Static Designated Forwarder Election Procedure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dynamic designated forwarder election procedures in networks are computationally intensive and lack predictability, making it difficult to determine which provider edge network devices will be selected as designated or non-designated forwarders, especially in networks with increasing quantities of devices and Ethernet virtual private network instances.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a static designated forwarder election procedure that configures network devices to perform a static designated forwarder role based on shared configuration, reducing processing resources and enhancing user control over network operations by ensuring consistent selection of designated forwarders.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Extent of automation

If dynamic designated forwarder election procedure is used, then network devices can automatically select designated forwarders, but computational resources are consumed and predictability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic designated forwarder selectionVSAvoidcomputational resources
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring network devices with designated forwarder roles before network operations begin. Instead of performing dynamic elections during network operation, the designated forwarder status is established in advance through configuration, eliminating the need for continuous computational resource consumption while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Extent of automation

If dynamic designated forwarder election procedure is used, then network devices can automatically select designated forwarders, but predictability of selection is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic designated forwarder selectionVSAvoidpredictability of selection
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by establishing designated forwarder configurations in advance, ensuring that the selection outcome is predetermined and highly predictable. This eliminates the uncertainty inherent in dynamic election procedures while maintaining automated operation through pre-established configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Use of energy by moving object

If static designated forwarder configuration is used, then processing resources are reduced and predictability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing resourcesVSAvoidconfiguration management
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling network devices to autonomously determine and maintain their designated forwarder status based on pre-configured parameters. Devices independently perform role determination without requiring complex centralized management, reducing processing resource consumption while avoiding significant increases in device complexity through automated self-configuration mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3169024B1Designated forwarder (DF) election based on static DF election procedure
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC
  • EP3169024B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3169024B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3169024B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

A device may transmit, to one or more network devices of a portion of a network, information indicating that the device is configured to perform a static designated forwarder election procedure. The device may determine that the one or more network devices of the portion of the network are each configured to perform the static designated forwarder election procedure. The device may enable a static designated forwarder configuration of the device based on determining that the one or more network devices of the portion of the network are each configured to perform the static designated forwarder election procedure.