Routing Protocol Compression Signaling for WAN Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current WAN accelerators require manual configuration and proprietary mechanisms to achieve maximum throughput, limiting the efficiency of data compression across wide area networks and increasing the complexity of network performance optimization.
Innovation Solution
The method involves signaling compression information between customer edge routers using enhanced routing protocols, such as BGP and OSPF, to automatically match and apply suitable compression techniques, optimizing data transmission without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual configuration and proprietary mechanisms are used for WAN acceleration, then compression throughput can be achieved, but network complexity and configuration effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables customer edge routers to automatically signal their compression capabilities to provider edge routers through routing protocol extensions. The routers autonomously negotiate and select compatible compression techniques without requiring manual operator configuration, allowing the network to self-configure for optimal WAN acceleration while maintaining high compression throughput
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extends existing standard routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, IS-IS) to carry compression capability information, making the compression functionality universally applicable across different router vendors and network architectures. This multi-functional approach allows the same routing protocol infrastructure to simultaneously perform route advertisement and compression capability signaling, eliminating the need for proprietary configuration mechanisms
2Productivity
If manual configuration is required for compression techniques, then compression can be applied, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to operator intervention needs
Solution Approach 1:
Customer edge routers automatically advertise their supported compression algorithms through extended routing protocol messages. Provider edge routers receive these advertisements, automatically match compatible compression techniques, and configure the compression settings without any operator intervention. This self-service mechanism maintains high data transmission efficiency while dramatically improving ease of operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary capability advertisement during the route establishment phase. Customer edge routers pre-signal their compression capabilities before actual data transmission begins, allowing provider edge routers to pre-configure the appropriate compression techniques. This preliminary action ensures compression is ready immediately when needed, maintaining efficiency while eliminating configuration effort
3Productivity
If proprietary mechanisms are used for WAN acceleration, then compression throughput improves, but adaptability across different network architectures decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention achieves universal adaptability by extending standard, widely-deployed routing protocols (OSPF, BGP, IS-IS) to carry compression capability information. This approach allows the compression functionality to work across diverse network architectures, different vendor equipment, and various routing protocol selections while maintaining high compression throughput through standardized capability advertisement and matching mechanisms
Data Source
AI summary
An ability to compress packets is announced from a customer edge router (CE) to other CEs through a routing protocol packet. An announcement of that ability is received from another CE through a routing protocol packet. A compression technique is then matched. The CE receives compression information from the other CE in a routing protocol packet, and determines that a compression technique identified therein matches any compression technique the CE is programmed to use. The CE then flags packets transmitted from/received by the CE to be compressed/decompressed according to the matched compression technique. Alternatively, the CE may match by transmitting compression information identifying a compression technique to the another CE in a routing protocol packet; the another CE receives the routing protocol packet and determines that a compression technique identified in the compression information of the routing protocol packet matches any compression technique the another CE is programmed to use.