Proxy Server for Service Virtualization in Content-Centric Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

The current Internet architecture, based on location-based addressing, is inadequate for meeting the evolving demands of network services, particularly in facilitating access to content anywhere, anytime, and struggles with service virtualization in content-centric networks.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a system that uses a proxy server to distribute server functionalities across multiple servers in a content-centric network, constructing interest packets based on client requests and selecting a server to forward requests, allowing for session establishment and secure communication using CCN naming conventions, enabling stateless proxy operations and secure SSL sessions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If location-based addressing (TCP/IP) is used, then network communication can be established between devices, but it becomes inadequate for content access anywhere, anytime and struggles with service virtualization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontent access flexibilityVSAvoidnetwork architecture complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a proxy server as an intermediary between clients and content-centric network servers. The proxy server receives client requests, constructs interest packets with CCN naming conventions, and forwards them to the appropriate servers. This intermediary layer enables seamless integration between traditional TCP/IP networks and content-centric networks, allowing content access anywhere, anytime while maintaining compatibility with existing device architectures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If server functionalities are distributed across multiple servers, then service virtualization is enhanced, but session management becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice virtualization capabilityVSAvoidsession management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The proxy server acts as a session manager and intermediary, handling the complexity of distributed session management. It maintains session state information and manages client connections to multiple backend servers, allowing individual servers to remain stateless. This concentrates session management complexity at the proxy level rather than distributing it across all servers, simplifying the overall system architecture while maintaining service virtualization benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses interest packets as copies of client requests that contain all necessary information for server processing. These interest packets are forwarded by the proxy server to appropriate backend servers, enabling request replication and distribution without requiring complex session state synchronization across servers. The interest packet copying mechanism simplifies session management by making requests self-contained.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If proxy server maintains session state, then secure SSL sessions can be established, but the proxy operation becomes stateful and more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecure communicationVSAvoidproxy operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The proxy server serves as a security intermediary that establishes SSL/TLS encrypted connections with both clients and backend servers. It handles certificate verification, key exchange, and encrypted data transmission, ensuring secure communication throughout the system. By concentrating security functions at the proxy level, individual backend servers can remain simpler while the system as a whole achieves high security standards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2416542B1Service virtualization over content-centric networks
Publication Date: 2018.10.10 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP2416542B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP2416542B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP2416542B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for facilitating network service virtualization. During operation, the system receives (202) a service request from a client, and initializes a communication session with the client. The system constructs (206) an interest using session state information that can identify the client and/or a previous communication session. The interest comprises a hierarchically structured variable-length name. The system then broadcasts (216) the interest to a number of servers. The system subsequently forwards to the client data received from a server which responds first to the interest.