Semi-Centralized Routing Gateway for Network Convergence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current routing protocols face challenges in maintaining compatibility with both centralized and distributed routing systems, leading to inefficiencies such as long convergence times and single-point failures, while also struggling to optimize route computation.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a semi-centralized routing system that uses a master controller and standby controllers to manage network topology and route calculations, allowing for centralized route computation while maintaining compatibility with distributed protocols like Open Shortest Path First (OSPF) and Border Gateway Protocol (BGP, and ensuring redundancy through standby controllers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a centralized routing protocol is implemented, then route computation optimization is achieved, but single-point failure risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a gateway router as an intermediary component that bridges centralized and distributed routing protocols. The gateway router receives routing information from both centralized controllers and distributed routers, performs route computation optimization centrally, while maintaining compatibility with distributed protocols like OSPF and BGP. This intermediary approach allows centralized control benefits without creating a single-point failure, as the gateway router can fail without taking down the entire routing system.
2Reliability
If distributed routing protocol is used, then system redundancy is maintained, but convergence time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing system into multiple components: centralized gateway routers that perform route computation optimization, and distributed routers that maintain local routing information and redundancy. This segmentation allows the system to enjoy both centralized efficiency for route optimization and distributed redundancy for reliability. The gateway routers handle complex route computations centrally while distributed routers maintain independent routing capabilities, enabling faster convergence without sacrificing redundancy.
3Productivity
If centralized control is implemented, then route optimization is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway router is designed with multi-functionality to handle both centralized and distributed routing protocols simultaneously. It can receive routing information from centralized controllers, perform route computation optimization, and distribute routing information to both centralized and distributed routers. This universal design reduces overall system complexity by consolidating control functions in a multi-functional gateway router rather than requiring separate systems for centralized and distributed operations.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, for semi-centralized routing. In one aspect, a computer-implemented method receives a network protocol packet at a router adapted for routing data packets to one or more additional routers. The network protocol packet conforms to a routing protocol that provides distributed routing computation. The method also sends the network protocol packet, through a controller, to a selected one of a plurality of route control servers. The method also processes the network control packet at the selected route control server to generate a routing computation result that conforms to the routing protocol. The method also generates routing information based on the routing computation. The routing information conforms to a control protocol that provides centralized routing computation. The method also sends the routing information to the router for routing of data packets based on the control protocol.