Geographic DNS Categorization Caches for Lower-Latency Edge Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for managing domain name requests in Wi-Fi networks are inefficient and result in significant delays due to reactive approaches, cache misses, and limitations on hardware resources, leading to increased latency and computational intensity.

Innovation Solution

A system that generates geographically adaptive DNS caches for network edge devices by analyzing DNS requests from multiple locations, creating region-specific caches, and selecting the appropriate cache based on the device's geographic characteristic, thereby reducing cache misses and latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a single unified DNS cache is used for all network edge devices, then device complexity is reduced, but cache hit rate decreases due to geographic variability in DNS request patterns

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecache adaptabilityVSAvoidcache management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the unified DNS cache into multiple geographic-specific caches (e.g., US cache, EU cache, APAC cache). Each cache is tailored to the DNS request patterns of its specific geographic region, improving cache hit rates by matching local browsing behaviors while maintaining manageable complexity through organized segmentation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality by creating DNS caches with different characteristics for different geographic regions. Each regional cache is optimized with domain names and categorization data specific to that region's user behavior patterns, ensuring high adaptability to local conditions without requiring every device to handle all possible configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If DNS categorization data is pre-loaded on network edge devices, then response time is reduced, but hardware resource requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveDNS resolution speedVSAvoidstorage resource consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential and frequently accessed DNS categorization data from the complete dataset and loads it into the edge device cache. By taking out only the necessary subset of data (popular domain names, commonly accessed categories), the system achieves fast DNS resolution speed while keeping storage resource consumption within acceptable limits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by loading a curated subset of DNS data rather than the complete dataset. The cache includes the most frequently requested domain names and categories for each geographic region, providing sufficient speed improvement for common cases without the excessive storage burden of comprehensive data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Reliability

If DNS caches are updated frequently to maintain accuracy, then data freshness is improved, but network bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecache data accuracyVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic updates of DNS cache data at scheduled intervals (e.g., daily or weekly) rather than continuous real-time updates. This periodic action maintains adequate data freshness and accuracy for most use cases while significantly reducing network bandwidth consumption compared to frequent continuous synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the DNS cache system multi-functional by implementing both periodic automatic updates and on-demand update capabilities. The same cache infrastructure serves both routine maintenance updates and reactive updates triggered by specific events, optimizing bandwidth usage by combining scheduled efficiency with responsive accuracy when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4625940A1DNS categorization cache provision
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 CAMBIUM NETWORKS
  • EP4625940A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4625940A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4625940A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods and systems are provided for enabling network edge devices to perform domain name categorization and filtering. DNS requests are received from two or more network edge devices, including a first associated with a first geographic characteristic and a second associated with a second geographic characteristic. First and second domain name caches are generated for DNS requests associated with the first and second geographic characteristic respectively. Each record in the first and second domain name caches associates a respective domain name with a respective DNS resolution and a respective category. A request is received from a third network edge device, associated with a third geographic characteristic, and one of the first or second domain name caches is selected and transmitted to the third network edge device.