Virtual Core Router Hybrid Control Architecture
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional carrier IP networks are inefficient due to high costs and complexity, with core routers handling large traffic and requiring full mesh connectivity, which introduces significant overhead and interoperability challenges, limiting the deployment of advanced functions and introducing risks with new IP vendors.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a virtual core router system using interconnected optical switches with a centralized control plane for packet switching and distributed control plane for transport switching, eliminating the need for core routers and reducing routing adjacencies between edge routers, thereby simplifying network management and reducing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If core routers are used to forward traffic between edge routers, then traffic forwarding capability is improved, but network cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the core router function from the network architecture by having edge routers directly peer with each other, eliminating the need for separate core routers. This removes the expensive core routing infrastructure while maintaining traffic forwarding capability through direct edge-to-edge connections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the core router functionality into the edge routers themselves. Each edge router performs both edge functions and core forwarding functions, combining previously separate network elements into unified devices that handle both access and backbone traffic.
2Productivity
If edge routers are directly connected in a full mesh topology, then traffic forwarding capability is improved, but routing protocol overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing protocol requirements by implementing hierarchical routing where edge routers maintain routing adjacencies only with their directly connected neighbors rather than all network nodes. This segmentation reduces the number of routing protocol peers from O(n) to O(1) for each router.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by making routing protocol behavior different at different network locations. Edge routers use simplified routing protocols with only immediate neighbors, while the overall network maintains full connectivity through the mesh topology. Each router's routing complexity is localized to its direct connections.
3Adaptability or versatility
If distributed IP routing protocols are used, then routing decisions are made autonomously, but interoperability challenges and routing loop risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a controller as an intermediary that manages routing protocol interactions between edge routers. The controller coordinates routing decisions, ensures protocol compatibility, and prevents routing loops by centralizing control logic while allowing distributed execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors routing protocol exchanges between edge routers and provides corrective guidance. This feedback loop ensures that autonomous routing decisions maintain interoperability standards and prevent routing anomalies through continuous validation.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides virtual router/switch systems and methods with a domain of optical switches operating as a single, virtualized router using a control plane design combining centralized control of higher layer packet switching functions with distributed control over transport switching functions. The virtual router systems and methods simplify and reduce cost of Internet Protocol (IP) networks by removing the core routers, replacing them with lower cost, high capacity optical switches which are Packet Optical Transport Systems (POTS). The virtual router systems and methods avoids full mesh connectivity of the edge routers and the associated need to maintain routing adjacencies to each of the other edge routers. The virtual router systems and methods include a centralized IP layer management. Further, the virtual router systems and methods include distributed control of the optical layers.