QUIC Multi-Path Communication via Residential Gateway
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Solution Overview
Problem
The QUIC protocol faces limitations in discovering multiple paths, controlling traffic distribution, and ensuring compatibility with different IP address protocols, leading to suboptimal network resource utilization and quality of experience issues in hybrid access environments.
Innovation Solution
A method where a residential gateway associates connection identifiers with multiple paths, allowing devices to dynamically discover and manage path selection, traffic distribution policies, and ensure compatibility with various IP protocols, enabling enhanced robustness and performance of QUIC communications.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If QUIC protocol is used for communication, then communication speed and efficiency are improved, but the ability to discover multiple paths and control traffic distribution deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the path discovery and traffic control functions from the end devices and assigns them to the gateway. The gateway independently discovers multiple network paths and manages traffic distribution, while end devices simply communicate using QUIC protocol. This segmentation allows QUIC to maintain its speed advantages while the gateway handles the complexity of multi-path management.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway acts as an intermediary between end devices and the network. It intercepts QUIC packets, performs path discovery, determines optimal paths for traffic distribution, and forwards packets accordingly. This intermediary role enables multi-path communication without requiring modifications to the QUIC protocol itself or the end devices.
2Reliability
If multiple paths are used for QUIC communication, then network resource utilization and robustness are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway performs self-service by automatically discovering available network paths, evaluating their characteristics, and dynamically adjusting traffic distribution without external intervention. It autonomously monitors path health and reallocates traffic in response to network changes, reducing the need for manual configuration and complex device logic at endpoint devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges multiple network paths into a unified communication infrastructure managed by the gateway. Instead of requiring each device to independently manage multiple paths, the gateway consolidates path management functions, combining multiple physical or logical paths into a single logical interface for end devices while maintaining robustness through path diversity.
3Productivity
If traffic distribution policies are implemented, then quality of experience is improved, but loss of information about connection details increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway implements a universal connection identifier system that works across all paths and traffic distribution policies. A single connection identifier uniquely identifies each QUIC connection regardless of which path the traffic uses or what distribution policy is applied. This multi-functional identifier system maintains connection traceability while enabling flexible traffic management.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway implements feedback mechanisms that track packet routing decisions and connection identifier usage across multiple paths. By monitoring traffic flow and maintaining records of which connections use which paths, the gateway provides feedback that ensures connection details are preserved and traceable even as traffic is dynamically distributed across different network paths.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of communication, in which a communicating device is situated behind a residential gateway able to implement the QUIC (Quick UDP Internet Connection) protocol and connected to a plurality of paths Pi, where i=1, . . . , N, on which the gateway can dispatch data packets received from the communicating device, and receive packets of data intended for the communicating device. The method includes: the gateway associating a respective connection identifier C_ID #i with each of the paths Pi; and, when the gateway receives a data packet from the communicating device, the gateway transmits this data packet on one of the paths Pi while taking into account the connection identifier C_ID #i corresponding to this path Pi.