Routing Awareness Propagation for Autonomous Networks

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Unified Communication and Collaboration (UC&C) systems face challenges in managing communication quality across independently managed networks, particularly in routing communications among multiple interconnected networks, due to differences in network management and dynamic connection scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a computer-implemented method and system for optimizing communication sessions by propagating routing awareness among autonomous networks, which includes attributes such as protocol support and performance metrics, enabling entities to make informed decisions about routing and handling communication sessions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If UC&C systems utilize multiple interconnected networks to route communications, then communication flexibility and service capabilities are improved, but managing communication quality across independently managed networks becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a network adviser system as an intermediary component that mediates between multiple autonomous networks. This system collects routing awareness information from different networks, processes it centrally, and provides optimized routing recommendations, thereby simplifying the management complexity while maintaining the benefits of multiple interconnected networks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If routing decisions are made without comprehensive network awareness, then routing speed is improved, but communication quality optimization is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting decision speedVSAvoidcommunication quality
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by having network advisers continuously collect and pre-process routing awareness information about network conditions, performance metrics, and session attributes before communications need to be routed. This pre-collected information is readily available when routing decisions are needed, enabling both fast decision-making and quality optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If routing awareness information is not propagated among autonomous networks, then network autonomy is maintained, but intelligent routing decisions cannot be made

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting intelligenceVSAvoidrouting awareness information
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the routing awareness information into different types (network conditions, session attributes, performance metrics) and propagating specific segments to relevant entities. This selective information propagation maintains network autonomy while providing the necessary intelligence for routing decisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3155770B1Propagating routing awareness for autonomous networks
Publication Date: 2020.11.04 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3155770B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3155770B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3155770B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Techniques for propagating routing awareness for autonomous networks are described. In at least some embodiments, routing awareness refers to attributes of autonomous networks that route communication sessions between different endpoints. According to various embodiments, routing awareness indicates whether a particular autonomous network supports a protocol for propagating routing awareness among different autonomous networks. Routing awareness may also include performance attributes of autonomous networks. Such routing awareness enables entities involved in routing communication sessions to make informed decisions regarding routing and handling of communication sessions.