HTTP Proxy Rules for ICN Multicast Integrity
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Solution Overview
Problem
In information-centric networking (ICN), the challenge lies in efficiently mapping HTTP requests and responses between clients and servers, especially when content in HTTP responses varies based on client-specific information, such as HTTP headers, and ensuring seamless content delivery across different network attachment points (NAPs) while maintaining integrity and performance.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system where NAPs act as transparent HTTP proxies, using generic and FQDN-specific proxy rules to manage HTTP traffic, ensuring correct content delivery by encapsulating traffic into ICN packets and utilizing multicast for efficient content distribution, with proxy rules being dynamically updated and propagated across NAPs to maintain consistency and quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multicast is used for co-incidental content delivery in ICN, then network efficiency and bandwidth utilization are improved, but content integrity and correctness become problematic when clients have different HTTP header requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multicast group by creating separate content delivery paths for clients with different HTTP header requirements. Instead of a single multicast stream, the system divides content delivery into multiple targeted streams based on client characteristics, ensuring each client receives appropriate content while maintaining multicast efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (HTTP proxy or gateway) that mediates between the content source and multicast clients. This intermediary receives the original content, processes it according to different client header requirements, and distributes appropriately modified content to different client groups, preserving both multicast efficiency and content integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If HTTP traffic is mapped to ICN packets at NAP, then seamless content delivery across network boundaries is achieved, but complexity of mapping and maintaining consistency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal mapping mechanism at the NAP that handles multiple HTTP methods (GET, PUT, DELETE, etc.) and content types through a single standardized ICN packet format. This multi-functional approach simplifies the mapping process by providing a unified framework rather than requiring separate handling logic for each HTTP operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes in ICN packet metadata to represent different HTTP request characteristics. By encoding HTTP method, headers, and other request parameters into configurable packet fields, the system maintains mapping complexity at a manageable level while achieving comprehensive HTTP-ICN compatibility.
3Reliability
If dynamic proxy rules are propagated across NAPs, then content delivery correctness is maintained, but network overhead and propagation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-loading and caching proxy rules at NAPs before they are needed for content delivery. By anticipating rule requirements and preparing them in advance, the system reduces real-time propagation delays while maintaining content delivery correctness through pre-validated rules.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a hierarchical rule propagation structure where proxy rules are nested across different levels of the network. Core rules are propagated to border NAPs, which then distribute to internal NAPs in a nested fashion. This hierarchical approach reduces overall propagation time by parallelizing rule distribution across multiple network levels.
Data Source
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AI summary
Employing proxy rule identifiers to ensure the integrity of content delivered over an HTTP-over-ICN system. An exemplary method is performed by a client-side network attachment point (cNAP) on an information-centric network (ICN). The cNAP receives an HTTP request that includes a resource identifier and at least one header field. The cNAP generates a proxy rule identifier (PRID) based on the header field(s) and a content identifier (CID) based on the resource identifier. The PRID may be generated by applying a hash function to a string that includes header field data. The cNAP sends an outgoing ICN message that includes the CID and the PRID. In response, the cNAP receives an incoming ICN message that includes an HTTP response, a PRID, and a CID. The cNAP and directs the HTTP response to the appropriate client(s) based on the PRID and CID.