Packet Transfer Apparatus Traffic Engineering Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional packet transfer network systems face inefficiencies in traffic engineering due to increased route management load and processing speed decrease as network scale grows, leading to overloading and decreased transfer performance, especially in terabit-class super-networks where connection routing and flow assignment calculations become impractical and congestion occurs.

Innovation Solution

A packet communication method that uses a network control server to optimize communication routes by extracting and counting lower layer address pairs, registering and transmitting information about traffic frequency, and dynamically updating tables to reduce unnecessary entries and enhance traffic engineering efficiency, allowing for simultaneous calculation and setting of connection routing and flow combinations based on traffic band and priority.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If frame transfer frequency is counted by a frame transfer apparatus which connects all packet transfer apparatuses, then traffic carrying efficiency is increased, but route management load and processing time increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic carrying efficiencyVSAvoidroute management processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the traffic counting function from the frame transfer apparatus and relocates it to the packet transfer apparatuses themselves. Each packet transfer apparatus counts the transfer frequency of frames it forwards, rather than having a central frame transfer apparatus monitor all traffic. This extraction reduces the route management load on the frame transfer apparatus while maintaining accurate traffic statistics for routing decisions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The packet transfer apparatuses perform self-monitoring of their own traffic patterns by counting frame transfer frequencies locally. Each apparatus autonomously tracks the traffic it handles and reports this information to the routing control apparatus, eliminating the need for external monitoring infrastructure and reducing centralized processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Loss of information

If all lower layer address pairs are monitored, then complete traffic information is obtained, but the quantity of monitored entries increases excessively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic information completenessVSAvoidnumber of monitored entries

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by having each packet transfer apparatus monitor only the traffic relevant to its local forwarding decisions. Instead of globally monitoring all address pairs in the network, each apparatus focuses on counting frames with destination addresses that it actually forwards, filtering out irrelevant traffic from its monitoring scope.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements partial monitoring by having packet transfer apparatuses count only a subset of address pairs - specifically those corresponding to frames they actually forward. This partial action is sufficient for routing optimization purposes without requiring complete monitoring of all possible address pairs in the network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If connection routing and flow assignment are calculated simultaneously, then resource assignment efficiency is improved, but calculation complexity and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource assignment efficiencyVSAvoidcalculation complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the routing optimization process into two independent phases: first determining connection routes based on topology and traffic patterns, then assigning flows to these established connections. This segmentation breaks down the complex simultaneous calculation into manageable sequential steps, reducing computational complexity while achieving efficient resource assignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by first establishing connection routes before assigning flows. The routing control apparatus determines the optimal connection paths in advance, then uses these pre-established routes as the basis for flow assignment. This preliminary route determination simplifies the subsequent flow assignment process and reduces overall calculation complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS7525919B2Packet communication method with increased traffic engineering efficiency

Publication Date: 2009.04.28 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE CORP

AI summary

When a lower layer address pair of a transferred lower layer frame is counted a predetermined number of times or more, a packet transfer apparatus (2) sends the lower layer address pair to a frame transfer apparatus (3). The frame transfer apparatus (3) counts the transfer frequency of the lower layer frame having the lower layer address pair.