NAT Routing Offload for Downstream Node CPU Bottlenecks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional data routing networks face bottlenecks due to downstream communication nodes with weaker performance, particularly when performing Network Address Translation (NAT) tasks, which consume significant CPU resources and hinder overall system performance.
Innovation Solution
Transfer the NAT-related tasks from downstream communication nodes with weaker performance to upstream communication nodes with stronger capabilities by leveraging the NAT routing information learned by the downstream nodes, allowing the upstream nodes to perform NAT on behalf of the downstream nodes for subsequent data packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If downstream communication nodes perform NAT tasks, then client devices can share public IP addresses and communicate over the Internet, but CPU resources are consumed significantly and system performance is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the NAT processing function from downstream communication nodes and relocates it to upstream communication nodes. Downstream nodes no longer perform NAT tasks themselves but instead receive NAT routing information from upstream nodes and forward packets accordingly. This extraction eliminates the CPU resource consumption and performance bottleneck at downstream nodes while preserving the essential NAT functionality needed for IP address sharing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces NAT routing information as an intermediary mechanism between upstream and downstream communication nodes. This intermediary carries the NAT translation rules and routing information from upstream nodes to downstream nodes, enabling downstream nodes to forward packets with correct addressing without performing the actual NAT processing. The intermediary eliminates the need for downstream nodes to consume CPU resources for NAT while maintaining the functional relationship.
2Reliability
If downstream communication nodes perform NAT tasks, then data packets can be routed correctly through the network, but latency increases due to processing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having upstream communication nodes perform NAT processing and generate NAT routing information in advance, before packets reach downstream nodes. The NAT translation rules are established and communicated to downstream nodes beforehand, allowing downstream nodes to simply forward packets according to pre-configured rules without performing time-consuming NAT processing at the moment of packet transmission. This preliminary action eliminates latency at downstream nodes while ensuring correct packet routing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If more communication nodes are added to the network, then coverage and connectivity are improved, but the number of nodes requiring NAT processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional NAT processing architecture by reversing which nodes perform NAT functions. Instead of having every communication node along the path perform NAT processing, the system inverts the model so that only upstream nodes perform NAT, while downstream nodes simply forward packets using received NAT routing information. This inversion dramatically reduces the number of nodes requiring NAT processing capabilities, allowing network expansion without proportionally increasing processing complexity.
Data Source
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Figure 2B~3
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AI summary
The present disclosure provides a communication node and method for routing data packets for a client device. The communication node includes: one or more processors; a memory coupled to the processors; and computer program instructions stored in the memory, which, when executed by the processors, perform actions of: obtaining, from a downstream communication node, NAT routing information for a data packet communicated between the client device and an external node through at least the communication node and the downstream communication node; and performing NAT on a subsequent data packet to be communicated between the client device and the external node based on the NAT routing information.