Segment Routing Network Cross-Domain Information Exchange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current service bearer networks face complexities due to multiple routing protocols and lack dynamic bandwidth adjustment, especially in cross-domain scenarios where segment routing information cannot be effectively exchanged across domains, hindering network load balancing and path adjustments.

Innovation Solution

The method involves extending the multi-protocol border gateway protocol (MP-BGP) to notify and interchange segment routing information between cross-domain nodes, using enhanced BGP messages to carry segment routing global blocks and indices, enabling SR information exchange across different autonomous systems and domains.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional routing protocols (OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, LDP, RSVP-TE) are deployed in service bearer networks, then bandwidth reservation and traffic engineering can be implemented, but the deployment becomes complicated with many types of routing protocols and cannot achieve dynamic path adjustment

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth reservation capabilityVSAvoiddeployment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple routing protocols (OSPF, IS-IS, BGP, LDP, RSVP-TE) into a unified segment routing framework. By merging these protocols' functions into a single SR architecture using IGP extensions, the system maintains bandwidth reservation capabilities while reducing deployment complexity through protocol consolidation and unified forwarding mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a universal segment routing platform that can perform multiple functions previously requiring separate protocols. The SR framework with IGP extensions provides routing, labeling, and traffic engineering capabilities in a single system, making the network infrastructure multi-functional and reducing the need for multiple specialized protocol deployments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If destination-based forwarding is used in service bearer networks, then routing can be implemented, but dynamic path adjustment and load balancing cannot be achieved when link congestion occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting implementationVSAvoiddynamic path adjustment capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic path adjustment by enabling source-based routing through segment routing labels. The system can dynamically select and switch between different paths based on real-time network conditions, allowing adaptive load balancing and congestion avoidance while maintaining ease of operation through automated control plane functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the routing parameter from destination address to segment routing labels that encode path information. This parameter change enables the network to specify exact paths through the use of label stacks representing sequence of nodes, allowing dynamic path adjustment and load balancing while keeping the forwarding mechanism simple and efficient.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If full-mesh RSVP-TE is deployed to achieve perfect bandwidth protection, then bandwidth protection is improved, but resource consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth protectionVSAvoidresource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial mesh segment routing instead of full-mesh RSVP-TE deployment. By implementing SR on selected critical paths and using IGP for other routes, the system achieves adequate bandwidth protection for most traffic flows while consuming fewer network resources, avoiding the excessive resource overhead of complete full-mesh deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3200402B1Segment routing information obtainment method and segment routing network establishment method
Publication Date: 2019.03.27 ZTE CORP
  • EP3200402B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3200402B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3200402B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A segment routing (SR) information acquisition method and an SR network establishment method are provided, the SR information acquisition method includes: notifying each other the SR information between nodes in an Autonomous System (AS) domain within SR domain through an internal gateway protocol (IGP); notifying and interchanging the SR information between cross-domain nodes within SR domain through an extended multi-protocol border gateway protocol (MP-BGP), or notifying and interchanging the SR information between border nodes within the AS domain and the cross-domain nodes through the MP-BGP.