Transport Pseudowire for Simplified Multi-Segment Network Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current pseudowire (PW) technologies require complex multi-segment PW setups across multiple service provider networks, leading to scalability issues and unwieldy configurations due to the need for coordination and maintenance of control structures at each switching provider edge (S-PE) device.
Innovation Solution
Creating an infrastructure/transport pseudowire (PW) a priori between two Provider Edge (PE) devices, allowing other PWs to be mapped to this transport PW, which spans across multiple S-PEs, thereby eliminating the need for client multi-segment PW setup and simplifying configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multi-segment PW setup is used to connect geographically-diverse sites across multiple service provider networks, then connectivity between distant sites is achieved, but configuration complexity and device state management burden increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a transport pseudowire as an intermediary layer between client pseudowires and the underlying packet switched network. This transport PW acts as a mediator that simplifies the multi-segment PW setup by providing a standardized mapping mechanism, reducing the complexity of coordinating PW setup across multiple service provider networks while maintaining end-to-end connectivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the pseudowire architecture into distinct layers: client pseudowires at the edge devices and transport pseudowires in the core network. This segmentation allows each layer to be managed independently, with the transport PW handling the complex multi-network traversal while client PWs maintain simple local configurations, thereby reducing overall configuration complexity.
2Reliability
If switching provider edge devices participate in PW setup mechanisms for each client PW, then end-to-end PW connectivity is established, but control structure maintenance burden and scalability are adversely affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex PW setup and control structure maintenance functions from switching provider edge devices and consolidates them at the terminating provider edge devices. By removing the requirement for S-PEs to participate in PW setup mechanisms, the system maintains reliable end-to-end connectivity while significantly reducing the operational burden of controlling and maintaining PW state across the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The transport pseudowire is configured to automatically map and transport client pseudowires without requiring manual intervention or control plane participation at intermediate switching devices. This self-service mechanism allows the transport PW to handle the complexity of multi-segment connectivity autonomously, improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable connectivity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple PWs are configured to span across multiple service provider networks, then comprehensive service coverage is achieved, but resource utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple client pseudowires into a single transport pseudowire that traverses the service provider network. This consolidation allows comprehensive service coverage across multiple networks while improving resource utilization efficiency by reducing the number of separate PW configurations needed, thereby optimizing network resource usage without sacrificing service versatility.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides systems and methods which create an infrastructure/transport Pseudowire (PW) a priori between two Provider Edge (PE) devices. Accordingly, other PWs can be mapped to this transport PW. In an exemplary application, the transport PW (which is a MS-PW by itself) can start and end between two Switching Provider Edge (S-PE) devices and span across multiple S-PEs in between. In another exemplary application, the transport PW terminates between two Terminating Provider Edge (T-PE) devices spanning across all S-PEs in between. In a further exemplary application, the transport PW can start at a S-PE or T-PE and terminate at a T-PE or S-PE, respectively. The placement of the endpoints of the transport PW (on two PEs) determines the number of intervening S-PEs that benefit from this application.