DLNA Device Discovery via Encapsulation Header
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Solution Overview
Problem
DLNA devices on home networks cannot automatically discover virtual DLNA devices in Cloud DLNA services due to discarded SSDP multicast packets at broadband remote access servers lacking extra multicast forwarding routing tables.
Innovation Solution
Encapsulating a protocol packet header with a home network identity in DLNA automatic discovery packets, allowing them to be forwarded through a Cloud DLNA device, which removes the header to direct the packets to corresponding virtual or physical DLNA devices, establishing a one-to-one mapping for discovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If SSDP multicast packets are forwarded through BRAS without encapsulation, then multicast forwarding routing table complexity increases, but if encapsulation is added, then packet processing overhead increases and discovery reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a home gateway as an intermediary device between the physical DLNA device and the Cloud DLNA device. The home gateway encapsulates SSDP multicast packets with home network identity information before forwarding to the Cloud DLNA device, and the Cloud DLNA device removes the encapsulation header. This intermediary approach allows the BRAS to forward packets without needing complex multicast routing tables, as the home gateway handles the encapsulation/decapsulation process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the DLNA discovery process into multiple stages: physical DLNA device sends SSDP packets to home gateway, home gateway encapsulates with home network identity and forwards to Cloud DLNA device, Cloud DLNA device removes encapsulation and forwards to virtual DLNA device. This segmentation allows each component to perform a specific function, reducing the complexity burden on any single device including the BRAS.
2Measurement precision
If home network identity encapsulation is added to DLNA discovery packets, then packet forwarding accuracy improves, but protocol compatibility decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by encapsulating the original SSDP multicast packet within a new packet structure that includes home network identity information in the header. The original packet is nested inside the encapsulated packet, allowing the outer layer to carry routing information while the inner layer maintains the original SSDP protocol structure. This enables accurate routing based on home network identity while preserving SSDP protocol compatibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the packet structure parameter by adding an encapsulation header containing home network identity information. This parameter change enables the network to identify and route packets to the correct home network without altering the core SSDP protocol functionality. The encapsulation header is removed at the destination, restoring the original packet structure for protocol compatibility.
3Measurement precision
If Cloud DLNA device removes encapsulation header for each packet, then discovery accuracy improves, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-establishing the mapping relationship between home network identity and virtual DLNA device information in the Cloud DLNA device. When an encapsulated SSDP packet arrives, the Cloud DLNA device can quickly remove the encapsulation header and forward the packet using the pre-configured mapping information, reducing processing time compared to performing full route calculations in real-time.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention is applicable to the field of communications, and provides a method for automatically discovering a DLNA device, and a DLNA device, where the method includes: encapsulating, when a DLNA automatic discovery packet sent by a physical DLNA device is intercepted in a transparent manner, a protocol packet header in the DLNA automatic discovery packet, where the protocol packet header includes a home network identity; and sending the DLNA automatic discovery packet in which the protocol packet header is encapsulated to a Cloud DLNA device, so that the Cloud DLNA device sends the DLNA automatic discovery packet to a virtual DLNA device corresponding to the home network identity after removing the protocol packet header from the DLNA automatic discovery packet, and therefore the virtual DLNA device discovers, by using the DLNA automatic discovery packet, the physical DLNA device corresponding to the home network identity. The technical solutions provided in the present invention have an advantage of automatically discovering a DLNA device.