Service-Based Transport Classes for Network Tunnel Mapping
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer networking technologies face challenges in efficiently disseminating network service-specific information across administrative domains, particularly in routing network traffic effectively using underlay tunnels with varying characteristics such as bandwidth and latency, which limits scalability and performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of service mapping techniques using routing protocol messages, such as BGP, to associate service routes with underlay tunnels, enabling the creation of multiple colored transport planes across domains without extensive changes to existing network devices, and allowing for scalable and modular design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If service routes are mapped to underlay tunnels using traditional routing protocols, then network traffic can be forwarded across domains, but the ability to disseminate service-specific information across administrative domains is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds service-specific information (service routes, tunnel characteristics, route targets) within existing routing protocol message structures. The service route information is nested inside underlay tunnel routing messages, allowing service-layer data to be transported through the control plane of the network infrastructure without requiring separate protocols or message types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses route targets as intermediary elements that bridge service routes and underlay tunnels. Route targets act as a mapping mechanism that allows service-specific routing information to be associated with physical tunnel characteristics, enabling indirect dissemination of service information through the routing protocol's native address family structures.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple underlay tunnels with different characteristics are used to support service routes, then service-specific traffic engineering is enabled, but the complexity of mapping service routes to appropriate tunnels increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent assigns specific route targets to underlay tunnels based on their local characteristics (bandwidth, latency, domain). Each tunnel is tagged with route targets that reflect its quality attributes, allowing service routes to be mapped to tunnels with matching characteristics. This localized quality assignment simplifies the mapping process by creating direct associations between service requirements and tunnel capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter space of routing protocol messages by introducing route targets as an additional dimension for route identification and selection. This parameter extension allows the routing system to differentiate between multiple tunnels to the same destination based on their characteristics, enabling service-specific mapping without increasing structural complexity.
3Area of stationary object
If service routes cross multiple administrative domains, then service coverage is expanded, but the propagation of service-specific information across domains becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the existing underlay routing protocol's address family structures to serve multiple functions: transporting control plane traffic, propagating service route information, and conveying tunnel characteristics. The same routing message infrastructure that supports traditional IP routing is made universal to also carry service-specific information across domain boundaries, eliminating the need for domain-specific protocols.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent pre-populates routing information bases (RIBs) with underlay tunnel routes and their associated route targets before service route installation. This preliminary action ensures that when service routes need to be propagated across domains, the target tunnels are already known and can be directly referenced, enabling efficient service information propagation without real-time computation.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques are disclosed for disseminating network service-specific mapping information across administrative domains. In one example, a network device receives an indication of a route target and one or more underlay tunnels configured to support a service route. The service route is configured to transport network traffic associated with a first network service of a plurality of network services. The network device defines, based on the indication, a first transport class of a plurality of transport classes. The network device receives a service route for the first network service and stores a correspondence between the service route and the first transport class. The network device receives network traffic associated with the first network service and forwards, based on the correspondence, the network traffic along the underlay tunnels specified by the first transport class.