DNS Redirection via RNC Interception for Mobile Content Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current DNS redirection mechanisms in mobile telecommunication networks, such as 3G and LTE, fail to effectively utilize internal content servers due to the inability of CDN companies to see the internal structure of these networks, leading to inefficient content delivery and increased latency.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a module and method at the Radio Network Controller (RNC) to intercept and modify DNS replies, allowing the RNC to direct mobile terminals to content servers located within the mobile network, thereby bypassing external CDN servers and utilizing internal caches for content delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If DNS redirection is implemented using external CDN servers, then content delivery can be provided, but the internal content servers within the mobile network cannot be utilized due to visibility limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent delivery efficiencyVSAvoidvisibility of internal network structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a DNS redirection server as an intermediary component within the mobile network that receives DNS queries from mobile terminals, determines the optimal content server location, and returns the appropriate IP address. This intermediary enables the network to utilize its internal content servers while maintaining compatibility with standard DNS protocols, thus resolving the visibility limitation problem.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new dimension to the DNS resolution process by introducing a two-stage lookup mechanism: first checking internal network content servers, then falling back to external CDN servers. This dimensional approach allows the system to prioritize internal resources while maintaining external connectivity, effectively bypassing the visibility constraint.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Speed

If external CDN servers are used for content delivery, then content can be fetched, but latency increases due to longer transmission paths

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent delivery speedVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements local quality optimization by enabling mobile terminals to access content from geographically and topologically closer servers within the mobile network infrastructure. The DNS redirection server determines the optimal content server based on the terminal's current network location, ensuring that content is delivered from the nearest available cache, thereby reducing transmission latency and improving delivery speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of energy

If internal content servers are utilized, then bandwidth usage is reduced, but the DNS redirection mechanism requires additional network components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebandwidth usageVSAvoidDNS redirection infrastructure
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The DNS redirection server is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a standard DNS resolver for general domain name resolution and as a intelligent content routing device for optimizing content delivery. This universal component handles both regular DNS queries and content-specific redirection queries, reducing the need for separate specialized infrastructure and minimizing the added complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2638686B1Method and apparatus for enabling DNS redirection in mobile telecommunication systems
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
  • EP2638686B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2638686B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2638686B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

System and method for providing DNS redirection in mobile telecommunication network. The system includes a functionality that is capable of intercepting a DNS reply from a content delivery provider, extracting a token, comparing the token with a stored token and replacing an IP address associated with the content delivery provider with an IP address of a resource of the mobile telecommunication network.