Dual-Protocol Network Gateway for Mission-Critical Data Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network devices lack efficient mechanisms to support time-critical and mission-critical networks, particularly in military applications requiring real-time, reliable, and guaranteed data delivery between ground and aerial devices, due to issues like unstable connectivity, limited bandwidth, and strict prioritization requirements.
Innovation Solution
A network gateway with a decision unit, processing unit, and traffic shaper that intercepts and processes frames to manage bandwidth, ensure quality of service, and maintain transparency, while being compliant with standard protocols and transparent to other network entities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCP protocol is used for reliable data delivery, then data delivery reliability is improved, but transmission delay increases and bandwidth efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network communication function into two independent protocols: TCP for control plane communication (ensuring reliability for setup/teardown) and UDP for data plane communication (enabling low-latency real-time data transfer). This segmentation allows each protocol to be optimized for its specific purpose without the overhead of the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the dual-protocol gateway) that mediates between reliable TCP connections and unreliable UDP streams. The gateway maintains TCP connections for control signaling while using UDP for actual data transfer, with the intermediary handling the coordination and state management between the two protocols.
2Speed
If UDP protocol is used for timely data delivery, then transmission speed is improved, but data delivery reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network communication function into two independent protocols: TCP for control plane communication (ensuring reliability for setup/teardown) and UDP for data plane communication (enabling low-latency real-time data transfer). This segmentation allows each protocol to be optimized for its specific purpose without the overhead of the other.
3Device complexity
If standard network devices are used for military networks, then device simplicity is improved, but ability to support time-critical and mission-critical requirements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal dual-protocol gateway that can handle both TCP and UDP traffic, serving multiple functions: TCP connection management, UDP data forwarding, bandwidth enforcement, and quality of service prioritization. This multi-functional device replaces multiple specialized devices while supporting both reliable and real-time requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the dual-protocol gateway) that mediates between reliable TCP connections and unreliable UDP streams. The gateway maintains TCP connections for control signaling while using UDP for actual data transfer, with the intermediary handling the coordination and state management between the two protocols.
4Reliability
If bandwidth management is implemented for quality of service, then service quality is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-negotiating and configuring bandwidth parameters, quality of service levels, and prioritization rules during the TCP control plane setup phase. These parameters are established before actual UDP data transfer begins, allowing the gateway to enforce quality of service with simple rule-based forwarding during data transmission without complex real-time decisions.
Data Source
AI summary
A network gateway for time-critical and mission-critical networks is provided. The network gateway comprises a decision unit for determining, based on at least one network event; a processing unit for processing frames determined to be associated with the at least one service; a queue for buffering frames; and a traffic shaper for performing bandwidth management on frames stored in the queue.