Control Plane Network Element Cache Node Redirection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing content delivery networks (CDNs) face high transmission latency and bandwidth occupancy due to long-distance data transmission, and inaccurate DNS redirection occurs when cache servers do not have sufficient content, leading to inefficient content distribution.
Innovation Solution
A redirection method and control plane network element that determine a cache node and aggregation user plane network element to accurately transmit content by allocating redirected address information and matching traffic flows, optimizing the connection for efficient content delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If content is distributed using traditional CDN technology with pre-redirect to cache server, then transmission latency is reduced, but DNS redirection becomes inaccurate when cache server does not have sufficient content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by establishing a connection between the terminal device and the cache node before actual content transmission. The network element proactively determines the cache node and establishes the connection in advance, so when content transmission is needed, the connection is already ready. This resolves the contradiction by ensuring both low latency (through pre-established connection) and accurate redirection (through proactive cache node selection based on actual content availability).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the network element queries the cache node to check content availability before establishing the final transmission path. The cache node provides feedback information about its content storage status, and the network element uses this feedback to make informed redirection decisions. This ensures accurate DNS redirection while maintaining low latency by only establishing connections when the cache node actually has the required content.
2Ease of manufacture
If content is transmitted from distant content server, then content delivery is simplified, but transmission latency increases and network bandwidth resources are occupied
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cache node as an intermediary between the terminal device and the content server. The cache node is positioned closer to the user and stores copies of popular content locally. When a user requests content, the intermediary cache node serves the content from its local storage rather than forwarding the request to the distant content server. This intermediary approach maintains content delivery simplicity while significantly reducing transmission latency and network bandwidth occupancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by deploying cache nodes at strategic locations closer to users and storing content locally at these nodes. Instead of always retrieving content from the central content server, the system leverages local content storage at cache nodes that are geographically or network-wise closer to the user. This local quality approach simplifies content delivery for the end user while reducing the distance content travels, thereby lowering latency and bandwidth consumption.
Data Source
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AI summary
This application provides a redirection method, a control plane network element, and an aggregation user plane network element, to accurately locate a cache server and the aggregation user plane network element after information about content requested by a terminal device is obtained, and match a traffic flow based on a traffic flow matching parameter, thereby quickly obtaining the content requested by the terminal device. The method includes: obtaining, by a control plane network element, a content transmission request sent from a content server; determining, by the control plane network element based on the content transmission request, a cache node configured to store to-be-transmitted content and an aggregation user plane network element associated with the cache node; and sending, by the control plane network element, a traffic flow matching parameter to the aggregation user plane network element, where the traffic flow matching parameter is used to match a traffic flow of the to-be-transmitted content and determine a connection used to transmit a matched traffic flow.