MPTCP Proxy IP Address Reservation for Session Reliability

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) proxies face issues with IP address management, leading to communication disruptions when a host supporting MPTCP stops using an interface, causing the IP address to be released or occupied by another host, which affects TCP sessions with hosts not supporting MPTCP.

Innovation Solution

An address management apparatus and method that allocates a corresponding IP address to each MPTCP session between an MPTCP host and a non-MPTCP host, ensuring the IP address is not released until the session is terminated, using a processing module to manage IP address allocation and release, thereby maintaining reliable communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the MPTCP proxy uses an IP address of the first MPTCP subflow to set up a TCP session, then the TCP session can be established with the host not supporting MPTCP, but the IP address may be released or occupied by another host when the MPTCP host stops using the interface, causing communication disruption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidaddress management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The MPTCP proxy performs preliminary actions by reserving the IP address of the first MPTCP subflow before the MPTCP host stops using the interface. The proxy detects interface deactivation and proactively reserves the IP address to prevent it from being released or occupied by another host, ensuring continuous TCP session communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The MPTCP proxy acts as an intermediary between the MPTCP host and the non-MPTCP host. It manages the IP address lifecycle, detecting when the MPTCP host stops using an interface and coordinating with the address management unit to reserve the IP address, thereby mediating the conflict between dynamic IP allocation and stable TCP session requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the MPTCP proxy reserves the IP address to prevent release, then communication reliability is improved, but the IP address cannot be reused by other hosts, reducing address utilization efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveTCP session reliabilityVSAvoidaddress utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The IP address reservation mechanism is dynamic rather than static. The MPTCP proxy continuously monitors the usage status of IP addresses and only reserves them when the MPTCP host stops using the corresponding interface. When the MPTCP host reactivates the interface, the proxy releases the reservation, allowing the IP address to be reused. This dynamic approach balances reliability with address utilization efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the MPTCP proxy detects interface activation/deactivation states and adjusts IP address reservations accordingly. The address management unit receives feedback about interface status changes and modifies reservation status, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes both reliability and address reuse based on actual usage conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3188434B1Address management apparatus, system and method for communication over multipath transmission control protocol
Publication Date: 2023.11.22 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3188434B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3188434B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3188434B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention provide an address management apparatus, system, and method for communication over the Multipath Transmission Control Protocol. A processing module allocates a corresponding IP address to each MPTCP session, where the MPTCP session is an MPTCP session between a first host and a second host, the first host is the host supporting MPTCP, and the second host is the host not supporting MPTCP; when the MPTCP session is terminated, the processing module releases the corresponding IP address allocated to the MPTCP session; and a transceiver module sets up the MPTCP session according to the IP address. It is ensured that in a communication process of an MPTCP session, an IP address used for setting up a TCP session between an MPTCP proxy device and a host not supporting MPTCP is not released. Therefore, reliability of an MPTCP session between an MPTCP host and a host not supporting MPTCP is improved, and transmission performance of the MPTCP session is enhanced.