Multicast Peer Discovery Reducing Latency in Local Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing peer-to-peer networks face challenges in discovering peers within the same local network due to Network Address Translation (NAT) and decoupling of network addresses from physical layouts, leading to increased communication latency and inefficient resource utilization.

Innovation Solution

Implementing methods that utilize native IP multicast to send participation information requests on a local network, allowing peers to discover and select peers based on network topology conditions, and update the communication group topology to reduce latency and optimize resource use, while using digital keys for authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If unicast channels are used for peer discovery, then reliability of individual connections is improved, but communication latency increases and peer discovery efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the peer discovery process into two phases: a multicast-based discovery phase for efficient peer finding, and a unicast-based communication phase for reliable data transfer. This segmentation allows each phase to optimize for its specific requirements, resolving the contradiction between reliability and latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces multicast channels as an intermediary mechanism for peer discovery, which mediates between the need for reliable connections and the desire for low latency. The multicast channel serves as an efficient intermediary that enables fast peer discovery without compromising the reliability of subsequent unicast communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If native network multicast is used for peer discovery, then peer discovery efficiency is improved, but compatibility across different networks deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeer discovery efficiencyVSAvoidnetwork compatibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by utilizing native IP multicast only within local networks where it is supported, while falling back to alternative methods (such as unicast or application-level multicast) for remote networks. This allows the system to optimize peer discovery efficiency in local networks while maintaining compatibility across diverse network environments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If application level multicasting is used, then network compatibility is improved, but communication overhead and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork compatibilityVSAvoidcommunication resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs partial action by using application-level multicast only when necessary (i.e., when native multicast is unavailable), rather than relying on it as the primary mechanism. This partial usage minimizes the overhead and resource consumption associated with application-level multicast while maintaining compatibility where needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Adaptability or versatility

If peers broadcast participation information requests on multicast channels, then peer discovery scope is expanded, but network traffic and processing overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepeer discovery scopeVSAvoidnetwork processing overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having peers send participation information requests on multicast channels before establishing unicast connections. This preliminary multicast-based discovery phase expands the peer discovery scope efficiently, and subsequent unicast connections are established only after successful multicast discovery, reducing overall network processing overhead.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS9191219B2Network multicast peer discovery methods

Publication Date: 2015.11.17 ADOBE INC

AI summary

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, can include establishing communications with one or more peers in a communication group via one or more unicast communication channels; sending a participation information request on a multicast communication channel of a local network to discover peers that participate in the communication group; receiving one or more responses to the participation information request on the multicast channel of the local network from one or more peers that participate in the communication group; selecting one or more of the peers from which the one or more responses were received based on a network topology condition to reduce communication latency in at least a portion of the communication group; and communicating with the one or more selected peers to distribute information within the communication group.