Multicast Network Service Path Selection via DHT Overlay
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional unicast delivery methods are inefficient in providing individualized services due to high bandwidth requirements and intensive computations, making them unsuitable for scalable network infrastructure that caters to a large number of service providers and users, especially with the rise of multimedia applications.
Innovation Solution
An application layer multicast network using a distributed hash table overlay network to store location information and QoS characteristics, allowing nodes to efficiently search for service paths and nodes that can provide requested services while meeting specified quality requirements, utilizing enhanced landmark clustering and DHT overlay networks for scalable and efficient service delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional unicast delivery is used to provide individualized services, then service personalization is achieved, but network bandwidth consumption and computational overhead increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple unicast streams into a single multicast stream by establishing shared service paths. Nodes that require the same service receive content through a common multicast path rather than separate unicast connections, thereby reducing redundant bandwidth consumption while maintaining service personalization through selective joining of multicast groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The multicast infrastructure provides universal service delivery capability that can serve multiple users simultaneously. A single service path can deliver content to multiple endpoints, and the system supports various service types (streaming, downloading, interactive) through a unified multicast framework, improving resource utilization efficiency.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional unicast delivery is used for each user, then individual service requirements are met, but scalability to large numbers of users deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines multiple service requests into shared multicast paths. When multiple users request the same or compatible services, the system merges their delivery paths into a single multicast stream, allowing the infrastructure to scale efficiently to large numbers of users without proportionally increasing network resource consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of service delivery by implementing application-layer multicast trees overlaying the traditional network. This adds a logical grouping dimension where users are organized into multicast groups based on service requirements, enabling scalable personalization without the linear bandwidth growth associated with pure unicast approaches.
3Loss of energy
If multicast is used to improve efficiency, then network resource utilization improves, but service path selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces service path selection intermediaries (multicast routers and service nodes) that manage the complexity of path selection. These intermediaries maintain service path information, perform matching between user requests and available services, and dynamically establish multicast paths, thereby reducing the computational burden on individual users while improving overall resource utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual or centralized service path configuration with automated distributed algorithms. Nodes autonomously discover services, select appropriate multicast paths, and join/leave groups dynamically based on their requirements, substituting complex manual management with self-organizing mechanisms that reduce operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Services are provided via a multicast tree. A request to receive a service is received at a node. Stored information at the node is searched to identify a service path or a service node operable to provide the requested service.