Communication Node Trace Information Insertion Method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing distributed tracing techniques face delays and packet incompatibility issues when accessing trace information across different networking layers, particularly due to the location and variability of HTTP headers, which hinder efficient monitoring and tracing across layers like the transport and network layers.
Innovation Solution
A communication method where a first module at a communication node adds trace information to a packet at a predetermined region, allowing it to be transmitted to a lower layer for processing, and then deletes this information before passing it back to the application layer, ensuring high-speed access and maintaining protocol conformity by inserting trace information in an arbitrary region, such as the front portion of an HTTP response.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If trace information is added to HTTP headers for distributed tracing, then tracing capability across communication nodes is improved, but processing speed deteriorates due to header variability and access delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary between the application server and communication nodes. The proxy server adds trace information to packets before forwarding them to communication nodes, and removes trace information from response packets before forwarding them back to the application server. This mediator approach allows tracing functionality to be added without modifying the application server or HTTP protocol headers, thereby maintaining processing speed while enabling distributed tracing.
2Loss of information
If trace information is retained in packets for tracking, then data tracking capability is improved, but packet compatibility deteriorates due to protocol conformity issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by adding trace information to packets before they are sent to communication nodes, and removing trace information from response packets before they are returned to the application server. This ensures that trace information is present when needed for tracking purposes at the network layer, but is removed before packets reach the application layer, thereby maintaining packet compatibility and protocol conformity throughout the system.
Data Source
AI summary
A first module included in a first communication node executes: receiving, from a first application, a first packet that is generated in accordance with a first protocol and is generated addressed to a second communication node, adding first trace information to a predetermined region in the first packet, and passing the first packet, to which the first trace information is added, to a second layer in order to transmit the first packet to the second communication node. The first application executes deleting second trace information from a second packet that is sent from the second communication node and passing the second packet to the first application. In the case where the first application generates the first packet in response to the second packet, the first module generates, as the first trace information, information corresponding or identical to the second trace information included in the second packet.