Selective Packet Tagging for Redundant Route Branching

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Solution Overview

Problem

The uninterruptible switching control in networks burdens the reception device as the flow rate increases, particularly due to the need for higher memory performance to manage redundant routes, leading to potential performance deficiencies as the number of users grows.

Innovation Solution

A transmission device with a flow storage unit, transmission-side identification unit, tag application unit, and branch unit that identifies and tags packets from target flows, allowing them to be selectively routed through redundant paths, reducing the burden on the reception device by only applying uninterruptible switching control to designated target flows.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If uninterruptible switching control is applied to all flows, then packet loss is prevented, but the burden on the reception device increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket loss preventionVSAvoidreception device burden

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by differentiating treatment based on flow characteristics. Not all flows receive uninterruptible switching control, but only those identified as target flows. This selective application reduces the reception device burden while maintaining reliability for critical flows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by applying uninterruptible switching control only to a subset of flows (target flows) rather than all flows. This partial application reduces the overall burden on the reception device while still providing protection where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Reliability

If redundant routes are used for all flows, then communication continuity is ensured, but memory capacity requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication continuityVSAvoidmemory capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing redundant routes only for target flows that require uninterrupted communication, rather than for all flows. This selective approach reduces the total memory capacity required at the reception device while maintaining communication continuity for critical flows.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If all packets are buffered at the reception device, then packet loss is prevented, but processing speed requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket loss preventionVSAvoidmemory processing speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements partial action by buffering only packets from target flows rather than all packets. This reduces the processing speed requirements at the reception device while still preventing packet loss for the critical flows that require uninterruptible switching control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11750535B2Transmitting device, receiving device, packet transfer system,packet transfer method, and packet transfer program

Publication Date: 2023.09.05 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

A transmission device (10) includes a flow table (11) that stores identification information about an uninterruptible target flow; a transmission-side identification unit (12) that identifies whether a received packet is from the target flow or a non-target flow based on whether the received packet matches the identification information about the target flow stored in the flow table (11); a tag application unit (13) that applies, to packets from the target flow, an uninterruptible identifier indicating that the packets are from the target flow and a sequence number for distinguishing the packets from other packets; and a branch unit (14) that branches the packets from the target flow processed by the tag application unit (13) into packets to be transferred to an active path (41) among redundant routes and packets to be transferred to a backup path (42) among the redundant routes.