Service-card load distribution via routing control processor

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional service providing systems face bandwidth congestion on the backplane due to inefficient load distribution between line cards and service cards, as data streams often ingress on different line cards, leading to unnecessary bandwidth usage and difficulty in changing anchor points without disrupting data traffic.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilize a routing control processor to determine the most appropriate line card for anchoring data sessions based on process information from a link aggregation device, reducing backplane bandwidth usage by directing data packets to the line card most likely to receive them, and selecting line cards that minimize backplane bandwidth costs when specialized services are required.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If data streams are anchored on service cards using local logic and hash functions during control session, then load distribution across service cards is achieved, but backplane bandwidth congestion occurs when data streams ingress on different line cards

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload distribution efficiencyVSAvoidbackplane bandwidth usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by determining the ingress line card during the control session phase, before data traffic arrives. The routing control processor uses this advance knowledge to anchor data sessions to the correct service cards, ensuring data packets arrive at the right destination without requiring backplane forwarding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using information about which line card will receive data packets (determined during control session) to influence the anchoring decision. The routing control processor receives feedback about incoming data packet destinations and uses this information to make intelligent anchoring decisions that minimize backplane bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If control traffic and data traffic are distributed using different hashing logic, then traffic distribution flexibility is improved, but anchor determination accuracy deteriorates because the anchoring line card cannot be predicted during control phase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic distribution flexibilityVSAvoidanchor determination accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by determining the ingress line card during the control session phase, before data traffic arrives. The routing control processor uses this advance knowledge to anchor data sessions to the correct service cards, ensuring data packets arrive at the right destination without requiring backplane forwarding operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by using information about which line card will receive data packets (determined during control session) to influence the anchoring decision. The routing control processor receives feedback about incoming data packet destinations and uses this information to make intelligent anchoring decisions that minimize backplane bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If data sessions are anchored during control session, then session establishment is efficient, but changing anchor points becomes difficult and disrupts data traffic flow

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesession establishment efficiencyVSAvoidanchor reconfiguration flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making the data session anchor flexible and changeable. The routing control processor can dynamically reassign data sessions to different service cards based on current network conditions and ingress patterns. This dynamic approach allows anchor points to be adjusted without disrupting overall data traffic flow, as the system can smoothly transition sessions to new anchors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8699373B1Service-card load distribution

Publication Date: 2014.04.15 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for anchoring a data session to a line card. The system includes a networking device that includes multiple line cards, which receive incoming packets from a link aggregation device. The line cards are communicatively coupled by a backplane to a routing control processor, which receives from the link aggregation device process information indicative of a process by which the link aggregation device determines to which line card data packets associated with a data session are forwarded. The routing control processor also receives a control packet requesting initiation of a new data session. Then, the routing control processor determines to which line card the link aggregation device will be forwarding data packets associated with the new data session based on the received process information and anchors the new data session based on the determined line card.