Stateful PCE LSP State Reporting Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Stateful Path Computation Elements (PCEs) face overload and inefficiencies due to transient LSP state reports, requiring high computational resources and deployment costs, and lack flexibility in managing LSP state reporting, especially during mode transitions from stateful to stateless operations.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a state reporting control method that allows flexible subscription and unsubscription of LSP state reports between PCEs and PCCs, using a subscription initialization module, update module, and reporting processing module to manage LSP state reporting based on PCE needs, enabling point-by-point synchronization and reducing unnecessary traffic data generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the PCC reports LSP state immediately after session establishment with a stateful PCE, then the LSP state synchronization is achieved, but the PCE becomes overloaded and cannot process in time

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLSP state synchronizationVSAvoidPCE processing capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic or scheduled state reporting instead of immediate continuous reporting. The PCE can control the reporting frequency and timing of LSP state updates from PCCs, transforming the continuous reporting burden into periodic updates that the PCE can process efficiently while maintaining synchronization reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If the stateful PCE uses locally stored backup for recovery, then the PCE can recover after restart, but the computational amount is large and I/O burden is aggravated

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovePCE recovery capabilityVSAvoidI/O burden and computational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the state data storage function from the PCE itself and stores it externally at the PCC or in a distributed manner. When PCE needs recovery, it can retrieve state information from these external sources rather than performing heavy computational reconstruction or reading from local backup, significantly reducing I/O burden and computational overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates copies of the LSP state information and distributes them to multiple locations (PCCs, external databases). This allows the PCE to recover by obtaining copies from these distributed sources rather than reconstructing state data computationally, reducing both I/O burden and processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If the stateful PCE switches to stateless mode by disconnecting all PCEP sessions, then the mode transition is achieved, but the network is heavily influenced and capability is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveMode switching capabilityVSAvoidNetwork stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic mode switching capability where the PCE can transition between stateful and stateless modes without disconnecting PCEP sessions. The system dynamically adjusts its operational characteristics based on mode requirements while maintaining session continuity, thereby achieving adaptability without causing network disruption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent designs the PCE to possess universal functionality that encompasses both stateful and stateless operational modes within a single session framework. This multi-functionality allows the PCE to switch modes without requiring separate session establishments, maintaining network stability while achieving versatile mode adaptation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3276889B1State report control method and apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.06.23 ZTE CORP
  • EP3276889B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3276889B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3276889B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

Disclosed is a state reporting control method, which is applied to a stateful path computation element and includes: setting and notifying an initial subscription state of an LSP state report of a PCC node in a process of session initialization with the PCC node; and sending a subscription update request to the PCC node to subscribe or unsubscribe the LSP state report of the PCC node. The above technical solution can enable the stateful path computation element to flexibly control the flow of reporting the LSP state report by the PCC node.