Network Slice Traffic Steering via BGP Flowspec Messages
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks lack the capability to steer data packets to network slices based on existing Flow Specification (Flowspec) implementations.
Innovation Solution
A control device sends a control message to an ingress node of a network slice, which includes traffic steering match and action items, enabling network devices to steer data packets to the appropriate network slice by determining forwarding entries based on these items.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing BGP Flowspec implementation is used, then centralized traffic management is achieved, but network slice traffic steering capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds network slice identification fields and steering instructions within the existing BGP Flowspec message structure. The control message contains both traditional Flowspec matching rules and nested network slice-specific information (slice ID, steering action), allowing the system to maintain compatibility with existing Flowspec processing while adding slice steering functionality inside the same protocol framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the BGP Flowspec protocol to serve multiple functions: traditional traffic filtering and routing, plus new network slice identification and steering capabilities. The control message structure is designed to be universal, supporting both conventional Flowspec operations and slice-specific steering through optional information elements that can be interpreted by different network devices according to their capabilities.
2Adaptability or versatility
If network slice steering functionality is added to control messages, then traffic management capability is improved, but message structure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control message into distinct functional segments: matching rules section, network slice identification section, and steering action section. This segmentation allows each part to be processed independently - traditional Flowspec processors can handle the matching rules while slice-aware processors extract and act on the slice identification and steering action portions, reducing overall system complexity through functional decomposition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary information structure that bridges traditional Flowspec processing and new slice steering functionality. The control message acts as an intermediary carrier that translates high-level slice steering requirements into detailed forwarding instructions that network devices can execute, mediating between control plane decisions and data plane actions without requiring complete redesign of either layer.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A traffic steering method, a device, and a system are provided. The method includes: A first network device generates a control message and sends the control message to a second network device, where the control message includes a traffic steering match item and a traffic steering action item, and the second network device receives the control message and a data packet, and steers, based on the traffic steering action item, a data packet that matches the traffic steering match item to a network slice, so that traffic steering of the data packet based on the network slice is implemented.