Modular Transparent Proxy Cache Asymmetric Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Proxy caches in service provider networks face issues with asymmetric routing and high packet processing overhead due to low cache hit ratios and non-cacheable dynamic data, leading to inefficient bandwidth utilization and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A modular transparent proxy cache scheme that separates cache hits and misses, allowing cache hits to be served by the cache server using an origin device's IP address and enabling cache miss traffic to flow directly between the client and origin device without Layer 7 intercept, using a request monitor to determine cache hits or misses and redirect commands to optimize content flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all client device requests are intercepted and processed by the proxy cache, then cache hit ratios can be maintained, but packet processing overhead increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecache hit ratioVSAvoidpacket processing overhead
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the cache miss traffic flow from the proxy cache processing path and redirects it directly to the origin device. The request monitor identifies cache miss traffic and bypasses the proxy cache for these requests, eliminating unnecessary packet processing overhead while maintaining cache hit ratios for actual cacheable content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If the proxy cache intercepts all traffic, then content can be cached for future use, but bandwidth utilization decreases due to unnecessary intercepts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent caching capabilityVSAvoidbandwidth utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts non-cacheable dynamic data traffic from the proxy cache interception path. The request monitor identifies traffic that should not be cached and redirects it directly to the origin device, preventing unnecessary bandwidth consumption through proxy cache intercepts while preserving caching capabilities for eligible content.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Adaptability or versatility

If asymmetric routing is used in service provider networks, then network flexibility is improved, but response packets may bypass the proxy cache causing timeouts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork routing flexibilityVSAvoidconnection state matching
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The request monitor acts as an intermediary that monitors traffic flows and ensures response packets are routed back through the proxy cache when appropriate. By tracking connection states and intercepting relevant response packets, the request monitor ensures proper connection state matching even in asymmetric routing scenarios while maintaining network routing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2501104B1Modular transparent proxy cache
Publication Date: 2020.03.11 JUNIPER NETWORKS INC
  • EP2501104B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2501104B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2501104B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A device receives, from a client device, a request for a resource that is available from an origin device, and determines whether the resource is cached in a cache server or not cached in the cache server. The device forwards the request to the cache server regardless of whether or not the resource is cached in the cache server, and receives, when the resource is not cached in the cache server, a redirect command from the cache server based on the request. The device forwards the received redirect command to the client device, where the redirect command instructs the client device to obtain the resource from the origin device. The device receives, from the cache server and based on the request, the resource when the resource is cached in the cache server, and forwards the received resource to the client device.