Access Point Cache List Generation for Wireless LAN Content Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
In wireless Local Area Networks (LANs) with multiple access points, the existing Internet Cache Protocol (ICP) requires significant checking costs due to the need to designate Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) for content sharing, leading to longer wait times for users when content is not cached or has large data sizes, as access points need to acquire content from servers.
Innovation Solution
A communication device that acquires and shares cache information between access points, generating a shared content list indicating which content is cached in each access point, allowing for efficient content distribution and reducing wait times by identifying cached content and optimizing data transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If Internet Cache Protocol (ICP) is used for content sharing between access points, then content can be shared among access points, but a huge amount of checking cost is required due to the need to designate URLs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the URL designation requirement from the content sharing process. Instead of using ICP which requires designating URLs for content checking, the system creates a simplified cache information list that contains only content identifiers and cache status. This extraction eliminates the cumbersome URL checking process while maintaining the essential content sharing functionality between access points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mediator component that generates and maintains a cache information list serving as an intermediary between multiple access points. This mediator consolidates cache status information from various access points into a single shared list, allowing access points to check content availability without direct URL-based communication. The mediator approach simplifies the interaction protocol and reduces checking overhead.
2Adaptability or versatility
If content is not cached in an access point, then the access point can serve all content types, but the user's wait time increases as content must be acquired from the server
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-fetching and caching content that is likely to be requested by users. The system proactively acquires content from the server and stores it in the access point's cache before actual user requests occur. This preliminary caching action ensures that when users do request content, it is already available locally, eliminating wait time while maintaining the ability to serve diverse content types.
3Loss of time
If content is cached in an access point, then user wait time is reduced, but if the data size is extremely large, it takes a long time to download the content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing large content files into smaller segments or blocks. Instead of downloading entire large files at once, the system segments the content and downloads/transmits only the necessary segments to fulfill user requests. This segmentation reduces the apparent download time for users while maintaining the ability to cache and serve large content items efficiently.
Data Source
AI summary
A communication device includes: processing circuitry and communication circuitry. The processing circuitry acquires first information related to one or more pieces of content cached in each of relay devices being capable of communicating with a server and are capable of exchanging any of the pieces of content cached therein with one another. The processing circuitry acquires a first content list including an identifier of each of a plurality of pieces of content stored in the server. The processing circuitry specifies, on a basis of the first information, an identifier of a piece of content cached in at least one of the relay devices among the first content list and generates a second content list including the specified identifier and second information indicating that the piece of content identified by the specified identifier is cached in at least one of the relay devices. The communication circuitry transmits the second content list.