CCN Header Compression via Static Dictionary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Content-centric network (CCN) messages suffer from inefficient resource utilization due to repetitive field information in their headers, leading to suboptimal packet forwarding efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A system that employs a static dictionary to compress type and length (TL) strings and optional type, length, and value (TLV) fields in CCN messages, replacing repetitive information with compressed replacement strings and using context identifiers to manage dictionary usage, thereby facilitating efficient header compression.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If header fields are transmitted with complete type and length information, then message integrity is ensured, but resource utilization becomes inefficient due to repetition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemessage integrityVSAvoidresource utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a compressed copy of the header by replacing repeated type-length fields with short codes that reference a shared dictionary of common field types. This copy maintains all necessary information for message integrity while consuming fewer network resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the representation parameters of header fields from complete type-length specifications to compact code references. By changing how the same information is encoded (from full descriptions to dictionary indices), the patent reduces bandwidth consumption while preserving message integrity through the shared reference dictionary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If complete header information is transmitted, then accurate packet identification is achieved, but transmission efficiency decreases due to redundant data

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket identification accuracyVSAvoidtransmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transmits a compressed copy of the header using code references instead of complete field descriptions. The receiving node reconstructs the full header information by looking up codes in its local dictionary, maintaining accurate packet identification while improving transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary encoding of common header fields into a shared dictionary before transmission. This pre-compression of frequently occurring field types allows the actual message transmission to use compact references, thereby improving efficiency without sacrificing identification accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If a compression scheme is implemented, then resource utilization improves, but header complexity increases due to compression overhead

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresource utilization efficiencyVSAvoidheader structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent establishes a shared compression dictionary in advance at both transmitting and receiving nodes. This preliminary setup eliminates the need for complex real-time compression algorithms during message transmission, reducing processing complexity while maintaining compression benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a shared dictionary as an intermediary between the transmitter and receiver. This intermediary structure simplifies the compression process by providing pre-agreedupon code mappings, reducing the computational complexity at both ends while achieving efficient compression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3641272B1Header compression for CCN messages using a static dictionary
Publication Date: 2021.10.06 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP3641272B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3641272B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3641272B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~2B

AI summary

One embodiment provides a system that facilitates efficient packet forwarding, wherein the packet may comprise a content-centric network (CCN) message. During operation, the system stores, in a storage device in a first node, a static dictionary comprising a mapping between a type and length (TL) string and a compressed replacement string. In response to identifying the TL string in a packet, the system replaces the TL string with the compressed replacement string and transmits the packet to a second node, which stores the static dictionary in a local storage device, thereby facilitating compression of a TL string.