SDN Route Selection With Standby Paths for Slice Performance

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies fail to accurately determine a communication route that meets specific performance requirements between network nodes.

Innovation Solution

A communication route determination system and method that includes device data storage, communication route determination request reception, and route determination means to identify a route satisfying performance requirements, with provisions for active and standby routes, and the ability to switch between them in case of failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If conventional transport network instantiation is executed, then network setup is performed, but accurate determination of communication routes satisfying performance requirements cannot be achieved

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroute determination accuracyVSAvoidperformance requirement satisfaction

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining both active and standby communication routes in advance before failures occur. The route determination unit calculates multiple routes satisfying performance requirements beforehand, and the communication control unit prepares to switch to standby routes when failures are detected, ensuring continuous reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by considering multiple factors including transmission delay, bandwidth, and failure status when determining communication routes. The route determination unit evaluates different route parameters against performance requirements to select optimal active and standby routes that satisfy specified constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If communication routes are determined without considering failure status, then route determination is simplified, but network reliability under failures cannot be ensured

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveroute determination complexityVSAvoidcommunication continuity under failure

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining both active and standby communication routes in advance before failures occur. The route determination unit calculates multiple routes satisfying performance requirements beforehand, and the communication control unit prepares to switch to standby routes when failures are detected, ensuring continuous reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides beforehand cushioning by pre-establishing standby communication routes that can immediately take over when active routes fail. This preparatory measure ensures that communication continuity is maintained during failures without requiring complex real-time route recalculation, thus balancing reliability with manageable complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Device complexity

If only single active communication route is used, then resource utilization is simplified, but network redundancy and fault tolerance are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication control complexityVSAvoidfault tolerance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by determining both active and standby communication routes in advance before failures occur. The route determination unit calculates multiple routes satisfying performance requirements beforehand, and the communication control unit prepares to switch to standby routes when failures are detected, ensuring continuous reliable communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by considering multiple factors including transmission delay, bandwidth, and failure status when determining communication routes. The route determination unit evaluates different route parameters against performance requirements to select optimal active and standby routes that satisfy specified constraints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12574824B2Communication route determination system and communication route determination method

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 RAKUTEN MOBILE INC

AI summary

An inventory database stores device data indicating an Internet Protocol (IP) address of a network device, performance specifications of the network device relating to the IP address, and an IP address of a network device enabled to perform IP communication with the network device. A software-defined networking (SDN) controller receives a communication route determination request in which a pair of IP addresses and a performance requirement relating to a communication route between the IP addresses are linked, and which is issued for a network slice. The SDN controller determines, based on the device data, the communication route in the network slice, which passes through at least one of the network devices, and which satisfies the performance requirement between the IP addresses.