Path Steering Value Encoding for ICN Endpoint Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Information-Centric Networking (ICN) faces challenges in leveraging its multi-path capabilities for network objectives like discovering and troubleshooting connectivity, congestion control, and load balancing, as existing network-only approaches are complex and do not provide sufficient information for endpoint control.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves encoding node face identifiers in a Path Steering Value (PSV) to steer Interest messages and data messages in ICN networks, allowing deterministic decoding of paths and enabling endpoint control through a multi-path traceroute tool that uses a deterministically decodable pairing function, such as Cantor or Hilbert curves, to uniquely identify node faces and paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If network-only approaches are used for path discovery and steering, then routing functionality is maintained, but endpoint control capability is insufficient and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces PSV (Path Steering Value) as an intermediary mechanism that enables endpoint control without requiring complex network-only approaches. The PSV encodes path information in a deterministic manner, allowing endpoints to steer interests along specific paths while maintaining simple network forwarding logic. This mediator resolves the contradiction by providing endpoint control capability without increasing network device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter representation by encoding path information into PSV values that can be deterministically decoded. Instead of using complex network-state-based path identification, the system transforms path information into encoded parameters (PSV) that endpoints can manipulate directly. This parameter transformation enables endpoint control while keeping the network forwarding logic simple and deterministic.
2Productivity
If multi-path capabilities are leveraged for congestion control and load balancing, then network performance improves, but path information availability to endpoints is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by providing path information back to endpoints through the PSV mechanism. When interests are forwarded along multi-path routes, the network returns path information encoded in PSV values to the endpoints. This feedback loop enables endpoints to make informed decisions about congestion control and load balancing across multiple paths, resolving the information asymmetry while maintaining high network performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary encoding of path information into PSV values before forwarding interests. By pre-encoding the path information that endpoints will need for congestion control and load balancing decisions, the system ensures that path information is available to endpoints in advance. This preliminary action prevents information loss and enables proactive endpoint control for performance optimization.
3Adaptability or versatility
If path steering is implemented without deterministic decoding, then flexibility is increased, but measurement precision of paths decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments path information into discrete, deterministically decodable PSV values. Each PSV represents a specific path segment or route, allowing the system to maintain flexibility in path selection while ensuring precise identification and measurement of each path. This segmentation enables both adaptability in choosing different paths and precision in measuring and identifying them through deterministic decoding.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, path routing in a node fabric of an information-centric network (ICN) includes transmitting a request from a source application to an upstream node via node faces of nodes in the node fabric along a path encoded in a Path Steering Value (PSV); and receiving at the source application from the upstream node a reply that travels along a return path encoded in the PSV. The PSV is generated by pairwise encoding pairs of node faces successively traversed by the reply and is represented by a deterministically decodable pairing function. Node face identifiers can be deterministically, i.e., uniquely, decoded from the PSV. The deterministically decodable pairing function is selected from a Cantor function, a Hopcroft and Ullman variant of the Cantor function, Hilbert curve algorithm, Morton code, and a bitwise pairing function.