MPTCP UDP Transport with Selective Control Functions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for transporting User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets over Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) connections lack the application of transport control functions, which are typically disabled in plain transport mode, leading to unreliability and inefficiency in multi-path UDP transport.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves an MPTCP client and server that selectively apply transport control functions, such as ordered delivery and congestion control, to UDP packets by conveying information about these functions during the establishment of the MPTCP connection, allowing for the use of TCP-like features in UDP traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If transport control functions are disabled in plain transport mode, then UDP packet transport is simpler and faster, but reliability and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts specific transport control functions (ordered delivery, retransmission, flow control, congestion control) from the complete TCP protocol suite and applies only the necessary ones to UDP packets over MPTCP. This selective extraction maintains reliability where needed while avoiding unnecessary complexity, resolving the contradiction between reliability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies a partial set of transport control functions to UDP packets rather than implementing all TCP functions or none at all. By applying only the necessary subset (ordered delivery, retransmission, flow control, congestion control) and leaving others disabled, the system achieves improved reliability without the full complexity of complete TCP compliance, thus resolving the contradiction.
2Productivity
If multiple network paths are used for UDP transport, then bandwidth and redundancy increase, but control and management become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces MPTCP as an intermediary protocol layer that manages multiple network paths between UDP endpoints. MPTCP handles path selection, packet distribution, and coordination automatically, allowing UDP applications to benefit from multi-path bandwidth without directly managing the complexity of multiple paths. This intermediary approach resolves the contradiction between productivity and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes MPTCP a universal transport layer that can handle multiple network paths simultaneously and provide various transport control functions through a single interface. This multi-functional approach allows the system to manage diverse network conditions (different paths, protocols, characteristics) through unified mechanisms, improving ease of operation while maintaining high bandwidth utilization across multiple paths.
Data Source
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AI summary
A Multipath Transmission Control Protocol (MPTCP) client (102) and an MPTCP server (103) for transporting User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets in plain transport mode are provided. The MPTCP client (102) is operative to receive a request for establishing an MPTCP connection (112,113) for transporting UDP packets between the MPTCP client (102) and the MPTCP server (103), establish the MPTCP connection, wherein information identifying one or more transport control functions are to be applied to UDP packets which are transported over the MPTCP connection is transmitted to the MPTCP server (103) during establishing the MPTCP connection, and apply the one or more transport control functions to UDP packets. Correspondingly, the MPTCP server (103) is operative to receive, during establishing the MPTCP connection with an MPTCP client (102), from the MPTCP client (102) the information identifying one or more transport control functions, and apply the one or more transport control functions to UDP packets which are transported over the MPTCP connection.