Unified Tunnel Interface for Multi-Protocol Network Switching

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Solution Overview

Problem

State-of-the-art routers require separate processing engines for each supported tunneling protocol, making them costly, resource-intensive, and difficult to maintain, especially when implementing multiple protocols.

Innovation Solution

A unified method is introduced where all tunneling protocols are abstracted as the mapping of input L2 or L3 streams with output L2 or L3 streams, using a finite set of tunnel interfaces with specific attributes, and a database lookup to manage and process packets efficiently, allowing for the implementation of multiple protocols using a single general processing engine.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If separate processing engines are used for each tunneling protocol, then each protocol can be processed independently and reliably, but the device complexity and resource usage increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol processing reliabilityVSAvoidprocessing engine complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple protocol-specific processing engines into a single unified processing engine that can handle multiple tunneling protocols (IP over IP, IP over MPLS, Ethernet over MPLS, and L2TP) through a common architecture. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining protocol processing reliability through standardized handling procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified processing engine is designed with multi-functionality to handle different tunneling protocols using a common set of data structures (FIB, TSIB, tunnel interface attributes) and processing steps. This universal approach allows a single engine to perform multiple protocol-specific functions without requiring separate dedicated engines for each protocol.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple tunneling protocols are implemented using separate processing engines, then each protocol is handled with dedicated resources, but the cost and resource intensity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol support versatilityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal processing engine that supports multiple tunneling protocols (IP over IP, IP over MPLS, Ethernet over MPLS, L2TP) using shared resources including a common FIB database, TSIB database, and tunnel interface data structures. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated resources for each protocol while maintaining full protocol versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies homogeneity by using uniform data structures and processing procedures across all tunneling protocols. All protocols utilize the same FIB lookup mechanism, the same tunnel interface attribute formats, and the same packet processing steps, thereby reducing resource consumption through standardized homogeneous handling rather than heterogeneous protocol-specific implementations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

3Manufacturing precision

If separate processing engines are used for different tunneling protocols, then each engine can be optimized for its specific protocol, but the ease of maintenance and design time decrease

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol processing optimizationVSAvoidsystem design and maintenance ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple protocol-specific processing engines into a single unified engine with common data structures and processing logic. This consolidation improves ease of maintenance by reducing the number of separate components that need to be managed, while still achieving protocol-specific optimization through standardized handling procedures that can be uniformly applied across all protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses homogeneous data structures (uniform FIB entries, TSIB entries, tunnel interface attributes) and consistent processing procedures across all tunneling protocols. This homogeneity simplifies design and maintenance by providing a single template that can be applied to all protocols, eliminating the need to maintain separate optimized code paths for each protocol while still achieving efficient protocol-specific processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #33Homogeneity

Data Source

PatentUS7680943B2Methods and apparatus for implementing multiple types of network tunneling in a uniform manner

Publication Date: 2010.03.16 TRANSWITCH LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A uniform method for implementing multiple tunneling protocols in a switch or router is disclosed. The method is based on the realization that although the tunneling protocols are very different, they do share a similar overall structure which can be exploited to create a unified method of dealing with multiple protocols. By using similar data structures to implement multiple protocols, the invention makes data management and programming simple and, therefore, cost effective. According to the invention, all tunneling protocols are abstracted as the mapping of input L2 or L3 streams with output L2 or L3 streams. Mapping is provided by a finite set of tunnel interfaces. The tunnel interfaces map the input streams to output interfaces. As traffic streams flow through these interfaces, they are processed according to defined attributes of these interfaces.