Optimizing Redirected USB Device Access in VDI Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Prior USB technologies in VDI environments face significant network bandwidth consumption and delays due to frequent device probe transaction requests, especially over wide-area networks, which hinder the accessibility of redirected USB devices.

Innovation Solution

The optimization of transaction requests for redirected USB devices involves a method where the server determines device accessibility without frequent device probes, minimizing network traffic by translating test unit ready commands into URBs and redirecting only necessary requests to the client, thereby reducing network bandwidth consumption and improving device accessibility.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If frequent device probe transaction requests are sent to check USB device status, then device accessibility is ensured, but network bandwidth consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice accessibilityVSAvoidnetwork bandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by caching device probe results and predicting device accessibility based on historical data. Before sending actual device probe requests, the system checks cached information to determine if the device is likely accessible, thereby avoiding unnecessary network transactions while maintaining reliable device access detection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of sending complete device probe requests for every accessibility check, the system performs partial actions by first checking cached device status information locally. Only when necessary does it send full probe requests to the USB device, reducing the frequency and volume of network transactions while maintaining adequate device accessibility monitoring

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Adaptability or versatility

If device probe requests are redirected over the network to access USB devices on client systems, then centralized device management is achieved, but latency increases in wide-area networks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecentralized device managementVSAvoidnetwork latency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-caching device probe results and accessibility information on the server. This allows the server to make quick local decisions about device accessibility without repeatedly querying clients over the network, thereby reducing latency while maintaining centralized management capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates copies of device probe results and accessibility information, storing them in cache on the server. These cached copies allow the server to quickly determine device accessibility without repeatedly contacting the client system over the network, reducing latency while maintaining centralized device management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If test unit ready commands are translated into URBs and redirected to clients, then USB device accessibility is maintained, but network traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveUSB device accessibilityVSAvoidnetwork traffic

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of translating and redirecting every test unit ready command as a full URB transaction, the system performs partial actions by first checking cached device status information. Only when the cached information indicates the device may be accessible does the system translate and redirect the command, thereby reducing the quantity of network traffic while maintaining USB device accessibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system extracts and separates the device probe functionality from the main USB transaction flow. By caching probe results and using them to filter subsequent transactions, the system removes unnecessary URB translations and redirects, reducing network traffic while maintaining device accessibility through intelligent transaction filtering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9952992B2Transaction request optimization for redirected USB devices over a network

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 DELL PROD LP

AI summary

In certain information handling system environments, physical devices connected to a client are redirected to a server or other information handling system. Each of these physical devices will use and occupy network bandwidth. Physical devices may be virtualized so that other users of remote systems may access and use the physical devices. Transaction requests associated with physical devices located at one or more client devices from applications may be reduced by determining if the transaction requests are certain types of commands, and if so then under certain conditions handling the transaction request at the server as opposed to transmitting all such transaction requests to the client device. Optimization of transaction requests associated with redirected devices provides efficiencies for a network.