IP Header Field Reinterpretation for Service Policy Encoding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current IP header structures, such as IPv4, lack sufficient space to transmit additional information like routing policy and encryption details without compromising existing header data or expanding the header structure, leading to performance issues when using optional fields.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing unused bits in existing header fields, specifically the TTL field, to transmit additional information by encoding secondary header data types, allowing for the transmission of extra data without altering the existing header structure or impacting performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If optional fields are added to IP headers to transmit additional information, then the information transmission capability is improved, but router performance deteriorates due to loss of hardware accelerator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reinterprets the semantic meaning of existing IP header fields (TTL, TOS, DSCP) to encode additional information such as service chain identifiers and processing policies. By changing how these fields are parameterized and interpreted, the system transmits more information without modifying the header structure or adding optional fields, thus maintaining hardware accelerator compatibility and router performance.
2Loss of information
If the header structure is expanded to include additional information, then the information transmission capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing IP header fields serve multiple functions. For example, the TTL field not only indicates time-to-live but also encodes service chain identifier information; the TOS field not only indicates type of service but also carries processing policy information. This multi-functionality allows additional information transmission without expanding the header structure.
3Loss of information
If existing header data is preserved without modification, then backward compatibility is maintained, but the ability to transmit additional information is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter interpretation of existing header fields rather than their structure. Existing fields like TTL, TOS, and DSCP maintain their original positions and formats, ensuring backward compatibility with legacy systems. However, their semantic interpretation is expanded to encode additional information, allowing new functionality without breaking existing implementations.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for transmitting a data packet in a network, wherein the data packet has a header field containing header data relevant to transmission and a user field, wherein at least one data field containing header data of a first header data type is provided in the header field, and wherein the data packet is transmitted from a transmitter device to a receiver device. In order to make possible a transmission of additional information in the header field without a loss of already existing header data information and without expanding the header data structure, it is proposed according to the invention that in the at least one data field, in addition to the header data of the first header data type, header data of at least one second header data type are also transmitted.