Adaptive Overlay Network Topology for Congestion-Aware Content Relay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing overlay network architectures struggle to effectively address frequently changing network congestion and interdependencies among nodes and links, failing to satisfy application-specific performance criteria and requiring costly additional infrastructure.
Innovation Solution
An adaptive overlay network architecture that measures and predicts the net capacity of nodes and links to reconfigure the overlay network topology dynamically, addressing changing network congestion and interdependencies by leveraging the resources of existing destination user nodes to relay content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing overlay network architectures are used, then basic content distribution is achieved, but they fail to satisfy application-specific performance criteria due to inability to address frequently changing network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The overlay network topology is made dynamic through continuous reconfiguration based on real-time network conditions. The system dynamically selects parent nodes and routing paths by monitoring metrics like packet loss, latency, and throughput, allowing the network to adapt its structure in response to changing congestion patterns rather than using a static topology.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring network performance metrics (packet loss, latency, throughput) and using this information to adjust the overlay topology. Performance data from child nodes is fed back to parent nodes and the central controller, enabling continuous optimization of routing decisions based on actual network conditions rather than assumptions.
2Quantity of substance
If additional infrastructure is added to address network congestion, then network capacity increases, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The overlay network leverages the existing infrastructure and resources of participating nodes to provide content distribution services. Instead of requiring dedicated infrastructure, the system uses available bandwidth, processing capacity, and storage resources of user nodes (both infrastructure nodes and end-user nodes) to relay content, thereby increasing network capacity without proportionally increasing infrastructure costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables infrastructure nodes and end-user nodes to perform multiple functions - both content distribution and content consumption. This multi-functionality allows the same physical infrastructure to serve dual purposes, maximizing the utilization of available resources and avoiding the need for separate dedicated infrastructure for content relay.
3Ease of manufacture
If static overlay network topology is used, then implementation is simple, but it cannot address interdependencies among nodes and links in the context of changing network conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing an overlay network topology with multiple potential parent nodes and routing paths before network conditions change. When congestion or failures occur, the system can quickly switch between pre-configured paths rather than building new routes from scratch, maintaining both simplicity in initial setup and adaptability in response to changing conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
The adaptive overlay network architecture of the present invention improves the performance of applications distributing digital content among nodes of an underlying network such as the Internet by establishing and reconfiguring overlay network topologies over which associated content items are distributed. The present invention addresses not only frequently changing network congestion, but also interdependencies among nodes and links of prospective overlay network topologies. The present invention provides a prediction engine that monitors metrics and predicts the relay capacity of individual nodes and links (as well as demand of destination nodes) over time to reflect the extent to which the relaying of content among the nodes of an overlay network will be impacted by (current or future) underlying network congestion. The present invention further provides a topology selector that addresses node and link interdependencies while redistributing excess capacity to determine an overlay network topology that satisfies application-specific performance criteria.