Server Controlled Routing System Using Opaque Labels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current content distribution networks face challenges in managing high traffic scenarios due to the limitations of existing network protocols, which lack intelligence to adapt to bandwidth overloading, leading to costly infrastructure requirements and inefficient traffic management.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves shifting routing decisions from network equipment to host servers, enabling IP packets to be forwarded based on opaque labels, allowing for conditional routing policies that adjust based on real-time network utilization, thereby optimizing traffic distribution and reducing the need for advanced network equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If network equipment makes independent forwarding decisions based on configurable preferences, then routing flexibility is maintained, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the routing decision-making function from network equipment (routers/switches) and relocates it to host servers. The network equipment no longer performs complex route calculations or maintains routing tables, instead simply forwarding packets based on label matching. This extraction resolves the contradiction by maintaining routing flexibility through server-based control while dramatically simplifying network equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces opaque labels as an intermediary mechanism between host servers and network equipment. Servers attach labels to packets that encode routing information, and network equipment uses these labels to make forwarding decisions without needing intelligence. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling flexible routing policies while keeping network equipment simple.
2Adaptability or versatility
If network equipment performs route calculation based on destination IP address, then routing intelligence is maintained, but capital expenditure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the route calculation function from network equipment and places it in host servers. Servers calculate routes based on destination IP addresses and attach appropriate opaque labels to packets. Network equipment becomes simple label-matching forwarding devices, reducing capital expenditure while maintaining routing intelligence at the server layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive intelligent network equipment with cheap, simple forwarding devices that only match labels against forwarding tables. The intelligence is moved to servers that can be software-updated without hardware changes. This substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining routing intelligence while dramatically reducing capital expenditure on network infrastructure.
3Device complexity
If simple route selection algorithms are used, then network protocol simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to high traffic scenarios deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic routing policies where servers can adjust label assignments based on real-time network conditions such as traffic load, link utilization, and AS capacity. This allows the system to adapt to high traffic scenarios dynamically while keeping the underlying forwarding mechanism simple and static at network equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where servers monitor network utilization and traffic patterns, then adjust routing decisions by selecting different opaque labels for subsequent packets. This feedback loop enables adaptability to changing traffic scenarios while maintaining simple forwarding rules at network equipment, resolving the contradiction between protocol simplicity and traffic adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a content distribution system with a server controlled routing mechanism is disclosed. The method includes: collecting prefix entries from an autonomous system; receiving a content request to send a particular digital content to a prefix; generating, at a host server, an opaque label based on the autonomous system for an Internet protocol (IP) packet of the digital content when the prefix is listed in the prefix entries collected from the autonomous systems; and forwarding the IP packet out of an egress interface of a network equipment, the egress interface associated with the opaque label.