Route Target Attribute Generation for BGP MPLS VPNs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Service Providers face complexity and inefficiency in managing route target attributes for BGP/MPLS VPNs due to the large number of customers with varying VPN topologies, leading to errors and increased complexity in managing thousands of routes and customer policies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method to generate a minimal set of unique route target attributes by computing permutations of data flows between customer sites and identifying unique permutations, eliminating duplicates, thereby reducing the quantity of route target attributes needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If Service Providers randomly generate and assign RT values for each customer VPN, then all customer VPN topologies can be supported, but the quantity of RT values becomes exceedingly large making assignment complicated and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter approach from randomly generating RT values to systematically computing them based on permutation formulas. Instead of arbitrary assignment, RT values are derived from mathematical permutations of data flow patterns, transforming the parameter generation method to reduce quantity while maintaining topology support capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent identifies and eliminates duplicate RT value assignments by recognizing that identical data flow permutations should use the same RT values. By copying the pattern recognition approach, the system avoids generating redundant RT values for duplicate traffic flows, thereby reducing the total quantity of RT values needed.
2Reliability
If Service Providers manage RT values for thousands of customers with multiple VPNs, then comprehensive route control is achieved, but the amount of information required for management increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential unique data flow permutation patterns from the complete set of customer VPN configurations. By taking out and identifying only the unique permutations rather than managing all individual RT assignments, the system reduces the information burden while preserving the ability to accurately control routes for all customers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal RT value assignment system where a single computed RT value can serve multiple identical data flow patterns across different customers. This multi-functional approach allows one RT value to handle multiple equivalent routing scenarios, reducing the total information required for management while maintaining comprehensive route control.
3Adaptability or versatility
If Service Providers assign RT values without eliminating duplicates, then all possible data flow permutations are covered, but unnecessary redundancies increase management complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service computational approach where the system automatically identifies and eliminates duplicate RT value assignments through permutation analysis. Rather than requiring manual review of each RT assignment, the system serves itself by computing which RT values are unique and which are redundant, thereby improving management efficiency while maintaining complete permutation coverage.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for, and method of, generating a minimum quantity of route target attributes is described. According to a method embodiment, a minimal set of unique permutations of data flows between sites of one or more Virtual Private Network (VPNs) is computed by comparing permutations of data flows to and from each site of a customer (i.e., variations of connectivity between sites) and identifying which permutation of data flows are unique while ignoring any duplicate permutations of data flows. Unique route target attributes are then generated, each route target attribute corresponding to a particular one of the unique permutations of data flows. Typically, the quantity of unique route target numbers generated is equal to the minimum quantity of unique permutations of data flows.