Bitmapped Packet Sequence Tracking for Wireless Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for tracking packets in networks require significant processing and storage resources, which can be limiting for nodes with limited power and data storage, such as low-power sensors, leading to reduced lifespan and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A data structure using a bitmapped sequence field is employed to track packet sequences, allowing each bit to represent a different packet ID, reducing memory storage and computational requirements, and enabling efficient detection of duplicate and missing packets.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional packet tracking methods are used, then packet detection capability is improved, but processing power and data storage requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket detection capabilityVSAvoidprocessing and storage requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the packet tracking approach by changing the data structure parameters from storing complete packet information to using a bitmapped representation where each bit represents a packet sequence number. This parameter change reduces the storage complexity from linear to logarithmic while maintaining the ability to detect duplicate and missing packets.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of storing actual packet data structures, the patent creates a simplified copy in the form of a bitmap where each bit position corresponds to a packet ID. This copy contains only the essential tracking information needed for duplicate detection, eliminating the need to store full packet payloads while preserving detection capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If comprehensive packet tracking is implemented, then network issue detection is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork issue detectionVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent reduces power consumption by changing the tracking parameter representation from detailed packet metadata to compact bitmapped sequence numbers. This reduction in data size decreases the energy required for memory access, processing, and transmission while maintaining the ability to detect network issues through sequence number analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of information

If detailed packet information is stored, then packet analysis capability is improved, but data storage space is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepacket analysis capabilityVSAvoiddata storage space

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential tracking information (packet sequence numbers) from complete packet data and stores only this extracted information in the bitmap structure. This extraction maintains the capability to detect duplicates and missing packets while eliminating storage of redundant packet payload information, thereby preserving analysis capability with minimal storage space.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2987283B1Packet sequence number tracking for duplicate packet detection

Publication Date: 2019.10.23 CUBIC CORP

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AI summary

Techniques are disclosed for tracking of packets in wireless networks. Embodiments generally include a network device that maintains a data structure for tracking received packets. The data structure includes records associated with the received packets. A bitmapped sequence field is used to track multiple packets in one record reducing memory storage and computational power necessary to maintain the data structure.