Address Management Relay for Seamless TCP Connections
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Solution Overview
Problem
TCP connections are often terminated unexpectedly due to dynamic IP address changes in NAT environments, especially for mobile terminals switching between Wi-Fi and mobile carrier communication, leading to seamless connection failures and data loss.
Innovation Solution
A communication method and system that utilize an address management apparatus to store and manage address translation data, enabling seamless TCP connections by establishing UDP connections between client and server apparatuses through nodes with associated IP addresses and UDP ports, ensuring continuous communication even during node changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If NAT function is used to secure IP addresses and ensure security, then security and IP address management are improved, but TCP connections are terminated unexpectedly when IP addresses change dynamically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay apparatus as an intermediary between the client apparatus and server apparatus. This relay apparatus maintains TCP connections by acting as a mediator that forwards packets even when IP addresses change. The relay apparatus stores correspondence between connection identifiers and IP addresses, allowing it to maintain connections despite dynamic IP changes in NAT environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the connection state in the relay apparatus. Instead of relying on the original TCP connection between client and server, the relay apparatus maintains a copy of the connection information including connection identifiers and IP address mappings. This copied connection state allows the system to recover from IP address changes without losing the connection.
2Productivity
If mobile terminal switches between Wi-Fi and mobile carrier communication to increase communication speed and reduce load, then communication efficiency is improved, but TCP connections are terminated during switching
Solution Approach 1:
The patent ensures continuous TCP connection during communication mode switching by having the relay apparatus maintain the connection state. When the mobile terminal switches between Wi-Fi and mobile carrier communication, the relay apparatus continues to forward packets using the stored connection identifier, ensuring uninterrupted communication despite changes in network interface or IP address.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary registration of connection identifiers with the relay apparatus before actual data transmission. The client apparatus registers its connection identifier and IP address with the relay in advance, so when switching communication modes occurs, the relay already has the necessary information to maintain the connection without interruption.
3Reliability
If relay software converts TCP packets to UDP packets to ensure reliable data communication and prevent data delay, then data reliability is improved, but seamless connection cannot be achieved for portable terminals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication function into two parts: UDP packet transmission for data carrying and TCP connection management for reliability. The relay apparatus uses UDP for actual data transmission (which is faster and has less overhead) while separately managing TCP connection state and identifiers to ensure reliability and seamless connection during mode switching.
Data Source
AI summary
A client device comprises a connection destination register that transmits a client identifier to an address management device via a first node; a UDP controller that controls a UDP connection upon reception of a TCP connect from an application executer, and a TCP-session controller that establishes, between itself and the application executer, a first TCP connection identified by a connection identifier. A server device comprises a connection destination register that transmits a server identifier to the address management device via a second node; a UDP controller that controls a UDI connection; and a TCP session controller that establishes, between itself and a service provider, a second TCP connection identified by a connection identifier. A UDP connection via the first node and second node can be established between a communication serve processor and a communication client processor.