Communication Module for Bidirectional Virtual Network Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
In the current IPv4 environment, achieving bidirectional communication between home networks and the Internet is challenging due to limitations in intra-home routing and security, and the lack of IPv6 adoption, which requires costly upgrades and complex solutions, limiting the ability of client terminal devices to create value by reversing the server-client access direction.
Innovation Solution
A communication module is installed in client apparatuses that establishes a tunneling connection between the application software and a server on the Internet, using virtual network addresses and protocol stacks independent of the local OS, allowing applications to communicate via a virtual network without relying on specific network environments, such as IPv6, even in OS environments without the necessary protocol stacks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated router is used to control network home appliances, then bidirectional access is achieved, but system versatility is compromised and cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces a relay device that acts as an intermediary between network home appliances and external networks. The relay device includes a communication module with a virtual network interface that can communicate with both the home network and external networks, enabling bidirectional access without requiring dedicated routers at each appliance. This intermediary approach maintains system versatility while achieving the desired bidirectional communication capability.
2Reliability
If polling is used to retrieve control information from network home appliances, then access is achieved, but real-time access cannot be made and network load increases
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing communication channels and maintaining connection state information. The relay device keeps the communication channel open and ready, allowing immediate data transmission when needed without waiting for polling intervals. This preliminary setup enables real-time access while reducing unnecessary network traffic compared to continuous polling.
3Adaptability or versatility
If IPv6 is adopted to enable bidirectional communication, then standardized approach is achieved, but costly upgrades and long deployment time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a virtual copy of the network interface through software rather than requiring physical hardware upgrades to IPv6. The communication module implements a virtual network interface that emulates IPv6 functionality over IPv4 infrastructure, allowing bidirectional communication capabilities to be copied into existing systems without costly hardware replacements or lengthy deployment processes.
4Ease of operation
If applications use OS protocol stacks, then communication is enabled, but applications cannot communicate via virtual networks without OS protocol support
Solution Approach 1:
The communication module serves as an intermediary layer between applications and the OS protocol stack. It provides a virtual network interface that applications can use to communicate over virtual networks without requiring the underlying OS to have native support for those protocols. The module handles protocol translation and encapsulation, allowing applications to maintain protocol independence while utilizing existing OS networking infrastructure.
Data Source
AI summary
Bidirectional communication is performed by an application employing particular communication protocols without depending on any specific network environment enabled by an OS and the like. There is provided a communication module installed in a client apparatus for connecting an application software program to a virtual network via a server on the Internet. This module interposes between the application software program in a computer and a group of local communication protocol stacks of an operating system installed in the computer; retains a virtual network address for the application software program; performs the tunneling processing on packets from the application software program to the virtual network to thereby pass the processed packets to the server through the local communication protocol stacks; and is provided with Layer 2, 3 and 4 protocol stacks that are independent of a group of local communication protocol stacks.