Stateless ICMP Route Quality Determination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network systems face challenges in determining real-time network information efficiently, leading to potential congestion and inefficient content distribution due to reliance on stateful packets and re-routing methods that create overhead.
Innovation Solution
The system employs stateless messaging protocols, such as ICMP or UDP packets, to gather real-time status information from routing devices along potential routes, allowing for the selection of the least congested path before content transmission, thereby avoiding bottlenecks and optimizing link utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If stateful packets and re-routing methods are used to determine network information, then network status can be monitored, but network overhead increases and efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the route determination function from complex stateful protocols and implements it using simple stateless ICMP packets. Each router along the path processes the packet independently without maintaining state, eliminating the overhead of stateful packet handling while still gathering necessary network information for route quality assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses disposable ICMP packets that are sent to probe network routes and then discarded after their information is extracted. These packets do not require persistent state or complex handling, making them inexpensive in terms of network resources while providing sufficient information for route determination.
2Measurement precision
If real-time network information is gathered using traditional methods, then route quality can be assessed, but network congestion and bottlenecks are not avoided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary route quality assessment by sending ICMP packets through potential routes before actual content transmission. This allows the system to identify congested or problematic routes in advance and select optimal paths, ensuring high-quality content distribution without encountering network bottlenecks during actual data transfer.
3Productivity
If multiple routes are probed to determine the best path, then content can be routed efficiently, but the probing process itself creates network traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameters of the probing packets by using ICMP with minimal payload and leveraging existing router infrastructure to process them. This reduces the quantity of probe traffic needed while maintaining the ability to assess multiple routes and determine the best path for content distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for determining traffic information for devices along one or more routes are described. A content server may send a message to a plurality of devices along a route. The message may comprise an indication requesting each of the devices to send, to the content server, status information regarding the respective device. Intermediary devices may receive the message, respond with the requested information, and forward the message through the route. The message may comprise a stateless messaging protocol message such as an ICMP or UDP packet.