Multi-Interface Translation Layer for Network Provenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network provenance schemes in wireless networks are inadequate for distributed multi-access technology environments, as they fail to diagnose errors that propagate across different network interfaces, limiting the ability to maintain seamless connectivity for 'always connected' devices moving between varying access technologies.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a multi-interface translation layer at each node to encapsulate network interface information with data packets, allowing for finer error diagnosis and using network interface information in packet attestation to determine the appropriate interface for forwarding packets, thereby enhancing error detection and network management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If existing network provenance schemes are used that only track node IDs, then the scheme is simple to implement, but it cannot diagnose errors that propagate across different network interfaces in multi-access technology wireless networks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the network interface identification by introducing a specific field in the provenance record that separately tracks interface information (e.g., Wi-Fi, cellular, Bluetooth) distinct from the node ID. This allows precise error diagnosis at the interface level without fundamentally redesigning the entire provenance mechanism, thus improving measurement precision while controlling complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface identification information is nested within the existing provenance record structure. The provenance record contains both the node ID and an additional interface identifier field, allowing the interface tracking functionality to be embedded within the existing scheme rather than creating a separate parallel system, which balances precision improvement with complexity management.
2Reliability
If nodes encode only node ID into packets for forwarding, then packet encoding is simple, but errors in one network interface cannot be identified and propagated to another network technology at the same node
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding interface-specific identification to the packet provenance record at each node. Each node records which specific interface (Wi-Fi, cellular, etc.) was used for forwarding, allowing local error detection at the interface level. This targeted approach improves reliability without requiring complete redesign of packet encoding, thus managing complexity effectively.
Solution Approach 2:
The interface identification information in the provenance record provides feedback about which interface was used for packet forwarding. When errors are detected at the destination, the feedback mechanism can trace back through the interface identifiers to identify which specific interface caused the error, enabling precise error localization and improving overall system reliability.
3Measurement precision
If network provenance tracks only forwarding paths with node IDs, then tracking is simple, but it cannot provide fine-grained information about network interface involvement for seamless connectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by tracking only the interface identification information necessary for error diagnosis and connectivity maintenance, rather than recording every detail of packet transmission. The interface identifier field provides sufficient information to determine which interface was used without capturing unnecessary data, thus achieving the required measurement precision while minimizing information overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
The provenance record structure is modified by adding an interface identifier parameter to the existing node ID tracking. This parameter change enables fine-grained interface tracking without fundamentally altering the provenance mechanism, allowing precise measurement of interface involvement while controlling the increase in information overhead through targeted data collection.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are provided for network access technology (NAT)-based packet network provenance. In disclosed embodiments, each node in a network encapsulates and/or encodes received packets with network interface information in addition to attestation information. The network interface information indicates a type of NAT used to forward the packet to a next node or hop in a network path. Each node in the network implements protocol stack that includes a multi-interface translation layer below a networking layer and above the layer 2 protocol stacks of various communication protocols. The multi-interface translation layer determines the type of NAT to be used to forward received packets to the next hop, and encapsulates the received packets with an indication of the determined NAT to be used to forward the packet. Other embodiments are disclosed and/or claimed.