VPN Traffic Transport with IP/UDP Header Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

The processing and forwarding of VPN traffic between CE network devices through PE network devices is resource-intensive due to the inclusion of IP and UDP headers, which increases computing, memory, and power usage, and affects bandwidth, latency, and reliability performance.

Innovation Solution

PE network devices remove IP and UDP headers from VPN traffic and replace them with MPLS labels, using advertisement messages to update data structures for header reconstruction, enabling efficient header-less traffic transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If IP and UDP headers are included in VPN traffic, then traffic can be properly routed and processed, but computing resources, memory usage, and processing burden on PE network devices increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic routing and processing capabilityVSAvoidcomputing resources and power usage

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes IP and UDP headers from VPN traffic at PE network devices before transmission through the backbone network. Only the essential payload and necessary routing information are transmitted, eliminating redundant header data that consumes computing resources and energy while maintaining proper traffic routing through alternative mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces MPLS labels as an intermediary mechanism to replace traditional IP headers for routing decisions in the backbone network. These labels provide necessary routing information without requiring full IP and UDP headers, thereby reducing processing requirements while maintaining reliable traffic steering.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If IP and UDP headers are included in VPN traffic, then traffic can be properly identified and processed, but bandwidth is reduced and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic identification and processingVSAvoidbandwidth and latency performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes IP and UDP headers from VPN traffic before transmission through the backbone network. Only the essential payload and necessary routing information are transmitted, eliminating redundant header data that consumes bandwidth and processing time, thereby improving bandwidth availability and reducing latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the parameter of header size from traditional IP/UDP headers (typically 24-64 bytes) to compact MPLS labels (4 bytes). This parameter change dramatically reduces the amount of data transmitted per packet, improving bandwidth efficiency and reducing processing latency while maintaining traffic identification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If PE network devices process VPN traffic with headers, then complete traffic information is available, but device complexity and processing burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetraffic information completenessVSAvoidprocessing burden on PE devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes IP and UDP headers from VPN traffic at PE network devices before transmission through the backbone network. Only the essential payload and necessary routing information are transmitted, eliminating redundant header data that increases processing burden while maintaining traffic information completeness through alternative routing mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS12432141B2Transport of VPN traffic with reduced header information

Publication Date: 2025.09.30 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC

AI summary

In some implementations, a first PE network device may receive, from a first CE network device, traffic that includes at least an IP header. The first PE network device may determine whether the first PE network device is to remove the IP header, or the IP header and a UDP header included in the traffic, from the traffic. The first PE network device may send, to one or more second PE network devices, the traffic, wherein the first PE network device, prior to sending the traffic, updates the traffic by removing the IP header, or the IP header and a UDP header, when the first PE network device makes a removal determination, and wherein the first PE network device, prior to sending the traffic, does not update the traffic when the first PE network device does not make a removal determination.