ICN Routing via Container Identifiers to Reduce FIB Entries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Information Centric Network (ICN) systems, particularly Named Data Networks (NDN), face significant routing scalability issues due to the large size of content name spaces, leading to inefficient routing and mobility challenges, with existing solutions either compromising on naming persistence or losing the flexibility of content routing.
Innovation Solution
The method involves adding container information to content names in ICN systems, allowing for reduced dependency on content names during routing and forwarding, by using container identifiers to identify storage containers and determining forwarding routes through a forwarding information base (FIB), thereby reducing routing table entries and addressing scalability and mobility issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If content name-based routing is used in NDN systems, then content routing flexibility is improved, but routing table size increases dramatically
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the routing function by introducing a hierarchical structure with FIB (Forwarding Information Base) for content name prefix matching and CS (Content Store) for full content name matching. This segmentation allows the system to handle routing at different levels of granularity, reducing the burden on any single routing table while maintaining content-based routing flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to routing by introducing the CS table as a complementary structure to FIB. Instead of relying solely on FIB for all routing decisions, the system uses CS to store full content names and their locations, creating a two-dimensional routing approach that reduces FIB entry requirements while maintaining content-based routing capabilities.
2Quantity of substance
If topology-dependent prefix aggregation is used to reduce routing table size, then routing table scalability is improved, but naming persistence is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces CS as an intermediary structure that mediates between content names and routing decisions. The CS table stores full content names and their locations independently of network topology changes, acting as a persistent mapping layer that decouples naming from topology-dependent routing aggregation, thereby maintaining naming persistence while enabling routing table reduction.
3Quantity of substance
If routing label is introduced to define content location, then routing scalability is improved, but content routing concept is weakened
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges content name-based routing with location-based forwarding by combining FIB (content name prefix matching) and CS (full content name storage with location information). This merging allows the system to maintain the content routing concept while achieving routing scalability, as both content identity and location are integrated into a unified forwarding mechanism rather than using separate routing labels.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for routing and forwarding, establishing a routing table, and acquiring content are provided. The method for routing and forwarding includes: receiving a content request packet, where the content request packet carries a content name of requested content and container information of the requested content; determining whether any forwarding entry that matches the content name of the requested content exists in a FIB; determining whether any forwarding entry that matches the container identifier in the container information exists in the FIB when no forwarding entry that matches the content name of the requested content exists in the FIB; and when a forwarding entry that matches the container identifier in the container information of the requested content exists in the FIB, sending the content request packet according to a port in the matched forwarding entry.