Cisco Systems has been granted a patent for a method that allows a device to obtain routing policies from multiple routers in a network. The device then identifies overlapping path segments and predicts congestion caused by certain routing policies. Based on this prediction, the device adjusts the routing policies to avoid congestion. GlobalData’s report on Cisco Systems gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

According to GlobalData’s company profile on Cisco Systems, satellite internet access was a key innovation area identified from patents. Cisco Systems's grant share as of September 2023 was 72%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Method for adjusting routing policies to avoid congestion

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: Cisco Systems Inc

A recently granted patent (Publication Number: US11777854B2) describes a method and apparatus for managing routing policies in a network to avoid congestion. The method involves obtaining a set of routing policies from multiple routers in the network, which specify different paths and time periods for rerouting traffic. The device then identifies overlapping path segments within the specified paths and predicts that certain routing policies will cause congestion along these overlapping segments. Based on this prediction, the device adjusts the routing policies to prevent congestion.

The patent claims also mention that the routing policies can be configured to use algorithms such as shortest path first (SPF) or constrained shortest path first (CSPF) for routing traffic in the network. The adjustment of routing policies can involve modifying the time periods specified by certain policies to avoid conflicts with other policies. Additionally, the patent describes a scenario where a predictive application aware routing engine installs routing policies to specific routers based on predictions of service level agreement violations. In this case, the device adjusts the routing policies by modifying the installed policy and notifying the routing engine.

The apparatus described in the patent includes one or more network interfaces, a processor, and memory to store the necessary processes. The apparatus performs similar functions as the method, obtaining routing policies, identifying overlapping path segments, predicting congestion, and adjusting the routing policies accordingly. The apparatus can also rank the routing policies based on expected traffic and adjust specific policies based on their ranking.

Overall, this patent presents a method and apparatus for managing routing policies in a network to prevent congestion. By identifying overlapping path segments and predicting congestion, the system can adjust the routing policies to ensure smooth traffic flow. This technology could be valuable in optimizing network performance and avoiding disruptions caused by congestion.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.