Router Selection via Multicast Redirection for Load Balancing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional router selecting methods in local area networks (LANs) with multiple routers connected to external networks are inefficient, as they often rely on terminals to select routers, leading to increased load on specific routers and inability to choose the most suitable router for specific applications, such as wireless LAN or cellular networks, due to the need for special terminal functions and manual configuration.
Innovation Solution
A router selecting method where routers periodically multicast packets with their identifiers, allowing them to autonomously select and redirect data packets to the most suitable next hop based on pre-defined conditions, such as congestion and transmission capability, without requiring additional terminal functions or manual configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If terminals select routers individually based on access capability comparison, then router selection adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases and load concentrates on specific routers
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having terminals select routers based on access capability comparison, the invention inverts the selection mechanism by having routers autonomously select each other as next-hop relay destinations. The router selection function is transferred from terminals to routers themselves, eliminating the need for complex terminal functions while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
Routers autonomously perform router selection by receiving multicast packets from other routers, determining suitable next-hop relay destinations based on network conditions, and redirecting data packets accordingly. This self-service mechanism eliminates dependency on terminal-based selection and distributes the selection intelligence across all routers in the network.
2Adaptability or versatility
If terminals select routers individually, then router selection flexibility is improved, but network efficiency deteriorates due to load concentration
Solution Approach 1:
Routers receive multicast packets from other routers containing information about access capabilities and network conditions. Based on this feedback information, routers dynamically determine suitable next-hop relay destinations and adjust packet routing accordingly, preventing load concentration and improving overall network efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The router selection mechanism is made dynamic through periodic multicast packet exchange and real-time next-hop determination. Routers can change their selected next-hop relay destinations based on changing network conditions, allowing flexible load distribution across multiple routers rather than static selection.
3Ease of operation
If conventional router selection methods are used, then implementation simplicity is maintained, but communication efficiency deteriorates due to inability to select optimal router for specific applications
Solution Approach 1:
Routers pre-determine next-hop relay destinations by receiving and processing multicast packets from other routers before actual data packet transmission. This preliminary router selection and next-hop determination allows optimal router selection for specific applications without complicating the implementation, as the selection logic is built into the router's normal operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A router includes a multicast packet transmitting unit that multicasts the identifier of the router periodically, a relay determining unit that determines whether a received data packet should be relayed to a router in another segment, an order determining unit that determines, on the basis of information included in multicast packets from the other routers, the router to which the data packet shall be transferred, and a packet relaying unit that, when the data packet is not relayed, notifies the transmission source which transmitted the packet as to the router selected by the order determining unit to be the relay destination and then transfers the data packet to the selected router. A router suitable for relaying the packet is thus selected. Since switching of the relay router may be performed by following the router redirection message, it is unnecessary to add a new function to a terminal.