Topology Discovery Controller for Network Routing Optimization

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Solution Overview

Problem

In information-centric networks, routers face difficulties in acquiring the overall network topology, which hinders the determination of an optimal routing path.

Innovation Solution

A topology discovery method and device where a controller acquires and generates routing tables for all routers in the network, including routing information between each router and the controller, enabling the calculation of optimal paths by determining the network topology.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If routers use conventional step-by-step topology information spreading, then each router can acquire information from adjacent routers, but the whole network topology cannot be acquired by individual routers

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetopology information completenessVSAvoidrouting calculation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dedicated topology discovery device as an intermediary component that collects topology information from all routers and generates comprehensive routing tables. This mediator handles the complex task of aggregating partial topology data and calculating optimal routes, while individual routers only need to exchange information with their adjacent routers and receive pre-calculated routing tables, thus resolving the contradiction between complete topology information acquisition and system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the topology discovery function into two independent modules: a topology discovery device responsible for collecting and processing topology information from all routers, and individual routers that only handle local adjacent router information exchange. This segmentation allows the complex global topology acquisition task to be separated from individual router operations, enabling complete topology information to be obtained without increasing individual router complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If a controller acquires topology of the whole network and generates routing tables for all routers, then optimal routing paths can be calculated, but the complexity of the controller increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork throughputVSAvoidcontroller complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The topology discovery device performs multiple functions: collecting topology information from all routers, constructing the complete network topology, generating routing tables for all routers, and distributing these tables back to respective routers. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional device, the system achieves optimal routing and high throughput while managing controller complexity through functional integration rather than distribution across multiple devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If routers in information-centric network try to acquire whole network topology, then optimal routing paths can be determined, but the difficulty of acquiring topology information increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverouting path optimalityVSAvoidtopology discovery difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dedicated topology discovery device as an intermediary that simplifies the topology discovery process. Instead of routers directly attempting to acquire and process complex global topology information, they interact only with their adjacent routers and receive pre-processed routing tables from the topology discovery device. This intermediary handles the difficulty of topology detection and measurement, while ensuring reliable optimal routing path determination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2999174B1Topology structure discovery method and device
Publication Date: 2019.08.28 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP2999174B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2999174B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2999174B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

A topology structure discovery method and device. The topology structure discovery method comprises: a controller acquiring topology structures among N routers; according to the topology structures, the controller obtaining routing tables respectively corresponding to each router, and respectively sending corresponding routing tables to each router, wherein the routing tables comprise at least one kind of routing information between the router and other N-1 routers and routing information between the router and the controller, so that the controller can obtain the topology structures of the whole network and calculate the router capable of obtaining the optimal path according to the topology structures of the whole network, thereby improving the utilization efficiency and the throughput of the network.