capacity on microwave links, the device can immediately activate pre-prepared reroute paths without performing time-consuming routing computations during the actual failure event, thus maintaining network performance while minimizing routing computation time
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts routing decisions based on real-time link conditions. Packet switching devices monitor microwave link capacity and adaptively switch between normal routing and reroute paths. This dynamic approach allows the network to maintain optimal performance under varying weather conditions without requiring complex real-time optimization computations
3Device complexity
If critical traffic is maintained on diminished capacity links, then device complexity is reduced, but network reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels of service to different traffic types. Critical traffic receives prioritized handling with guaranteed delivery mechanisms, while non-critical traffic accepts lower priority routing. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain simple overall routing logic while ensuring high reliability for critical traffic even when using diminished capacity links
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements partial rerouting where only sufficient bandwidth is redirected to alternative paths to maintain critical service levels, rather than rerouting all traffic. This partial action approach maintains critical traffic delivery reliability while avoiding the complexity of complete traffic rerouting and associated timing issues
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a packet switching device receives a notification that a link has a diminished packet transport capacity. In response, the packet switching devices changes forwarding information for a portion of the packet traffic being sent over the diminished packet transport capacity link to traverse one or more reroute paths not including the diminished link, while some packet traffic continues to use the diminished packet transport capacity link. This notification can be received directly from a communications device, or via a routing protocol such as for a remote link that sent packet traffic may traverse. These rerouted paths may be precomputed and installed in forwarding data structures for fast rerouting, or computed and installed in response to receiving the notification. In one embodiment, quality of service (QoS) is adjusted in response to receiving the notification.