Recursive load balancing in a loop-free routing topology using routing arcs

A method comprising:

• creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first network device as a first end of the routing arc, a second network device as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc;
• and
• load balancing the network traffic along the routing arcs based on traffic metrics obtained at the first and second ends of the routing arcs, including selectively sending a backpressure command to a first one of the routing arcs supplying at least a portion of the network traffic to a congested one of the routing arcs;
• wherein the congested routing arc is an infrastructure arc comprising one and only one arc cursor and a fourth network device identified as an intermediate junction node and adjacent to the corresponding third network device, the arc cursor providing exclusive control of directing the network traffic along the infrastructure arc and away from any network device having possession of the arc cursor, the load balancing further comprising the third network device, having possession of the arc cursor, executing at least one of:
• adjusting the network traffic toward the first and second ends of the congested routing arc based on the respective traffic metrics from the respective first and second network devices;
• transferring the arc cursor to the fourth network device based on the third network device determining the fourth network device is receiving traffic causing congestion of the congested routing arc;
• or
• sending the backpressure command to the first of the routing arcs based on the third network device determining both the first and second ends of the routing arcs are congested.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor circuit configured for identifying, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first network device as a first end of the routing arc, a second network device as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via an one of the first or second ends of the routing arc;
• and
• a network interface circuit configured for outputting a message for load balancing the network traffic along at least one of the routing arcs based on traffic metrics obtained at the first and second ends of the at least one routing arc, the network interface circuit configured for outputting a backpressure command, selectively generated by the processor circuit, to a first one of the routing arcs supplying at least a portion of the network traffic to a congested one of the routing arcs;
• wherein the apparatus is a centralized network manager receiving the traffic metrics of each of the ends of the routing arcs, the processor circuit configured for generating a load balancing command for the third network device of the at least one routing arc;
• wherein the at least one routing arc is an infrastructure arc comprising one and only one arc cursor and a fourth network device identified as an intermediate junction node and adjacent to the corresponding third network device, the arc cursor providing exclusive control of directing the network traffic along the infrastructure arc and away from any network device having possession of the arc cursor, the processor circuit is configured for generating a cursor transfer command for transfer of the arc cursor from the third network device to the fourth network device.

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor circuit configured for identifying, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first network device as a first end of the routing arc, a second network device as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via an one of the first or second ends of the routing arc;
• and
• a network interface circuit configured for outputting a message for load balancing the network traffic along at least one of the routing arcs based on traffic metrics obtained at the first and second ends of the at least one routing arc, the network interface circuit configured for outputting a backpressure command, selectively generated by the processor circuit, to a first one of the routing arcs supplying at least a portion of the network traffic to a congested one of the routing arcs;
• wherein the apparatus is implemented as the third network device of the congested routing arc, the congested routing arc an infrastructure arc that comprises one and only one arc cursor and a fourth network device identified as an intermediate junction node and adjacent to the corresponding third network device, the arc cursor providing exclusive control of directing the network traffic along the infrastructure arc and away from any network device having possession of the arc cursor, wherein based on the apparatus having possession of the arc cursor, the processor circuit is configured for executing at least one of:
• adjusting the network traffic toward the first and second ends of the congested routing arc based on the respective traffic metrics from the respective first and second network devices;
• transferring the arc cursor to the fourth network device based on the third network device determining the fourth network device is receiving traffic causing congestion of the congested routing arc;
• or
• sending the backpressure command to the first of the routing arcs based on the third network device determining both the first and second ends of the routing arcs are congested.

Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory tangible media for execution and when executed operable for:

• creating, in a computing network by a centralized network manager, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first network device as a first end of the routing arc, a second network device as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc;
• the centralized network manager load balancing the network traffic along the routing arcs based on traffic metrics obtained at the first and second ends of the routing arcs, including selectively sending a backpressure command to a first one of the routing arcs supplying at least a portion of the network traffic to a congested one of the routing arcs;
• the centralized network manager receiving the traffic metrics of each of the ends of the routing arcs, the load balancing including the centralized network manager sending a load balancing command to the third network device of at least one of the of the routing arcs;
• wherein the at least one routing arc is an infrastructure arc comprising one and only one arc cursor and a fourth network device identified as an intermediate junction node and adjacent to the corresponding third network device, the arc cursor providing exclusive control of directing the network traffic along the infrastructure arc and away from any network device having possession of the arc cursor, the load balancing further comprising the centralized network manager sending a cursor transfer command for transfer of the arc cursor from the third network device to the fourth network device.

Logic encoded in one or more non-transitory tangible media for execution and when executed operable for:

• creating, in a computing network, a loop-free routing topology comprising a plurality of routing arcs for reaching a destination device, each routing arc comprising a first network device as a first end of the routing arc, a second network device as a second end of the routing arc, and at least a third network device configured for routing any network traffic along the routing arc toward the destination device via any one of the first or second ends of the routing arc;
• and
• load balancing the network traffic along the routing arcs based on traffic metrics obtained at the first and second ends of the routing arcs, including selectively sending a backpressure command to a first one of the routing arcs supplying at least a portion of the network traffic to a congested one of the routing arcs;
• wherein the congested routing arc is an infrastructure arc comprising one and only one arc cursor and a fourth network device identified as an intermediate junction node and adjacent to the corresponding third network device, the arc cursor providing exclusive control of directing the network traffic along the infrastructure arc and away from any network device having possession of the arc cursor, the load balancing further comprising the third network device, having possession of the arc cursor, executing at least one of:
• adjusting the network traffic toward the first and second ends of the congested routing arc based on the respective traffic metrics from the respective first and second network devices;
• transferring the arc cursor to the fourth network device based on the third network device determining the fourth network device is receiving traffic causing congestion of the congested routing arc;
• or
• sending the backpressure command to the first of the routing arcs based on the third network device determining both the first and second ends of the routing arcs are congested.