Zone-based Label Switching Routing Protocol for Network Topology
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current routing protocols, such as MPLS VPN, require complex configurations and high resource consumption due to the need for multiple protocols to run simultaneously, leading to inefficiencies in managing network topologies and routing packet data efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of Zone-based Label Switching Routing Protocol (ZLSRP), which assigns zone-IDs to routers and uses zone tables to route data packets, allowing for simplified routing by adding or removing zone-IDs and VRF-IDs at Layer 2.5, reducing the need for multiple protocols and resource usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If MPLS VPN is used for routing packets, then forwarding speed is improved through label switching, but device complexity and resource consumption increase due to requiring multiple protocols to run simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines IGP and MPLS label switching into a unified routing approach where zone-IDs serve as both routing identifiers and MPLS labels. This integration eliminates the need for separate protocol instances, reducing device complexity while maintaining the fast label-switching capability. The zone table simultaneously functions as both the routing information base and the label mapping table.
Solution Approach 2:
The zone-ID serves multiple functions: it acts as the routing destination identifier in the routing table, as the MPLS label for packet forwarding, and as the key for zone table lookups. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate data structures and protocols needed, thereby reducing device complexity and resource consumption while maintaining efficient forwarding.
2Adaptability or versatility
If MPLS is implemented with VPN for network interconnection, then routing capability is improved, but resource consumption doubles due to requiring two protocols to run in parallel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges IGP routing and MPLS label distribution into a single integrated system. The zone table is used by both the IGP routing process and the MPLS label switching process, eliminating the need for separate protocol instances and their associated resource consumption. This integration maintains full routing capability while halving the resource overhead.
3Productivity
If zone-IDs are added at Layer 2.5 for routing decisions, then routing table size is reduced and decision-making is faster, but protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing information into zones based on geographic or functional boundaries, with each zone assigned a unique zone-ID. This segmentation allows routers to make forwarding decisions based on zone-IDs rather than detailed destination IP addresses, reducing routing table size and improving decision speed. The zone table provides the mapping between zone-IDs and next-hop information.
Data Source
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AI summary
The embodiments herein relate to methods and routers (500, 600). One method includes: (301) receiving a data packet from a source host router connected to a source host, said packet comprising a source IP address of the source host and a destination IP address of a destination host, the data packet being received on an interface of the source edge router identified by a virtual private network identity, VRF-ID; (302) extracting, from a configuration information on said interface, of the source edge router, a zone-identity, zone-ID, of a destination edge router to which a destination host router is associated, wherein the destination host router is connected to the destination host, (303) adding the zone-ID and the VRF-ID at Layer 2.5 of the data packet; and (304) sending the data packet towards the destination edge router having the assigned zone-ID