Network Cache for Delay-Tolerant Data Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cellular networks face inefficiencies due to fluctuating traffic volumes, leading to unused capacity during off-peak hours, which increases operational costs and limits radio resource optimization, as mobile devices are user-owned and lack network load awareness.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method for delay-tolerant data content transfer between user terminals and communication networks, utilizing both user and network caches to manage content transfer based on network and user terminal conditions, allowing for optimized radio resource utilization and cost savings by spreading traffic and considering user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network capacity is designed to support peak hour traffic, then service reliability is improved, but operational cost increases due to unused capacity during off-peak hours
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by caching delay-tolerant data content in the network cache before peak traffic periods. During off-peak hours, content is pre-fetched and stored, so that during peak hours the content can be delivered immediately from the cache without requiring additional network capacity. This resolves the contradiction by preparing in advance to maintain service reliability while avoiding the need for permanently oversized capacity.
2Ease of operation
If content is downloaded to client in application layer, then user access is improved, but radio network optimization is lost due to lack of network control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network cache as an intermediary component between the content source and the mobile client. This intermediary maintains network control by being part of the network infrastructure, while still enabling efficient content delivery to users. The network cache receives control parameters from the network, manages content storage, and coordinates with clients, thus preserving automation and control while improving user access.
3Productivity
If mobile device storage is used for caching, then radio resource utilization is improved, but device complexity increases as user-owned equipment must be managed
Solution Approach 1:
The caching function is segmented and separated from the mobile device into the network infrastructure. Instead of requiring the mobile device to perform caching operations and manage stored content, the patent divides the system into a network cache (handling storage and management) and a mobile client (handling consumption). This segmentation improves radio resource utilization through network-controlled caching while reducing device complexity by removing caching management responsibilities from user-owned equipment.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communication system, cache, computer readable medium and method for exchanging delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content (19) between a user terminal (12) and a communication network (14) with which the user terminal (12) communicates. The method includes storing the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content (19) into a network cache (18) of the communication network (14); gathering at the network cache (18) network information related to a status of the communication network (14); receiving user terminal information at the network cache (18) from a user cache (22) located at the user terminal (12); and transferring the delay-tolerant data content or in-advance data content (19) from the network cache (18) to the user cache (22) based on the network information and the user terminal information.