Device-to-Device Caching via Content Maps and Bloom Filters
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Solution Overview
Problem
The speed of content download from a network server to a client device is limited by bandwidth, and network servers can be unavailable, necessitating a solution to enhance content access and reduce bandwidth consumption.
Innovation Solution
Implementing device-to-device caching within a local area network (LAN) where electronic devices register and advertise their cache services, generate content maps using Bloom filters, and request content from other devices or the network server based on availability, thereby reducing reliance on remote servers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If content is downloaded from a remote network server, then content availability is ensured, but download speed is limited by network bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the centralized content delivery system into distributed peer-to-peer content sharing. Instead of all devices downloading from a single remote server, the system divides content delivery across multiple local devices, with each device acting as both client and potential content source. This segmentation enables parallel content retrieval from multiple sources simultaneously, improving download speed while maintaining reliability through redundancy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by having devices pre-cache content locally before it is needed by other devices. Devices proactively store copies of content in their local storage, creating a distributed cache network. When content is requested, previously cached copies are immediately available from local devices, eliminating the need to wait for remote server downloads and thus improving speed while ensuring availability.
2Reliability
If all LAN devices are activated to check for cached content, then content availability is maximized, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having devices perform content availability checks selectively rather than universally. Instead of activating all LAN devices to check for cached content, the system performs partial checks based on content descriptors and device capabilities. Devices only activate and check for specific content types they are likely to have cached, reducing overall power consumption while maintaining sufficient content availability through targeted searches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of content descriptors and metadata that mediate between content requests and device activation. Rather than directly activating all devices, the system uses intermediate content information to identify and contact only those devices likely to have the requested content. This intermediary layer enables selective device activation, reducing power consumption while preserving content availability.
3Loss of energy
If device-to-device caching is implemented, then bandwidth consumption is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling devices to autonomously manage their own caching and content sharing without requiring complex centralized coordination. Each device independently tracks its own cached content, generates content descriptors, and responds to requests based on its local state. This self-service approach reduces the need for complex system-wide management protocols, lowering overall system complexity while effectively reducing bandwidth consumption through distributed content delivery.
4Speed
If content is cached locally on devices, then download speed improves, but storage space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting caching strategies based on content characteristics, device storage capacity, and usage patterns. The system modifies caching parameters such as cache size limits, prioritization rules, and eviction policies to optimize the balance between download speed and storage consumption. Devices with limited storage use more selective caching of frequently accessed or high-value content, while devices with more storage can cache broader content sets, thus improving speed without uniformly increasing storage consumption across all devices.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, devices and non-transitory, computer-readable mediums are disclosed for device-to-device caching. In some implementations, a method includes: registering, by an electronic device, a cache service on a local area network (LAN), the LAN including other registered electronic devices; generating, by the electronic device, a content map for cached content, the content map generated from descriptors of the cached content and including data indicating that the cached content described by the content descriptors is possibly cached or is definitely not cached by the electronic device; advertising, by the electronic device, the registered cache service and the content map; receiving, by the electronic device, a request for content from a requesting electronic device registered on the LAN; determining, by the electronic device, that the requested content is cached; and sending, by the electronic device, the requested content to the requesting electronic device.