Fragment Filtering Engine for Network Node Packet Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, the loss of data fragments during transmission leads to inefficient use of resources, as devices continue processing and forwarding superfluous fragments, which consume bandwidth and cause network congestion, potentially delaying the receipt of important data.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a fragment filtering engine in network nodes to determine the expected position of received fragments within a sequence and only transmit fragments if they are part of a complete data unit, or if resources are available to process and store the remaining fragments, thereby minimizing the transmission of superfluous data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If fragments are transmitted without verification of completeness, then transmission speed is improved, but resource wastage increases due to processing superfluous fragments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by verifying fragment completeness before transmission. The receiving device checks whether all fragments of a data unit have been received and properly reassembled before forwarding the complete data unit to the next network node. This prevents superfluous fragments from being transmitted and processed unnecessarily, resolving the contradiction by ensuring transmission speed is maintained only for complete, valid data units while avoiding resource wastage on incomplete fragments.
2Device complexity
If all received fragments are forwarded without filtering, then device complexity is reduced, but network congestion increases due to superfluous fragment transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having the receiving device monitor the reception status of all fragments belonging to a data unit. The device maintains state information about expected fragments and compares received fragments against this state. Only when all fragments are confirmed received and reassembled does the device forward the complete data unit. This feedback mechanism prevents network congestion by filtering out superfluous fragments while maintaining manageable device complexity through efficient state tracking and fragment reassembly logic.
3Reliability
If fragment reassembly is performed at every network node, then data completeness is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the fragment reassembly function to be performed only at the final destination host rather than at every intermediate network node. Intermediate nodes simply forward complete data units once reassembly is confirmed at the previous node. This extraction of the reassembly function to a single endpoint maintains data completeness reliability while significantly reducing processing time by eliminating redundant reassembly operations at multiple network nodes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of controlling transmission of data units in a network node includes receiving a current fragment of a data unit at the network node, the data unit having been fragmented into an ordered sequence of fragments prior to the current fragment being received at the network node. The method also includes determining, at the network node, whether the current fragment is expected. Determining whether the current fragment is expected includes determining a position of the current fragment within the ordered sequence of fragments. The method also includes, in response to determining that the current fragment is expected based on the determined position of the current fragment within the ordered sequence of fragments, transmitting the current fragment via a network link.