Hierarchical Data Pre-fetching for Mobile Content Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data communication systems face challenges in providing continuous and instant wireless connectivity due to unreliable, low-rate, or high-latency network links, leading to failures in content data retrieval, especially for mobile users.
Innovation Solution
A hierarchical data transmission system with a root node and child nodes, where data is pre-fetched and transmitted based on user preferences and network characteristics, optimizing data routing to ensure content availability even in limited network conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If content data is pre-fetched from remote content sources to a mobile device, then the Quality of Experience is improved, but the network links being unreliable or low-rate cause the content data to not be retrieved in time
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the network infrastructure into multiple hierarchical levels (core network, access network, and wireless access points). Data is pre-fetched and cached at multiple locations along the data path including access network elements and wireless access points, rather than relying on a single remote content source. This segmentation allows data to be retrieved from the nearest available cache, reducing retrieval time and improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching content data from remote content sources and caching it at multiple intermediate locations (access network elements, wireless access points) before the user actually requests it. This advance preparation ensures data is available locally when needed, overcoming the limitations of unreliable or low-rate network links during actual retrieval.
2Reliability
If content data is pre-fetched over network links, then content availability is improved, but the links being costly increase the network cost
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by caching content data at multiple locations along the data path with different characteristics. Data transmission preferences are considered when selecting which child nodes receive subsets of data, allowing the system to use lower-cost local caches when possible and higher-cost links only when necessary for content availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by transmitting only selected subsets of data to child nodes based on data transmission preferences and characteristics. Not all data is pre-fetched to all locations - instead, the system selectively caches data at appropriate levels of the hierarchy, reducing overall network cost while maintaining content availability.
3Reliability
If data is transmitted through multiple child nodes with different transmission characteristics, then data delivery reliability is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements universality by creating a hierarchical network architecture where child nodes can serve multiple functions. Each child node can act as both a data forwarding point and a local cache, and can serve multiple users. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized components and simplifies the overall system while improving data delivery reliability through multiple paths.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses child nodes as intermediaries between the root node and end users. These intermediary nodes simplify the system by handling data caching, forwarding, and local distribution, reducing the complexity of direct root-to-user connections while improving reliability through distributed data availability.
4Productivity
If the root node transmits selected subsets of data to child nodes based on transmission preferences, then data transmission efficiency is improved, but the processing requirements at the root node increase
Solution Approach 1:
The root node performs preliminary processing by analyzing data transmission preferences and characteristics in advance to determine optimal data subsets for each child node. This upfront decision-making reduces real-time processing requirements and energy consumption during actual data transmission, improving overall efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Child nodes are designed to autonomously receive and manage data subsets based on preferences communicated from the root node. This self-service capability reduces the processing burden on the root node, as child nodes independently handle local data management and forwarding decisions, improving transmission efficiency without proportionally increasing root node processing energy.
Data Source
AI summary
There is disclosed a system for transmitting data to users. The system includes nodes interconnected by at least one data network. The nodes are organized hierarchically to comprise a root node and at least two child nodes. The data transmission characteristics of communication with each of the child nodes are different. The root node is configured to: receive data transmission preferences of a particular user; receive data to be transmitted to the particular user; and transmit a selected subset of the data to at least one of the child nodes. The subset selected based on at least the received data transmission preferences and the data transmission characteristics, to permit the particular user to obtain data from the child nodes according to the data transmission preferences. The at least one of the child nodes being configured to: receive data from the root node; and transmit at least part of the received data to the user.