Systems, devices, and methods for network routing

• US 8,160,056 B2
• Filed: 10/23/2006
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Van der Merwe, Jacobus E., Saad, Samir
• Primary Examiner(s): Ton, Dang
• Assistant Examiner(s): RANDHAWA, MANDISH K
• Application Number:
  US11/584,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20080062891A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,003 Days
• Field of Search: 370/351, 370/229, 370/254, 370/237, 370/401, 709/238, 709/239
• US Class Current: 370/351
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/04 Interdomain routing, e.g. hierarchical routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/42 Centralised routing

Abstract

Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a method, which can comprise providing a preferred route for a predetermined block of traffic to a router. The predetermined block of traffic can be destined for a predetermined destination. The predetermined destination can be coupled to a network via a plurality of routers. The preferred route can be adapted to override an initial route.

Claims

1. A method of providing a preferred route to a router for a predetermined block of traffic, the method comprising:

providing the preferred route to the router for the predetermined block of traffic that is destined for a predetermined destination coupled to a backbone network via a plurality of egress routers, wherein the preferred route comprises an intelligent route service control point in the backbone network;

determining the preferred route based on monitored traffic load information obtained from at least one ingress router of the backbone network and without intervention by a device of the predetermined destination and an operator of the backbone network;

overriding an initial route determined based upon interior gateway protocol information with the preferred route, wherein the preferred route includes a first egress router of the plurality of egress routers, wherein the initial route comprises a second egress router of the plurality of egress routers, wherein the second egress router is distinct from the first egress router, wherein the preferred route includes a special community value indicating that the preferred route with the special community value is less preferred than a different route without the special community value such that the second egress router is avoided as the predetermined block of traffic reaches the predetermined destination;

restricting distribution of the preferred route to a predetermined subset of egress routers of the plurality of egress routers;

flooding the subset of the egress routers with the preferred route; and

providing a web-based interface to enable a customer intended to receive the predetermined block of traffic to select which egress routers of the plurality of egress routers are utilized in the preferred route, wherein the web-based interface enables the customer to load balance traffic, and wherein the web-based interface enables the customer to override the preferred route and the initial route.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

overriding the initial route.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the initial route.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

requesting information regarding the initial route.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the preferred route.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining the monitored traffic load information.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining a plurality of interior gateway protocol link weights, the initial route determined based upon the plurality of interior gateway protocol link weights.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

dynamically advertising the preferred route to at least one of the plurality of egress routers.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

manipulating a distribution of routes in the backbone network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating an interface between the intelligent route service control point and each of the plurality of egress routers.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining interior gateway protocol topology information, the preferred route determined utilizing the interior gateway protocol topology information.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the predetermined block of traffic.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the predetermined block of traffic based upon a request of a predetermined multi-homed customer.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined block of traffic is determined based on a classless interdomain routing block.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined block of traffic is destined for a multi-homed customer.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored traffic load information is obtained via Netflow.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored traffic load information is obtained from all ingress routers of the backbone network.

18. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising machine implementable instructions for activities comprising:

providing a preferred route to a router for a predetermined block of traffic that is destined for a predetermined destination coupled to a backbone network via a plurality of egress routers, wherein the preferred route comprises an intelligent route service control point in the backbone network;

determining the preferred route based on monitored traffic load information obtained from at least one ingress router of the backbone network and without intervention by a device of the predetermined destination and an operator of the backbone network;

overriding an initial route determined based upon interior gateway protocol information with the preferred route, wherein the preferred route includes a first egress router of the plurality of egress routers, wherein the initial route comprises a second egress router of the plurality of egress routers, wherein the second egress router is distinct from the first egress router, wherein the preferred route includes a special community value indicating that the preferred route with the special community value is less preferred than a different route without the special community value such that the second egress router is avoided as the predetermined block of traffic reaches the predetermined destination;

restricting distribution of the preferred route to a predetermined subset of egress routers of the plurality of egress routers;

flooding the subset of the egress routers with the preferred route; and

providing a web-based interface to enable a customer intended to receive the predetermined block of traffic to select which egress routers of the plurality of egress routers are utilized in the preferred route, wherein the web-based interface enables the customer to load balance traffic, and wherein the web-based interface enables the customer to override the preferred route and the initial route.