Sequence Number Zone Distribution for Distributed Switch Accuracy

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In distributed switches with interconnected forwarders, zone information updates are inefficient due to the potential for zone distribution messages being received out of order, leading to incomplete or incorrect allocation/deallocation of ports, which can result in security issues and incorrect communication links.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a sequence number system for zone distribution messages to ensure that data forwarders reject messages with lower sequence numbers than the last accepted message, causing the controlling forwarder to rebuild and update the message with current connection information, thereby maintaining accurate and secure port allocation/deallocation records.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If zone distribution messages are transmitted without sequence numbers, then the system operates with simpler message structure, but zone information updates become incorrect when messages are received out of order

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezone information update accuracyVSAvoidmessage structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A sequence number is introduced as an intermediary element in zone distribution messages. This sequence number acts as a mediator that enables data forwarders to correctly order and process zone information updates even when messages arrive out of order over the Ethernet network, thereby maintaining update accuracy without requiring complex retransmission protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The zone distribution message structure is enhanced by adding a sequence number parameter. This parameter change allows the system to track and order messages chronologically, ensuring that zone information updates are applied in the correct sequence regardless of network delivery order, thus resolving the accuracy issue while maintaining relatively simple message structure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If out-of-order zone distribution messages are processed, then message processing speed increases, but security issues arise due to incorrect port allocation/deallocation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage processing speedVSAvoidport allocation security

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Sequence numbers are preliminarily assigned to zone distribution messages before transmission. This preliminary action enables data forwarders to perform a simple sequence number comparison upon message receipt to determine whether to process the message, allowing fast rejection of outdated messages while maintaining security by ensuring only valid sequential updates are applied

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The sequence number mechanism provides feedback to the data forwarder about the current state of zone information updates. By comparing the received sequence number with the expected next sequence number, the system receives immediate feedback on whether the message should be processed, enabling both fast processing and secure port allocation/deallocation decisions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Manufacturing precision

If sequence number checking is implemented, then zone information accuracy is maintained, but additional processing overhead is introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvezone information update accuracyVSAvoidmessage processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The sequence number is implemented as a simple, lightweight integer parameter that requires minimal processing resources. This 'cheap' numerical check can be performed rapidly compared to more complex validation mechanisms, maintaining high zone information update accuracy while introducing negligible processing time overhead

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentUS9054949B2Updating zone information in a distributed switch of data forwarders

Publication Date: 2015.06.09 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Provided are a computer program product, system, and method for updating zone information in a distributed switch of data forwarders. For each data forwarder, a sequence number is maintained for zone distribution messages sent to the data forwarder. A change to the ports in the network is detected comprising at least one of an allocation or deallocation of at least one port in the network. The sequence number for each data forwarder is incremented in response to detecting the change. For each data forwarder, a zone distribution message is generated indicating the at least one port allocated and/or deallocated, port information indicating each port in the network that may communicate with each other port, and the sequence number for the data forwarder. The generated zone distribution message is transmitted for each data forwarder to the data forwarder for which the zone distribution message was added.