Spanning Tree Port Block Notification for Wireless Bandwidth Conservation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In networks, especially wireless ones, redundant links can lead to unnecessary packet transmission over blocked ports, causing bandwidth and CPU power issues due to the sharing of a medium with limited availability.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a port block notification message, a designated BPDU, to alert network devices to stop forwarding packets to blocked ports, which can be periodically sent to ensure continued non-transmission, and ceasing this message signals the port is no longer blocked, allowing normal transmission to resume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If Spanning Tree Protocol blocks redundant links to prevent bridging loops, then network topology stability is improved, but unnecessary packet transmission continues over blocked ports consuming bandwidth and CPU resources
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the blocked port sends port block notification messages back to the remote device. This feedback loop informs the remote device that its transmitted packets are being blocked, causing the remote device to stop sending unnecessary traffic over the blocked link. The feedback resolves the contradiction by maintaining topology stability through blocking while eliminating the energy waste from unnecessary packet transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The port block notification message acts as an intermediary communication mechanism between the blocked port and the remote device. Instead of direct action, the blocked port uses this intermediary message to convey its blocked state to the remote device, which then adjusts its transmission behavior accordingly. This intermediary resolves the contradiction by enabling coordinated behavior that maintains stability while reducing resource consumption.
2Stability of the object's composition
If redundant links are blocked in wireless networks to prevent loops, then network stability is improved, but available bandwidth and CPU power are reduced due to shared medium constraints
Solution Approach 1:
In wireless networks where the medium is shared and bandwidth is limited, the feedback mechanism becomes even more critical. The port block notification messages inform remote devices to stop transmitting over blocked links, preventing waste of the shared wireless medium. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining network stability through blocking while preserving bandwidth and CPU power for legitimate traffic in the constrained wireless environment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the transmission parameter of the remote device based on received port block notification messages. When a remote device receives a port block notification, it changes its transmission parameter from 'send packets' to 'stop sending packets' for that particular link. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing the network to maintain stability through blocking while optimizing bandwidth utilization by eliminating unnecessary transmissions in the shared wireless medium.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary embodiment provides for a method for use in a network device of a plurality of network devices configured to implement a link management protocol for blocking ports corresponding to redundant links between individual network devices of the plurality of network devices. The method is used for preventing delivery of selected traffic to and from a port of the network device. Preventing, at the network device, delivery of the selected traffic to the port includes determining that a port corresponding to a remote device is to be placed in a blocked state and transmitting a port blocking notification message to the remote device, wherein the port block notification message is operative to cause the remote device to stop transmitting the selected traffic to the network device on the port. Preventing, at the network device, delivery of the selected traffic from the port includes receiving a bridge protocol data unit (BPDU) and determining if the BPDU is a port block notification message. In turn, transmission of the selected traffic is stopped from the port of the network device that received the BPDU, if the BPDU is the port block notification message.