Route Server Maintaining Multiple BGP Views for Full Route Listings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network communication systems face challenges in efficiently connecting multiple users to multiple network providers while offering long-term contracts and bandwidth guarantees, as they often rely on standard BGP routers that maintain only one view of the routing table and lack the ability to provide users with full listings of all possible routes to destination addresses.
Innovation Solution
A route server is programmed to connect users to multiple Internet network service providers, maintaining multiple views of the routing table and implementing multiple BGP instances, allowing users to select from the best possible routes and full listings of all routes, thereby enabling bidirectional communication and additional peering sessions for enhanced routing decisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If standard BGP routers are used to connect users to network providers, then the routing system is simple and reliable, but users can only receive the best route and cannot see full listings of all possible routes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing information by maintaining separate views of the routing table for different users. Each user receives a customized view containing only the routes relevant to their criteria, while the system maintains the complete routing table internally. This allows users to access filtered route information without exposing the entire complex routing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The route server acts as an intermediary between users and the full routing table. It receives routing information from multiple network providers, processes and filters it according to user criteria, and presents customized route lists to users. This mediator approach allows users to access routing information without directly connecting to the complex BGP routing infrastructure.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple BGP instances and multiple views of routing table are implemented, then users can select from multiple providers and customize routing paths, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The route server is designed as a multi-functional system that handles multiple BGP instances, maintains multiple routing table views, and serves multiple users with different routing criteria. This universal design allows a single route server to accommodate diverse routing needs without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nested routing table views where each user view is contained within the broader routing table structure. Multiple BGP instances are nested within the route server, with each instance maintaining its own routing table view. This nesting allows hierarchical organization of routing information, enabling the system to manage complexity through structured containment.
3Reliability
If long-term contracts and bandwidth minimum guarantees are required, then network providers ensure service reliability, but user flexibility and ability to switch providers is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The routing system is designed to be dynamic rather than static. Users can change their routing criteria and select different providers in real-time without being bound by long-term contracts. The route server dynamically processes user requests and updates routing decisions based on current user preferences and network conditions, enabling flexible provider selection while maintaining service reliability through active route management.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, apparatus, and system are described for a route server that connects network users to network providers. The route server may connect to network elements, including routers, from a plurality of Internet network service providers (ISP) to the network elements of a plurality of users through the route server. The route server also may make routing decisions for the plurality of users and the plurality of ISPs and is programmed to maintain multiple views of the routing table as well as implement multiple BGP instances, each instance representing different autonomous systems, in a single instance of the route server. The route server also may match a first user to one or more of the ISPs based on criteria including not only the best possible routes of each ISP but a full listing of all possible routes to a destination address from each ISP matching the user's criteria in order to construct a route table to get IP packets of a user to a destination address.