MPTCP Proxy Edge Router Protocol Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
The widespread adoption of Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) is hindered by the need for upgrading the TCP/IP stack on billions of devices, which is a time-consuming and complex process, preventing hosts running TCP from utilizing MPTCP's higher throughput benefits.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an MPTCP proxy on the edge router that demultiplexes TCP packets to MPTCP and multiplexes MPTCP packets to TCP, allowing hosts to communicate using MPTCP without requiring TCP/IP stack upgrades, thereby enabling higher throughput without upgrading the hosts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the TCP/IP stack on every host is upgraded to support MPTCP, then hosts can utilize MPTCP's higher throughput benefits, but the upgrade process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an edge router as an intermediary device that performs protocol conversion between TCP and MPTCP. The edge router terminates the TCP connection from the host and establishes an MPTCP connection to the remote endpoint, thereby enabling MPTCP functionality without requiring host upgrades. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction by providing high throughput benefits while avoiding complex upgrade processes.
2Productivity
If MPTCP is implemented on hosts, then higher throughput is achieved, but upgrading billions of devices takes years or decades
Solution Approach 1:
The edge router acts as a protocol translation intermediary that enables MPTCP functionality without requiring host upgrades. By implementing the conversion logic in the network infrastructure rather than on end devices, the solution provides immediate throughput improvements while eliminating the time-consuming mass upgrade process.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of upgrading hosts to support MPTCP directly, the patent inverts the approach by keeping hosts on TCP and implementing MPTCP support in the edge router. This inversion allows the network infrastructure to provide MPTCP benefits to TCP-only hosts, dramatically reducing deployment time from years to a matter of router software updates.
3Adaptability or versatility
If TCP packets are demultiplexed to MPTCP at the edge router, then hosts can communicate using MPTCP without stack upgrades, but additional conversion complexity is introduced at the router
Solution Approach 1:
The edge router is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as a standard TCP router for normal traffic, a TCP terminator for MPTCP conversion, and an MPTCP endpoint for multi-path communication. This multi-functionality allows the router to provide protocol conversion services while maintaining standard routing operations, resolving the contradiction between compatibility and complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
An edge router runs a Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) proxy to allow for a host that implements TCP (Transmission Control Protocol) to operate normally yet reap the benefits of an MPTCP connection. An upgrade of a TCPIP stack on the host is not necessary. The edge router demultiplexes packets received from the host over a TCP connection to an MPTCP connection and multiplexes packets sent to the host over an MPTCP connection to a TCP connection. As a result, higher throughput of packet communication can be realized, for example, for improved video support.