Provider Edge Device Traffic Monitoring for Routing Failures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional redundant configurations using BGP and HSRP fail to detect failures in data traffic routing, leading to corrupted routing tables and continued data transfer through faulty routes, which can result in data losses and delayed rerouting in network failures.
Innovation Solution
A communication system with a Provider Edge device and a Customer Edge device that employs control, monitoring, and detection means to set the Customer Edge device to an inactive state when data traffic failures are detected, enabling a swift switch to a secondary route, thereby preventing data losses and ensuring secure routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If dynamic BGP routing is used to provide redundant connections, then network flexibility and routing adaptability are improved, but routing table corruption and detection failures occur leading to data loss
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a monitoring system that continuously tracks data traffic flow between PE and CE devices. When traffic falls below a threshold for a specified time period, or when TCP acknowledgment packets are not received, the system detects routing failures and triggers state changes. This feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by providing real-time detection of routing table corruption while maintaining dynamic routing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies HSRP protocol to maintain standby CE devices in advance before failures occur. The standby devices are pre-configured and ready to activate immediately when primary CE devices fail or routing table corruption is detected. This preliminary preparation eliminates detection delays and ensures continuous reliable routing without sacrificing the adaptability of dynamic BGP routing.
2Reliability
If HSRP protocol is applied to secure redundant subscriptions, then connection reliability is improved, but failure detection capability deteriorates in corrupted routing scenarios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges HSRP protocol with active monitoring of data traffic flow and TCP acknowledgment packet reception. This combination allows the system to maintain connection reliability through HSRP's standby mechanisms while simultaneously detecting routing table corruption through independent monitoring of actual data traffic. The merged approach resolves the contradiction by adding detection capability without compromising connection reliability.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If Edge routers continue routing via corrupted routes, then routing continuity is maintained, but data loss increases and rerouting is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The monitoring system continuously provides feedback on data traffic flow status and TCP acknowledgment reception. When failures are detected, the system immediately triggers state changes to switch from primary to standby CE devices. This real-time feedback mechanism resolves the contradiction by detecting routing corruption promptly and initiating rerouting, thus maintaining routing continuity while preventing data loss through immediate corrective action.
Solution Approach 2:
Standby CE devices are pre-configured through HSRP protocol before failures occur, with all necessary routing information and connections prepared in advance. When routing table corruption is detected, these pre-prepared standby devices can activate immediately without detection or configuration delays. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by ensuring both routing continuity and data transmission reliability through instant failover.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system and a method for routing data traffic from and to a backbone network where a first Provider Edge device (302) routes data traffic between a first Customer Edge device (304) and the backbone network via a primary route (306), the first Customer Edge device (304) providing a primary connection to the backbone network, and the first Customer Edge device (304) is adapted to be in an active state or an inactive state, in which inactive state the first Customer Edge device (304) is disabled for any routing. The communication system and method provide: monitoring (501, 503) of the data traffic of the first Customer Edge device (304); detection of failure (502, 504) of the data traffic of the first Customer Edge device (304); setting of the state (506) of the first Customer Edge device (304) to the inactive state when failure of the data traffic of the first Customer Edge device (304) is detected; and provision of a secondary connection to the backbone network via a secondary route (318). At least one computer program product (6021, ..., 602n) comprising software code portions for performing the steps of the method.