Terminal Packet Processing Rule Storage for Controller Load Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
In centralized control communication systems, the load on controllers and forwarding devices increases due to the need for centralized packet processing and path determination, leading to inefficiencies in handling requests and processing loads.
Innovation Solution
A terminal and control device system where the terminal receives and stores processing rules from the control device to add quality information to packets, reducing the load on both the control device and forwarding devices by executing packet processing locally within the terminal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If centralized control is implemented where the controller determines entries for packet processing based on requests from switches, then path control and load balancing can be performed, but the processing load on the controller increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet processing function by dividing it between the terminal and the network infrastructure. The terminal executes packet processing locally using received processing rules, while the controller only needs to distribute these rules. This segmentation reduces the controller's processing load while maintaining centralized control capabilities for path management and load balancing.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller performs preliminary action by generating and distributing processing rules to terminals in advance. These pre-configured rules enable terminals to autonomously execute packet processing without requiring real-time controller intervention for each packet, thereby reducing the ongoing processing load on the controller while maintaining adaptability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the controller sets entries for rewriting header content of packets with respect to switches, then packet processing can be controlled, but the load required for packet processing in switches increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the computationally intensive packet processing function from the switch and relocates it to the terminal. The switch's role is reduced to simple packet forwarding based on flow tables, while the terminal executes the complex header rewriting and packet processing operations using processing rules received from the controller. This extraction significantly reduces the processing load on switches.
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal acts as an intermediary between the controller and the network. It receives processing rules from the controller and executes packet processing locally, thereby mediating the complex processing requirements without burdening the switch. This intermediary approach maintains packet processing control while reducing switch load.
3Power
If terminals execute packet processing locally, then the processing load on control devices and forwarding devices is reduced, but the terminal requires additional processing capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal provides self-service by executing packet processing operations locally using processing rules it receives from the controller. This self-service capability enables the terminal to handle its own packet processing requirements without continuously relying on the control device or forwarding devices, thereby reducing their processing load while equipping the terminal with necessary processing capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A terminal communicating via a network including a forwarding device(s) for forwarding a packet and a control device for controlling the forwarding device(s) in accordance with a request from the forwarding device, includes: a communication unit that receives a processing rule specifying a process of adding, to a packet, quality information related to communication quality with respect to the terminal, from the control device, a memory unit that stores the received processing rule, and a processing unit that in a case of communicating via the network, adds quality information to a packet in accordance with a processing rule that corresponds to the packet by referring to the processing rule stored in the memory unit.