Pending Interest Table Lifetime Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Content-centric network (CCN) architectures face inefficiencies due to existing PIT aggregation mechanisms that can block subsequent interest requests with shorter lifetimes, leading to network inefficiency, and rely on unreliable interest lifetime measurements based on variable network metrics.

Innovation Solution

A system that maintains a pending interest table (PIT) with separate lifetimes for each interest and an aggregation lifetime, allowing intermediate nodes to forward or aggregate interests based on predecessor information, ensuring that existing PIT entries with long lifetimes do not suppress later interests with shorter lifetimes, and updates lifetimes dynamically to manage interest aggregation efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If an intermediate node aggregates subsequent interests in an existing PIT entry with a long lifetime, then interest aggregation efficiency is improved, but subsequent interests with shorter lifetimes are blocked and cannot be forwarded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinterest aggregation efficiencyVSAvoidinterest forwarding reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the lifetime management by introducing separate predecessor lifetime and aggregation lifetime fields in the PIT entry. The predecessor lifetime tracks the validity for each specific predecessor node, while the aggregation lifetime manages the overall entry validity. This segmentation allows the node to determine whether to aggregate or forward interests based on comparing these separate lifetime values, resolving the contradiction between aggregation efficiency and forwarding reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system uses variable network metrics to determine interest lifetimes, then adaptability to network conditions is improved, but measurement reliability deteriorates due to variable metrics

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork condition adaptabilityVSAvoidlifetime measurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by having the interest origin node pre-determine and include the lifetime value in the interest message before transmission. This eliminates the need for intermediate nodes to perform unreliable real-time network measurements. The pre-established lifetime value provides a reliable basis for aggregation decisions while maintaining adaptability, as the origin node can account for expected network conditions when setting the lifetime.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If an existing PIT entry blocks subsequent similar interests, then network traffic is reduced through aggregation, but information loss occurs when blocked interests cannot be fulfilled

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork traffic reductionVSAvoidinterest fulfillment information
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously updating the predecessor lifetime in the PIT entry when new interests arrive from the same predecessor. This feedback mechanism ensures that the system remains responsive to changing conditions. If a blocked interest's predecessor lifetime extends beyond the aggregation lifetime, the entry is updated and the interest can be forwarded, preventing permanent information loss while maintaining traffic reduction benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3070910B1Pending interest table behavior
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP3070910B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3070910B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3070910B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

One embodiment provides a system that facilitates efficient aggregation of multiple interest messages for the same content from multiple predecessors. During operation, an intermediate node receives a first interest message from a predecessor node. The first interest indicates a name for a content object and a lifetime associated with the first interest. The intermediate node identifies an entry in a pending interest table that corresponds to the first interest and determines that the entry has not expired. The intermediate node determines whether a second interest message which indicates a same content object name as the first interest message has been received from the predecessor node. If so, it forwards the first interest. If not, it adds information associated with the predecessor node to the entry. The intermediate node determines a predecessor lifetime associated with the entry and also determines a maximum lifetime associated with the entry.