IP Broadcast Receiver Identification Overhead Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transmitting data over IP broadcast networks are inefficient due to excessive overhead in IP packet tagging, particularly in IP telephony where short packets result in substantial bandwidth occupation, and existing tagging protocols are not well-suited for IP broadcast networks, leading to suboptimal bandwidth usage.
Innovation Solution
Embedding receiver identification within the data field of IP packets, rather than using external headers, allows for customizable tag lengths and reduces overhead by modifying the IP header fields to maintain packet validity, with tags being added at the end of the data field and removed upon reception.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If external tagging headers are used for receiver identification in IP broadcast networks, then receiver identification functionality is provided, but overhead increases and bandwidth efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the receiver identification tag with the IP packet data field by embedding it within the existing IP header structure. Specifically, the tag is placed in the IP header options field or replaces existing header fields, combining the identification function with the packet routing structure. This eliminates separate external tagging headers and reduces overall overhead while maintaining receiver identification functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the IP header fields serve multiple functions: they continue to provide routing and delivery information while simultaneously carrying receiver identification tags. By utilizing existing IP header fields for dual purposes (routing + identification), the patent eliminates the need for separate identification headers, thereby reducing overhead and improving bandwidth efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fixed-length tagging protocols are used, then standardized tagging is achieved, but overhead cannot be optimized for short packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic tag length within the IP header structure, allowing the receiver identification tag to vary in size based on the specific application requirements. By utilizing the flexible IP header options field or selectively modifying header fields, the tag length can be adjusted to match the actual identification needs, rather than being constrained to a fixed length. This dynamic approach optimizes bandwidth efficiency for short packets while maintaining standardized tagging through IP protocol compliance.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for reducing use of bandwidth in transporting an IP data packet over an IP broadcast network. The IP data packet is received in an incapsulator, processed in the incapsulator by introducing into the data field a number C of identifier bytes to represent an identifier of a specific decapsulator, and replacing the packet length value L by a new packet length value L' being equal to the sum of the packet length value L and the identifier byte number C, to generate a modified IP data packet, - recalculating the header checksum in the modified IP data packet if the IP data packet is an IPv4 data packet. The modified IP data packet is output from the incapsulator and broadcasted, and is received in a decapsulator. The identifier bytes in the modified IP data packet are examinined in the decapsulator, to determine if the identifier bytes correspond to the identifier of the specific decapsulator, and if correspondence is determined, the modified IP data packet is processed in the decapsulator, by removing the identifier bytes from the data field and replacing the new packet length value L' by the packet length value L obtained by subtracting the identifier byte number C from the new packet length value L', to recover the IP data packet, and the recovered IP data packet is output from the decapsulator.