Small-Scale Border Routers for Internet-Scale Routing via IP Tunneling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing routing technologies require large-scale routers to handle the full Internet routing table, which is costly and inflexible, and they do not support customization or user extensions, limiting the scalability and cost-effectiveness of Internet-scale routing.
Innovation Solution
The use of small-scale commodity routers with Internet Protocol (IP) tunneling, a routing service, and a mapping service to enable Internet-scale routing without the need for large-scale routers, allowing for flexible configuration and reduced costs by employing an overlay network and software control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If large-scale routers are used to handle full Internet routing table, then Internet-scale routing capability is achieved, but cost increases and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing function by separating the routing service (which maintains the full routing table) from the border routers (which only need to forward traffic). This allows border routers to be small-scale devices while still achieving Internet-scale routing capability through the centralized routing service that processes routing decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a routing service as an intermediary between transit providers and border routers. This routing service acts as a mediator that receives routing information from transit providers, processes it through software control, and delivers simplified routing instructions to border routers, enabling small-scale routers to handle Internet-scale routing.
2Productivity
If large-scale routers are used to handle full Internet routing table, then Internet-scale routing capability is achieved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs inexpensive small-scale border routers that can be mass-produced and replaced easily, rather than investing in expensive large-scale routers. The routing service handles the complex routing table management centrally, allowing the border routers to be simple, cost-effective devices that can be deployed at scale.
3Productivity
If large-scale routers are used, then Internet-scale routing is supported, but adaptability and customization are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic routing control through software-based routing services that can adapt routing decisions based on changing network conditions, business logic requirements, and policy changes. This software-defined approach provides flexibility and adaptability that rigid hardware-based large-scale routers cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The routing service allows dynamic modification of routing parameters such as path selection, traffic engineering, and policy routing without requiring hardware changes. This enables extensive customization and adaptability by changing software parameters rather than physical router configurations.
4Ease of manufacture
If small-scale routers are used, then cost decreases and flexibility increases, but routing table capacity is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the routing table from the border router (horizontal dimension) to a centralized routing service (vertical dimension). This dimensional shift allows small-scale routers with limited local routing table capacity to access the full Internet routing table through the centralized service, effectively decoupling router size from routing table capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus for Internet-scale routing using small-scale border routers and IP tunneling are described. Each border router is directly connected to a transit provider. Routing protocol peerings may be passed via the border routers through tunnels to a routing service; the routing service and the transit provider router(s) appear to be directly adjacent routing peers. The routing service receives routing data from the transit provider(s), maintains the routing data in a routing table, and processes the routing data in the routing table to select best paths. A mapping service may be informed, by the routing service, of a best exit point (or points) for each Internet prefix of each packet to be routed on the Internet. Outbound packets from devices on the network to the Internet, and inbound packets from the Internet to the network devices, may be encapsulated and passed through tunnels as directed by the mapping service.