Mobile Network Edge Data Pre-fetching Protocol
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Solution Overview
Problem
In mobile telecommunications networks with local caches at base stations, users experience significant delays and reduced throughput due to cascading cache misses when moving between base stations, as each new base station must reload data not stored locally, leading to potential permanent stalls in data downloads.
Innovation Solution
A method where a local data store in a mobile network notifies neighboring data stores of data requests, allowing them to pre-fetch data that may be needed in the future, thereby reducing cache misses and latency as the user moves by establishing a protocol for data request communication between local storage centers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If local caches are deployed at base stations to buffer data, then data delivery speed to mobile terminals is improved, but cache misses occur when users move between base stations causing delays
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements pre-fetching of data to neighboring base station caches before the mobile terminal actually moves to those areas. When a terminal requests data from its current base station, the serving base station proactively sends the data to neighboring base stations in advance, so that when the terminal moves, the data is already available locally, avoiding cache miss delays.
2Reliability
If data is freshly loaded at each base station when needed, then data accuracy is ensured, but latency increases due to repeated requests from core network
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple data requests into a single pre-fetching operation. Instead of each base station independently requesting data from the core network when needed (causing repeated latency), the serving base station consolidates the data transfer to multiple neighboring base stations in one coordinated operation, reducing total latency while ensuring each base station receives accurate data.
3Productivity
If large data requests are delivered to local caches, then throughput to terminals is improved, but downloads may permanently stall if users move during delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-fetching complete large data sets to multiple neighboring base station caches before the user moves. This ensures that even if the user moves during or after the data request, the data is already available at the new base station, preventing download stalls and ensuring reliable completion.
4Productivity
If notification protocol is implemented between data stores, then pre-fetching capability is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the serving base station as an intermediary that manages the notification and coordination between the mobile terminal and neighboring base stations. The serving base station receives data requests, identifies neighboring base stations, and orchestrates the pre-fetching process, simplifying the overall network complexity while maintaining efficient pre-fetching capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus in which a mobile network advantageously communicates data requests to neighboring data stores so that they may pre-fetch the data. In particular, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a protocol is advantageously established whereby a local data store in a mobile network notifies neighboring data stores of data requests, and whereby the neighboring data stores advantageously pre-fetch the data that may be required, thereby advantageously avoiding cascading cache misses. Such notifications may advantageously reduce the number of cache misses, which in turn may advantageously reduce the latency to download data as the user moves around within the mobile network and changes data sources. Specifically, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention, a protocol for communicating data requests between local storage centers in a network supporting mobile users is provided.