Network Node Malfunction Detection via Reverse Source Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In telecommunication networks like the Internet, when a connection between routers is broken, packets can be lost during the transmission of response messages, making it impossible for the sender to identify the origin of the malfunction since error messages are delivered to the receiver instead of the sender.
Innovation Solution
A method that generates supplemental packets with predetermined routes, separate from dynamic routing, to inform the sender of request malfunctions by using the Record Route and Source Routing options to record and reverse the route of the request, ensuring the sender receives information about network elements functioning correctly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dynamic routing is used to forward packets optimally, then packet transmission efficiency is improved, but error identification capability deteriorates when connection failures occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing function into two independent paths: a dynamic routing path for optimal packet transmission and a predetermined routing path for error message delivery. This segmentation allows each path to serve its specific purpose without interference, resolving the contradiction between transmission efficiency and error identification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces predetermined routing tables as intermediaries that specifically handle error message delivery. These routing tables act as mediators between the dynamic routing system and the error notification mechanism, ensuring that error information reaches the sender regardless of dynamic routing failures.
2Device complexity
If error messages are sent through the same dynamic routing path, then network simplicity is maintained, but reliability of error notification deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing functionality by creating separate predetermined routing tables dedicated to error message delivery. This segmentation ensures that error notifications follow a reliable predetermined path independent of the dynamic routing path, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing overall network complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making the error message routing path have different characteristics from the data packet routing path. The predetermined routing tables provide stable, reliable routing specifically for error messages, while the dynamic routing tables continue to optimize data packet transmission based on current network conditions.
3Measurement precision
If supplemental packets with predetermined routes are added, then error identification accuracy is improved, but data traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the error notification function from the main data packet flow by using separate supplemental packets with predetermined routes. This extraction allows error information to be transmitted independently through a dedicated path, improving identification accuracy while minimizing the impact on overall data traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating supplemental packets that replicate the essential error information from the original data packets. These copied error messages are then transmitted through predetermined routing tables, allowing the sender to receive accurate error identification information without the supplemental packets carrying redundant data.
Data Source
AI summary
The request for the response from the sender to the receiver is dynamically routed via a first route traversing the network nodes. Addresses of the traversed network nodes are recorded in an order of traversing in the request. A second route is determined based on the recorded addresses of the nodes. A supplemental packet is generated. The supplemental packet is transmitted to the sender of the request via the determined second route, from a node address to a node address. The response is dynamically routed to the sender of the request by reversely traversing the first route.