Information-Centric MAC Layer Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Information Centric Networks (ICNs) enabled over host-centric MAC are inefficient due to the need for mapping content requests to destination MAC addresses, leading to congestion and decreased network efficiency in broadcast domains.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an Information-Centric Media Access Control (i-MAC) layer that operates in an information-centric manner, using an i-MAC table for routing and caching content within an i-MAC enabled network, allowing for efficient multicasting and unicast modes of forwarding, and supporting both broadcast and unicast operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If host-centric MAC is used for ICN, then existing MAC infrastructure can be utilized, but content requests must be mapped to destination MAC addresses causing congestion and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Information-Centric MAC (i-MAC) layer as an intermediary between the traditional host-centric MAC layer and the ICN layer. This i-MAC layer acts as a mediator that translates content-centric requests into MAC-address-based forwarding while maintaining content-name-based routing tables (i-MAC tables). The i-MAC layer receives content requests, maps them to appropriate forwarding decisions using content names, and then translates them into standard MAC frame forwarding, thus enabling ICN functionality without requiring changes to the underlying MAC infrastructure while avoiding the inefficiencies of direct host-centric MAC mapping.
2Ease of operation
If content requests are mapped to destination MAC addresses in broadcast domains, then standard MAC forwarding can be used, but network congestion increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the MAC layer functionality into two distinct parts: the traditional host-centric MAC sublayer that handles standard MAC frame forwarding, and a new Information-Centric MAC (i-MAC) sublayer that handles content-centric routing. This segmentation allows each sublayer to specialize in its specific function - the MAC sublayer maintains simplicity for standard forwarding operations while the i-MAC sublayer optimizes for content delivery by using content-name-based routing tables to make intelligent forwarding decisions, thereby improving network throughput without sacrificing operational simplicity.
3Ease of manufacture
If L2 network is used, then lower cost and low latency are achieved, but network size is limited due to broadcast traffic congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The i-MAC layer serves as an intermediary that enables L2 networks to support larger scales by implementing content-name-based routing. Instead of relying solely on broadcast traffic for content discovery, the i-MAC layer maintains routing tables that map content names to specific network paths, allowing unicast and multicast forwarding decisions. This intermediary layer preserves the low cost and low latency benefits of L2 networking while overcoming the broadcast congestion limitation, enabling the network to scale to larger areas and more devices.
Data Source
AI summary
A network element (NE) includes a receiver configured to receive an Information-Centric Media Access Control (i-MAC) frame, a processor operably coupled to the receiver and configured to determine whether an i-MAC table includes routing information for the i-MAC Based Frame, and a transmitter operably coupled to the processor and configured to route the i-MAC Based Frame based on the i-MAC table when the i-MAC table includes information corresponding to the i-MAC Based Frame, and route the i-MAC Based Frame based on a layer 2 (L2) MAC Address Table when the i-MAC table does not contain information corresponding to the i-MAC Based Frame.