Ordered-Element Name Generation for Content-Based Packet Forwarding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network protocols, such as IP and Ethernet, rely on location-based addressing schemes that are inadequate for meeting the evolving demands of modern network communications, as they do not efficiently process packets based on content names.
Innovation Solution
A system that generates ordered-element names for content items, using fixed-length elements ordered by matching priority, allowing for efficient forwarding of packets based on content names rather than physical locations, incorporating features like hierarchically structured variable-length identifiers (HSVLI), metadata, and flags for precise matching and routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If location-based addressing schemes (IP and Ethernet protocols) are used, then packets can be forwarded based on physical locations, but the system cannot efficiently process packets based on content names
Solution Approach 1:
The content name is segmented into multiple fixed-length elements (e.g., 32-bit integers) that are ordered by priority. This segmentation allows the system to process content names using existing exact-match lookup engines while enabling content-based routing. Each element represents a portion of the content identifier, and the ordered sequence allows for efficient matching without requiring complex name resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer that converts content names into ordered-element names consisting of fixed-length elements. This intermediary transformation enables compatibility with existing network infrastructure (routers and switches) that use exact-match lookup engines, while providing the new capability for content-based packet forwarding without requiring fundamental changes to the routing hardware.
2Productivity
If fixed-length elements are used for content identification, then packet forwarding efficiency is improved, but the ability to represent variable-length content names is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Variable-length content names are segmented into a sequence of fixed-length elements. The number and length of these elements can be adjusted to accommodate different content name lengths. This segmentation maintains the efficiency benefits of fixed-length processing while preserving the flexibility to represent any variable-length content name through appropriate segmentation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from representing content names as variable-length strings to representing them as sequences of fixed-length elements with associated priorities. This dimensional transformation allows the system to maintain processing efficiency through fixed-length operations while achieving variable-length name representation through the sequence structure and priority ordering.
3Measurement precision
If ordered-element names with multiple fixed-length elements are used, then content-based routing precision is improved, but the complexity of name generation and processing increases
Solution Approach 1:
The content identifier is divided into multiple fixed-length elements with associated priorities. This segmentation enables precise content matching by allowing the system to match on individual elements or combinations of elements based on their priority ordering. The segmentation approach maintains precision while keeping each individual element simple for efficient processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The name generation process performs preliminary actions by pre-determining the ordering of fixed-length elements based on priority. This preliminary ordering is established when the content name is generated, allowing routing devices to process packets using simple exact-match lookups on the pre-ordered elements without needing to perform complex name resolution or comparison operations at runtime.
Data Source
AI summary
A name-based content-forwarding system generates an ordered-element name for a content item, and can process an interest to identify and perform an action that satisfies the interest. To generate the ordered-element name, the system generates one or more fixed-length elements for a content item, such that each fixed-length element of the ordered-element name is mapped to the content item or to a context associated with the content item. The system then generates the ordered-element name to include the one or more fixed-length elements so that the name elements are ordered from a highest matching priority to a lowest matching priority. The system can also generate a packet that includes the ordered-element name for the content item, and sends the packet to a target location that corresponds to the ordered-element name.