Centralized Ring Topology Control for Rapid Traffic Rerouting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ring topologies in Ethernet networks face challenges in maintaining high transport capacity while ensuring rapid reaction times to topology changes, often resulting in traffic not taking the shortest path due to the use of ring protection links, which slow down failure detection and handling.
Innovation Solution
A central control entity receives information about topology changes, determines affected data transfers, and issues new switching instructions to ring nodes, configuring alternative output ports to quickly reroute traffic and avoid ring protection links, thereby optimizing data paths and maintaining high transport capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a ring protection link is used to prevent loops in Ethernet ring topology, then loop-free data paths are ensured, but traffic cannot take the shortest path and overall transport capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the ring protection link status based on failure detection. When a failure is detected, the protection link is activated to restore connectivity; when no failure is present, the protection link remains inactive allowing shortest path routing. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to actual network conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
A central control entity acts as an intermediary that receives failure detection information from ring nodes, determines the optimal path, and sends switching instructions to ring nodes. This intermediary coordinates the activation of protection links, ensuring loop-free paths are maintained while maximizing transport capacity by activating protection links only when necessary.
2Adaptability or versatility
If Ethernet protocols are used for automatic data path detection and selection, then data path adaptation is achieved, but failure detection and handling is slow (in the order of seconds)
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-configures alternative paths and protection links before failures occur. Ring nodes and the central control entity have predetermined switching instructions ready, allowing immediate activation upon failure detection without requiring complex real-time path calculation, thus reducing failure handling time while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The central control entity receives real-time failure detection information from ring nodes and sends switching instructions back to them. This feedback mechanism enables rapid adaptation to topology changes by continuously monitoring network status and responding with appropriate path adjustments, reducing failure detection handling time from seconds to much faster response.
3Productivity
If a central control entity determines new paths for affected data transfers, then optimal routing is achieved, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control function is segmented between ring nodes that perform local failure detection and the central control entity that performs path determination. Ring nodes handle simple failure detection and forwarding, while the central control entity handles the more complex path calculation and switching instruction generation. This segmentation optimizes routing efficiency while distributing complexity appropriately.
Solution Approach 2:
The central control entity serves multiple functions: receiving failure detection information from any ring node, determining optimal paths for affected data transfers, and sending switching instructions to relevant ring nodes. This multi-functionality consolidates control complexity into a single entity that can efficiently manage the entire ring topology, achieving optimal routing without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling, by a central control entity (200), a topology change in a network having a ring topology with a plurality of ring nodes (110-150) via which data packets of various data transfers are transmitted to their corresponding destination nodes. The method comprising the steps of receiving information about a topology change of the ring topology of the network, determining which of the data transfers are affected by the topology change, determining, for each of the affected data transfers, a new path through the network, determining new switching instructions for ring nodes (110-150) that are affected by the new paths determined for the affected data transfers, and transmitting the new switching instructions to the affected ring nodes (110-150).