Express Header for CCN Packet Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Internet protocols, such as IP and Ethernet, rely on location-based addressing, which becomes inadequate for the evolving network demands, particularly in content-centric networks (CCN) where hierarchically structured variable-length identifiers (HSVLI) pose challenges in forwarding packets at high throughput.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using an express header with a content identifier, global forwarding identifier, and local forwarding identifier to facilitate efficient packet forwarding in CCN, leveraging fixed-size byte strings and two-tier data structures to simplify forwarding processes in content-centric networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If location-based addressing schemes (IP/Ethernet) are used, then network infrastructure is simple and well-established, but the system becomes inadequate for evolving network demands and content-centric applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the forwarding process into two distinct phases: global forwarding using a simplified identifier (first set of forwarding information) and local forwarding using detailed identifiers (second set of forwarding information). This segmentation allows the network core to operate with simple, fast forwarding while reserving complex HSVLI processing for edge devices, thereby resolving the contradiction between adaptability to CCN and forwarding complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the complex HSVLI processing requirements from the core network forwarding path and relocates them to edge devices. By taking out the burden of processing full HSVLIs from the global forwarding path and handling only simplified identifiers in the core, the system achieves both CCN adaptability and reduced forwarding complexity in the network interior.
2Productivity
If full HSVLI processing is performed at every network node, then accurate content identification is achieved, but packet forwarding throughput decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-computing and embedding two sets of forwarding information (global and local identifiers) into the packet header at the source before transmission. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for complex HSVLI processing at each intermediate node, as they can simply forward packets based on the pre-computed global identifiers, thereby maintaining high throughput without losing content identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a two-dimensional forwarding structure: global forwarding dimension using simplified identifiers for high-speed core network routing, and local forwarding dimension using full HSVLI for precise content identification at edge devices. This dimensional separation allows throughput optimization in the global dimension while preserving identification accuracy in the local dimension.
3Adaptability or versatility
If variable-length HSVLI identifiers are used, then content-specific addressing is enabled, but forwarding decisions become computationally intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different levels of forwarding information processing to different network locations: core network nodes perform simple forwarding based on global identifiers (low computational complexity), while edge devices perform the computationally intensive HSVLI processing and local forwarding decisions. This distribution of computational burden according to local capabilities resolves the contradiction between content-specific addressing and forwarding complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for forwarding named packets. During operation, the system receives a named packet with an express header. The named packet includes a payload and a name which identifies the payload. The express header includes a content identifier, a global forwarding identifier, and a local forwarding identifier. The content identifier uniquely represents an interest corresponding to the name. The global forwarding identifier includes forwarding information to facilitate global forwarding. The local forwarding identifier includes forwarding information to facilitate local forwarding. The system then makes a forwarding decision for the packet based on the content identifier, the global forwarding identifier, and optionally the local forwarding identifier.