Virtual Connection Path Determination via Routing Table Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network modeling faces challenges in accurately determining the physical source and destination interfaces and paths of IP tunnels, as IP tunnels create virtual connections that obscure the physical topology, making it difficult to model the actual physical path within public networks.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that trace device configuration and routing tables to determine the physical interfaces at tunnel endpoints and infer the physical path between them, using techniques such as symmetric interface inference and hierarchical path determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If IP tunnels are used to create virtual connections, then network flexibility and privacy are improved, but the physical topology becomes obscured and difficult to determine

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork flexibilityVSAvoidphysical topology information

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses configuration data and routing table data as intermediary information sources to infer the physical path. By analyzing these intermediary data structures that contain indirect information about physical connections, the system can reconstruct the physical topology without directly observing it, thus resolving the contradiction between virtual connection flexibility and physical topology visibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces direct physical observation or measurement with information processing and logical inference. Instead of physically tracing cables or using hardware probes, the system substitutes a software-based analysis mechanism that processes configuration data and routing tables to deduce physical paths, thereby maintaining virtual connection benefits while recovering physical topology information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Area of stationary object

If virtual connections are used to connect distant networks, then network coverage is improved, but propagation delay increases due to distant physical paths

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverageVSAvoidpropagation delay

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary determination of the physical path between tunnel endpoints before actual data transmission. By pre-analyzing configuration data and routing tables to identify the physical route, the system can predict propagation delay characteristics in advance, allowing for better network planning and optimization before virtual connections are established.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS8948049B2Method and systems for determining path of a virtual connection through a network

Publication Date: 2015.02.03 RIVERBED TECH LLC

AI summary

Networks and devices may communicate with each other using virtual connections. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented model is generated and includes a representation of the path of a virtual connection. The path of a virtual connection, such as an IP tunnel, is traced between its source and destination. The physical connection corresponding to such IP tunnels are found by tracing through the device configuration and routing tables at routers in the network. The path between the source and destination devices is traced until the path is terminated at the destination device, or at an interface to an external network. If the path ends at an external network, the path is traced from the destination device toward the source device until a corresponding interface to the external network is reached.