Dynamic Packet Duplication for Wireless Data Delivery

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing network protocols face challenges in managing packet loss, particularly in wireless connections, where the waiting time for retransmission timers can slow down data delivery.

Innovation Solution

The method involves dynamically determining the number of duplicate copies of packets to transmit within a sequence, using acknowledgments of duplicated packets to detect loss of non-duplicated packets and retransmitting as needed, thereby avoiding the expiration of retransmission timers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional retransmission timers are used to ensure data delivery, then reliability of data transmission is improved, but the speed of data delivery deteriorates due to waiting time for timer expiration

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata delivery reliabilityVSAvoiddata delivery speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by sending duplicate packets before the original packets are acknowledged. This allows the system to proactively ensure packet delivery by having backup copies ready, so that if the original packet is lost, the duplicate can be used immediately without waiting for timer expiration, thus maintaining reliability while improving speed

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating duplicate copies of selected packets and transmitting them alongside original packets. These duplicates serve as backups that can be received and acknowledged even if originals are lost, enabling faster retransmission decisions without compromising delivery reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If the number of duplicate packets is increased to improve acknowledgment probability, then reliability of packet delivery is improved, but the complexity of packet management deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket delivery reliabilityVSAvoidpacket management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the number of duplicate packets adaptive rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts the number of duplicates based on measured packet loss conditions, using more duplicates when loss is high and fewer when loss is low, thereby optimizing reliability while managing complexity through conditional logic

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses parameter changes by varying the number of duplicate packets as a controllable parameter based on network conditions. The system monitors packet loss rates and adjusts the duplication parameter accordingly, allowing flexible optimization of delivery reliability without permanently increasing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3665798B1Dynamic management of packet loss
Publication Date: 2025.05.14 PALO ALTO NETWORKS INC
  • EP3665798B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3665798B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3665798B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Exemplary methods, apparatuses, and systems include duplicating a packet within a plurality of packets to be transmitted to a destination computing node as a sequence of packets. The plurality of packets including the duplicate of the packet are transmitted to the destination computing node. Upon receiving a first acknowledgement of the packet from the destination computing node, it is determined that the first acknowledgment is directed to a duplicated packet. In response to determining that the first acknowledgment is directed to a duplicated packet, it is determined that a second acknowledgement has yet to be received for each of one or more packets within the plurality of packets transmitted prior to the packet. In response to determining that the second acknowledgement has yet to be received, the one or more packets are retransmitted to the destination computing node.