Packet Compression Cache for Application Level Multicast
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Solution Overview
Problem
In collaborative applications like Microsoft NetMeeting, concurrent packet flows in application level multicast (ALM) can lead to congestion-related quality issues, particularly over limited bandwidth networks such as wireless links, due to the transmission of identical payloads in multiple data packet flows.
Innovation Solution
A data compression technique that uses a cache to record payloads of data packets and replaces identical payloads with a shorter representation, leaving IP and transport layer headers unchanged, thereby reducing traffic congestion without altering the packet headers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If identical payloads are transmitted in multiple concurrent data packet flows for ALM, then data delivery to multiple endpoints is achieved, but network congestion and bandwidth consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple identical payload transmissions into a single transmission by maintaining a cache of previously seen payloads. When an identical payload is detected in a new packet, the payload is replaced with a reference to the cached version, effectively merging redundant data transmissions and reducing overall bandwidth consumption while maintaining data delivery to multiple endpoints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a cache to store copies of previously transmitted payloads. Instead of retransmitting identical payload data, the system creates reference copies that point to the cached versions, allowing multiple packet flows to reference the same cached payload without actually duplicating the data transmission, thereby reducing bandwidth usage.
2Quantity of substance
If payload compression is applied to reduce bandwidth consumption, then bandwidth efficiency improves, but packet structure and processing complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the packet into distinct components: unchanged IP and transport layer headers, and a modifiable payload section. The compression mechanism only operates on the payload segment, leaving the header structure intact. This segmentation allows the system to apply complexity only where necessary (in the payload) while preserving the standard packet structure for interoperability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a cache as an intermediary component that stores payload versions and provides reference mechanisms. This intermediary layer handles the complexity of payload comparison, caching, and reference generation, isolating the compression logic from the packet processing flow and simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining bandwidth efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
In an application level multicast (ALM), multiple flows of data packets containing shared material are destined for different devices. A packet compression device is used to compress the data packets to reduce traffic load. This compression device includes a cache for recording the payloads of selected data packets which currently are not of record in the cache. If it is determined that the cache has therein a record of an identical version of the payload of a data packet, the compression device releases a compressed version of the data packet which includes a representation of the payload in lieu of the actual payload.