SRv6 BGP Service SID Aggregation for Multi-Type Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing SRv6-based BGP services face suboptimal hardware resource usage and control-plane processing when an egress PE router supports multiple SID types, necessitating separate allocation and advertisement of Service SIDs for each type, leading to inefficiencies in network operations and configuration.

Innovation Solution

A mechanism allowing BGP speakers to advertise multiple Service SID structure information in a single BGP Update message, using a new Service SID TLV type that includes multiple Service SID Structure Sub-Sub-TLVs, enabling interoperability with different vendors and efficient handling of various SID types.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If an egress PE router supports multiple SID types by allocating separate Service SID and SID structure for each type, then interoperability with different vendors is achieved, but hardware resource usage and control-plane processing become suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteroperability with different SID typesVSAvoidhardware resource usage

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple Service SID structures of different types into a single unified Service SID structure. Instead of allocating separate Service SID and SID structure for each SID type (classical SID, uSID, etc.), the invention consolidates them into one structure that can accommodate multiple SID types, thereby reducing hardware resource usage and simplifying the control plane while maintaining interoperability with vendors supporting different SID types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate Service SID and SID structure are allocated for each SID type, then compatibility with various vendors is ensured, but control-plane processing cycle increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevendor compatibilityVSAvoidcontrol-plane processing cycle

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple Service SID structures into a single unified structure that handles multiple SID types simultaneously. This merging reduces the number of separate allocations and processing operations required in the control plane, thereby improving processing cycle efficiency while maintaining vendor compatibility through the unified structure's ability to represent different SID types

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of information

If multiple Service SID structures are advertised separately, then complete SID type information is provided, but configuration operations and messaging overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveSID type information completenessVSAvoidconfiguration operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple Service SID structure advertisements into a single advertisement that contains complete information about multiple SID types. This unified advertisement approach reduces configuration operations and messaging overhead while preserving complete SID type information, making the system easier to operate without losing information completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250337681A1BGP-based service support over SRv6 networks with different SID types

Publication Date: 2025.10.30 CIENA CORP

AI summary

A Provider Edge (PE) router, in a Segment Routing over Internet Protocol version 6 (SRv6) network, is configured to perform steps of operating a SRv6-based Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) service at the PE router and with the PE router capable of supporting a plurality of Segment Identifier (SID) types in terms of structure; and advertising the SRv6-based BGP service with a BGP Update message containing Service Segment Identifier (SID) information along with a plurality of Service SID Structure information, including one for each of the plurality of SID types.