Distributed ICN Caching with Routing-Aware Neighbor Lookups

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current TCP/IP-based content distribution architectures and Information Centric Networking (ICN) methods suffer from inefficiencies such as high latency, low cache hit ratio, and increased overhead due to reliance on on-path caching or centralized control, which can lead to data redundancy and computational bottlenecks.

Innovation Solution

A distributed caching method that combines on-path and off-path caching techniques, utilizing broadcast look-ups among neighbor nodes within a certain hop range to optimize cache utilization and reduce latency, based on node properties and data popularity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If on-path caching is used, then implementation simplicity is improved, but cache hit ratio deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimplementation simplicityVSAvoidcache hit ratio

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The caching system is segmented into two independent parts: on-path caching (for simplicity) and off-path caching (for improved hit ratio). Each part operates autonomously with its own cache structures and lookup mechanisms, allowing the system to benefit from both approaches without requiring complete redesign of either component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges on-path caching and off-path caching into a unified system where both caching mechanisms operate simultaneously. The combination allows the system to maintain implementation simplicity through on-path caching while improving cache hit ratio through off-path caching, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Productivity

If centralized control is used, then coordination efficiency is improved, but system overhead deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoordination efficiencyVSAvoidsystem overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each network element performs self-service by autonomously determining whether to perform on-path or off-path caching based on local conditions. The system eliminates centralized control while maintaining coordination efficiency through distributed decision-making, where each node independently manages its caching behavior without requiring global coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The caching strategy is made dynamic and adaptive, allowing each network element to adjust its behavior based on real-time conditions. The system transitions from static centralized control to dynamic distributed decision-making, where caching decisions are made locally based on current network state, reducing overhead while maintaining efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If off-path look-up is performed, then cache hit ratio is improved, but latency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecache hit ratioVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial off-path look-up by limiting the search to only those off-path nodes that are likely to contain the requested data. Instead of exhaustively searching all possible caches, the system uses intelligent selection to perform only necessary look-ups, improving hit ratio while minimizing the time spent on unnecessary searches.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-determining which off-path nodes should be queried based on routing information and network topology. This preliminary selection of candidate nodes for off-path caching reduces the number of sequential look-ups required, thereby improving cache hit ratio without proportionally increasing latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Reliability

If broadcast group is formed, then data availability is improved, but computational overhead deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata availabilityVSAvoidcomputational overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The broadcast group is formed with local quality by including only those off-path nodes that are relevant to the current routing path and data request. Each node participates in the broadcast group only if it has a local interest in the requested data, reducing computational overhead while maintaining data availability for relevant nodes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250323858A1Distributed cooperative cache management in information centric networks

Publication Date: 2025.10.16 AIRBUS (SAS)

AI summary

A computer-implemented method for transmitting data in an information-centric network, the information-centric network being connectable to a plurality of server devices for providing network service data, respectively, the information-centric network being configured for receiving a request for network service data from a client device, wherein the information-centric network includes a plurality of interconnected nodes including, respectively, a cache for caching network service data, each of the nodes being configured for routing any request to another of the nodes along a corresponding routing path from the client device to the corresponding server device, the corresponding routing path having one or more nodes successively visitable by the request via one hop.