Router Backup Level Selection in Transport Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network architectures fail to efficiently differentiate backup mechanisms in transport networks based on the specific requirements of packet communications networks, leading to unjustified resource consumption and inefficient interactions between backup mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the required backup level and route for data packets in a packet communications network, utilizing a table that classifies links of the transport network by backup level, allowing for the selection of appropriate links based on the packet's requirements, thereby optimizing resource usage and avoiding harmful interactions between network mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a high level of back-up is chosen in the transport network, then the reliability of streams requiring high back-up is improved, but the resource consumption increases unjustifiably for streams that would otherwise require only a lower level of back-up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating back-up levels for different streams within the same transport network. Instead of uniformly applying high back-up to all traffic, the system identifies specific streams requiring high reliability (e.g., real-time applications with break duration < 100ms) and applies appropriate back-up mechanisms only to those streams, while using lower back-up levels for more tolerant streams.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments traffic into different streams based on their back-up requirements. Each stream is characterized by identification elements (source/destination addresses, protocol type, port numbers) and assigned to appropriate back-up levels. This segmentation allows the transport network to apply differentiated back-up mechanisms, avoiding the resource waste of applying uniform high back-up to all traffic.
2Loss of energy
If differentiated back-up mechanisms are provided in the transport network, then the resource consumption is optimized, but the complexity of coordinating between packet communications network and transport network back-up mechanisms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a correspondence table stored in routing tables at network edges. This table maps streams to their required back-up levels and links to appropriate transport network connections. The intermediary structure enables automatic coordination between packet communications network routing decisions and transport network back-up mechanisms, reducing the complexity of direct coordination while optimizing resource usage.
3Ease of manufacture
If all traffic is backed up to the same level, then the implementation is simplified, but the resource consumption increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of back-up level from a uniform fixed value to a variable parameter that depends on stream characteristics. By modifying the back-up level parameter based on identified stream requirements (real-time vs. non real-time applications), the system achieves both implementation feasibility through automated classification and significant resource optimization by matching back-up levels to actual needs.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of routing a data packet via a router (12) in a packet communications network (1) supported by a transport network, said method including a step of determining from said packet a required back-up level and a required route. It further includes:a preliminary step of establishing a table storing for a given route links (Ifp1-Ifp6) of the transport network able to provide said route and classified by back-up level; anda step of selecting a link of said transport network in the table on the basis of the required back-up level and the required route.