SDN Forwarding Element Selective Control Signaling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional SDN architecture networks face issues with unnecessary forwarding of control signaling traffic, leading to traffic congestion and misallocation of resources due to limitations in the forwarding mechanism and interface between the SDN controller and forwarding elements, which only allow modification based on IP 5-tuple information, failing to distinguish between user data and control data packets.
Innovation Solution
Modifying the interface between the SDN controller and forwarding elements to include OSI layer 7 information, enabling deeper packet inspection and selective forwarding of control data packets based on application layer information, thereby reducing unnecessary forwarding and processing load on nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the forwarding mechanism is modified to include OSI layer 7 information for deeper packet inspection, then the ability to selectively forward control signaling packets is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The forwarding mechanism is segmented into multiple processing stages: initial packet reception, OSI layer 7 information extraction, matching against stored chains, and selective forwarding decisions. This segmentation allows deep packet inspection to be performed in a structured manner rather than as a monolithic complex process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary matching process between extracted OSI layer 7 information and stored chains (which contain application layer information). This intermediary matching mechanism acts as a bridge that enables selective forwarding without requiring the entire forwarding mechanism to be fundamentally redesigned, thus managing complexity while achieving precise inspection.
2Device complexity
If all control signaling packets are forwarded to all nodes as in conventional SDN, then simplicity of the forwarding mechanism is maintained, but traffic congestion and resource misallocation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring forwarding elements with chains containing OSI layer 7 information and corresponding forwarding rules. This preliminary configuration enables forwarding elements to make intelligent selective forwarding decisions without requiring complex real-time analysis, thus avoiding traffic congestion while maintaining forwarding intelligence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by enabling each forwarding element to independently inspect packets and apply selective forwarding based on local matching of OSI layer 7 information against stored chains. This distributes the intelligence for traffic optimization across multiple forwarding elements rather than requiring centralized control, improving resource efficiency while keeping individual forwarding mechanisms relatively simple.
3Measurement precision
If deeper packet inspection based on OSI layer 7 information is implemented, then selective forwarding of relevant control signaling is achieved, but the processing load on forwarding elements increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial action by having forwarding elements extract and inspect only the necessary OSI layer 7 information required for matching against stored chains, rather than performing complete deep packet inspection of all packet contents. This selective extraction approach achieves sufficient classification accuracy while minimizing processing capacity consumption.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the interface between SDN controller and forwarding elements is modified to convey OSI layer 7 information, then the ability to program network control is improved, but the interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modified interface is designed with multi-functionality, serving both traditional forwarding control functions and the new function of conveying OSI layer 7 information for selective forwarding. By making the interface universal rather than creating separate specialized interfaces, the patent improves network control programmability while limiting the increase in interface complexity through consolidation rather than proliferation of interfaces.
Data Source
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AI summary
There is provided a software-defined networking, SDN, architecture network, comprising a first network node (100) and a second network node (300), the first network node being configured to transmit data packets comprising: user data packets belonging to two or more user data packet flows, the user data packets of each user data packet flow comprising user data plane information; and control data packets each comprising OSI layer 7, L7, information for controlling the processing by the second node of the user data packets of a respective one of the user data packet flows. The SDN architecture network further comprises an SDN architecture forwarding element configured to forward user data packets received from the first node towards the second node using forwarding information that links a forwarding address to information in an IP 5-tuple of a data packet. The forwarding element is further configured to selectively forward a control data packet received from the first node towards the second node by: receiving and storing L7 information and the forwarding information; performing deep-packet inspection of the received control data packet to extract the L7 information therein, and selecting the received control data packet for forwarding towards the second node when the received control data packet comprises L7 information matching the stored L7 information; determining information in the IP 5-tuple of the received control data packet; and, where the received control data packet has been selected for forwarding, forwarding said control data packet towards the second node using the forwarding information and the information in the IP 5-tuple of the control data packet. The SDN architecture network also includes a controller (620) configured to transmit the L7 information and the forwarding information to the forwarding element (610).