Canonical Header Mapping for Network Protocol Search

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Solution Overview

Problem

Accessing message headers in network protocols like HTTP and SIP is processor-intensive due to case-insensitive, multi-valued, and ordered header names with aliases, leading to poor performance in header searches.

Innovation Solution

Converting header names into a canonical form with a mapping system that uses integer comparisons for faster searches, including standard and alias representations, and updating the mapping for new header names.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If sequential search with case-insensitive string comparison is used for header names, then header search functionality is achieved, but processor usage increases and performance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheader search functionalityVSAvoidsearch performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms header name comparison from case-insensitive string comparison to integer comparison by converting header names to canonical forms. This parameter change fundamentally alters the comparison operation, enabling faster processing while maintaining search functionality. The canonical form conversion creates a standardized representation that can be efficiently compared using integer operations rather than string operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary conversion of header names to their canonical forms during the message processing initialization phase. By preparing the header name mappings in advance and storing them in a lookup structure, the system avoids repeated case-insensitive string comparisons during subsequent header searches, thereby improving performance without sacrificing operational capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple header name representations (aliases, different cases) are supported, then header accessibility is improved, but search complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheader name representation flexibilityVSAvoidsearch algorithm complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a canonical form as an intermediary representation between the various header name representations (aliases, different cases) and the actual header storage. The canonical form serves as a mediator that standardizes all header name variations into a unique form, allowing the system to maintain versatility in accepting different header name formats while simplifying the search process to a straightforward integer comparison against the standardized form.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the header name handling into distinct components: the original header name representations (which may vary in case and include aliases), the conversion process to canonical forms, and the storage/search using canonical forms. This segmentation allows the system to handle the complexity of multiple representations separately from the simplicity of the search operation, maintaining both adaptability and operational efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If header names are stored as ordered table of key/value pairs, then header organization is maintained, but access speed decreases due to sequential search requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheader organization structureVSAvoidheader access speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical sequential search process with a more efficient integer-based lookup mechanism. By converting header names to canonical forms and storing them in a structure that enables direct integer comparison and indexing, the system substitutes the sequential scanning mechanism with a faster integer-based access method, significantly improving header access speed while preserving the organized structure of header information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9558253B2Providing access to message headers

Publication Date: 2017.01.31 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

Method and system are provided for providing access to string-based message headers in network protocol messages. The method includes: converting header names into canonical form, wherein a canonical key represents at least one equivalent header name, and wherein a canonical key has a string and an integer value; providing a mapping between the header names and the canonical keys; and searching for a header name using the canonical key by sequential search using integer comparison.