Service Flow Forwarding Link Selection Using a Bandwidth Matrix

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multicast scenarios, the process of determining a forwarding device for multicast data involves significant calculation and low efficiency due to the need for hash operations based on device identifiers and comparisons of hash values among multiple forwarding devices.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a link bandwidth matrix to determine a forwarding link for service flows, eliminating the need for hash operations on device identifiers and allowing for efficient load balancing by selecting links based on service flow identification and link statuses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If hash operations are performed based on device identifiers of multiple forwarding devices to determine the selected forwarding device, then the forwarding selection can be made, but the calculation amount increases and efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforwarding selection accuracyVSAvoidforwarding determination efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the device identifier comparison operation from the hash calculation process. Instead of performing hash operations on all forwarding device identifiers and comparing results, the system only performs hash operation on the receive end identifier and compares it directly with stored hash values, removing unnecessary computational steps

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing hash values of receive end identifiers in a forwarding table before actual data forwarding occurs. When data needs to be forwarded, the system only needs to perform a single hash operation and compare with pre-stored values, rather than calculating multiple hash values in real-time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If multiple forwarding devices each perform hash operations and compare hash values to determine the selected forwarding device, then the forwarding decision can be made, but the calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforwarding decision accuracyVSAvoidcalculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates redundant hash operations from the forwarding decision process. By storing receive end identifier hash values in advance and only performing hash operation on the current receive end identifier, the system removes multiple unnecessary hash calculations and comparisons that were previously required

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by storing the hash values of receive end identifiers in a forwarding table for future reference. Instead of recalculating hash values for each forwarding decision, the system copies and reuses pre-calculated hash values, significantly reducing calculation complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentEP4092976B1Method and apparatus for determining link forwarding service flow
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4092976B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4092976B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4092976B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

This application relates to the field of communication technologies, and discloses a method and an apparatus for determining a link for forwarding a service flow, and a storage medium. In embodiments of this application, a first forwarding device may obtain identification information of a first service flow; and determine, based on the identification information of the first service flow, a link bandwidth matrix, and link statuses respectively corresponding to N links, a first link for forwarding the first service flow. It can be learned that in embodiments of this application, a hash operation does not need to be performed based on a device identifier of each forwarding device, and a specific forwarding device that performs forwarding does not need to be determined by comparing a plurality of hash values. Therefore, an amount of calculation is small and efficiency is high.