Trunked Network Link Packet Distribution Policy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for distributing packets over trunked network links result in uneven utilization among links, limiting the overall capacity and efficiency of packet transmission, as packets are often routed through the same link regardless of other available links' capacity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a policy within network elements to select trunked links based on specific fields in packet headers, such as the time to live, security, timestamp, or sequence number, to determine a deterministic or random selection of trunked links for each packet, ensuring more even distribution across links.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packets are routed through the same link regardless of other available links' capacity, then routing simplicity is maintained, but link utilization becomes uneven and overall transmission efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for link selection from a static hash of endpoint addresses to dynamic parameters including packet header fields (time to live, security, timestamp, sequence number) and real-time link utilization metrics. This allows the routing decision to adapt to current network conditions, distributing packets more evenly across available links while maintaining routing simplicity through policy-based automation.
2Productivity
If a static routing policy is used based on hash of source and destination addresses, then routing decisions are simple and consistent, but packet distribution across trunked links becomes highly uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static routing policy to a dynamic one that incorporates real-time link utilization information and varying packet header fields. The routing policy continuously adapts based on current network conditions, selecting different trunked links for different packets even within the same data stream, thereby achieving more uniform load distribution while maintaining operational simplicity through automated policy enforcement.
3Quantity of substance
If all packets in a data stream are sent through one trunked link, then link selection is simple, but the capacity of other trunked links remains underutilized
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes multiple packet header fields (time to live, security, timestamp, sequence number) as additional parameters for link selection beyond the traditional source and destination addresses. By incorporating these varying parameters into the routing decision process, the system can distribute packets across multiple trunked links while maintaining consistent delivery guarantees, thereby increasing overall network capacity utilization.
Data Source
AI summary
Routing nodes in communications networks use policies and certain fields, called selection fields, in packet headers to make routing decisions. When routing over a trunk, a specific trunked link over which to forward a packet must be selected. Policies and selection fields can be used in a way that causes the packets in data streams to be distributed more evenly across the trunked links than is currently done.