SPBM MAC Forwarding Table Aggregation for Backbone Capacity

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Solution Overview

Problem

In Shortest Path Bridging (SPB) networks, the large number of MAC forwarding table items can lead to inefficiencies in packet forwarding and increased search times, as devices need to process and synchronize numerous MAC addresses, which hampers the access capacity and efficiency of the backbone network.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a proxy MAC address system, where an access layer switch assigns and manages proxy MAC addresses, allowing for aggregation of MAC forwarding table items into aggregated MAC addresses, reducing the number of items and enhancing search efficiency by replacing sender and target MAC addresses in Ethernet packets and aggregating similar MAC addresses for synchronization.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the number of MAC forwarding table items is increased to support more user networks, then the access capacity of the backbone network is improved, but the search time and processing complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess capacityVSAvoidsearch time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent aggregates multiple MAC forwarding table items that belong to the same MAC address segment into a single aggregated item. Instead of maintaining separate entries for each individual MAC address, the system combines them into one consolidated entry, thereby reducing the total number of table items while preserving the ability to forward packets to multiple destinations efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The aggregated MAC forwarding table item serves multiple functions simultaneously: it represents multiple individual MAC addresses, enables forwarding to multiple out-ports, and reduces search complexity. This multi-functional approach allows a single table item to perform what previously required multiple separate items

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the number of MAC forwarding table items is increased to support more user networks, then the access capacity of the backbone network is improved, but the device complexity and synchronization overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess capacityVSAvoidsynchronization overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

By merging multiple MAC forwarding table items into aggregated items, the patent reduces the total number of entries that need to be synchronized across backbone devices. This consolidation decreases the synchronization overhead and simplifies the management of forwarding tables throughout the network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments MAC addresses into MAC address segments and groups items by these segments. This segmentation approach allows for organized aggregation where items with the same segment prefix are combined, making the system more manageable and reducing complexity while maintaining scalability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS9825859B2Item aggregation in shortest path bridging mac-in-mac mode (SPBM) network

Publication Date: 2017.11.21 HEWLETT PACKARD ENTERPRISE DEV LP

AI summary

According to an example, when transmitting MAC forwarding table items to other BEB devices in an SPBM network for synchronization, a BEB device aggregates a plurality of MAC forwarding table items in a MAC forwarding table belonging to a same MAC segment into an aggregated MAC forwarding item, and transmits the aggregated MAC forwarding table item to the other BEB devices.