RAN Cache Intercepts Traffic to Reduce Back-haul Bandwidth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Content caching devices are not deployed within Radio Access Networks (RAN) in wireless communication systems, limiting efficient content access and increasing internet traffic and transfer times due to the RAN being content-unaware, which hampers scalability and user experience.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a RAN Cache (RANC) that intercepts traffic at standard interface points, emulates protocols, extracts user/application payloads, performs optimizations such as content caching and pre-fetching, and re-encapsulates packets, enabling content-aware caching and delivery within the RAN, while also injecting opportunistic content and enforcing policy controls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If content caching devices are deployed in the RAN, then content delivery efficiency and user experience are improved, but device complexity and network infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a RAN Cache as an intermediary component deployed within the Radio Access Network infrastructure. This cache acts as a mediator between the core network and user devices, intercepting traffic at standard interface points and storing frequently accessed content locally. The RAN Cache emulates necessary protocols to integrate seamlessly into the existing network architecture while providing content-aware caching capabilities, thus improving content delivery efficiency without requiring fundamental changes to the network infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the content delivery function by deploying distributed RAN Cache instances at multiple locations within the RAN infrastructure. Rather than implementing a single centralized caching system, the solution divides the caching functionality across multiple network nodes, allowing content to be cached closer to end users. This segmentation reduces the load on core network elements and enables localized content delivery, improving overall system productivity while distributing the complexity across manageable components.
2Loss of substance
If content caching is implemented within the RAN, then back-haul bandwidth consumption is reduced, but implementation complexity and protocol emulation requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN Cache serves as an intermediary that intercepts traffic flows between the core network and user devices. By positioning the cache at standard interface points within the RAN, it can capture and store content before it traverses the back-haul network. The cache emulates appropriate network protocols at these interface points, enabling it to selectively cache content locally. This approach reduces back-haul bandwidth consumption by serving cached content directly to users, while the protocol emulation complexity is contained within the intermediary cache component rather than requiring changes across the entire network infrastructure.
3Loss of time
If the RAN becomes content-aware through caching implementation, then transfer times are reduced, but the complexity of traffic interception and payload extraction increases
Solution Approach 1:
The RAN Cache performs preliminary actions by proactively intercepting and caching content that is likely to be requested by users, before actual user requests occur. The system monitors traffic patterns and pre-fetches or pre-caches frequently accessed content, storing it locally within the RAN infrastructure. When users subsequently request this pre-cached content, transfer times are significantly reduced because the content is already available at the network edge. The complexity of traffic interception and payload extraction is managed through automated cache management algorithms that operate in the background, transparently reducing user-perceived transfer times without requiring complex real-time processing during content delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method to intercept traffic at standard interface points as defined by Cellular/Wireless networks (GSM/GPRS, 3G/UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA, CDMA, WIMAX, LTE), emulate the respective protocols on either side of the interception point, extract user/application payloads within the intercepted packets, perform optimizations, and re-encapsulate with the same protocol, and deliver the content transparently is disclosed. The optimizations include but are not limited to Content Caching, prediction & pre-fetching of frequently used content, performance of content-aware transport optimizations (TCP, UDP, RTP etc.) for reducing back-haul bandwidth, and improvement of user experience. An additional embodiment of the current invention includes injecting opportunistic content (location based, profile based or advertisement content) based on the information derived while monitoring control plane protocols.