Registry Server for Network Address Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Complex home and office networks with multiple routing devices make it difficult for client nodes to identify and connect with server nodes, such as placeshifting devices, due to varying network topologies and configurations, affecting applications like media streaming and gaming.
Innovation Solution
A registry server system that receives registration messages from server nodes, maintains a listing of their addresses, and identifies server nodes with matching network addresses to a client node, allowing the client to establish connections by forwarding a list of available servers with the same network address.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple routing devices and complex network topologies are used in home networks, then network functionality and device connectivity are improved, but the difficulty of identifying and locating server nodes increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a registry server as an intermediary that maintains a centralized database mapping WAN addresses to LAN addresses and server node identities. This mediator resolves the complexity of navigating multiple routing devices by providing a single point of query that returns pre-resolved server locations, thereby improving server node identification without requiring changes to the existing complex network topology
Solution Approach 2:
The registry server performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing and maintaining mappings between WAN addresses (visible to clients) and internal server node identities before clients need to locate servers. This advance preparation eliminates the need for clients to navigate complex network topologies in real-time, as the registry has already performed the discovery and mapping work beforehand
2Adaptability or versatility
If network configurations vary widely between users and home networks, then device compatibility and network flexibility are improved, but the reliability of establishing communications between devices decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The registry server acts as a reliable intermediary that abstracts away the variability of different network configurations. Instead of clients directly interacting with diverse and unpredictable network topologies, all communication queries are routed through the registry, which provides consistent and reliable server location information regardless of the underlying network configuration variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the network discovery function from the communication function. The registry server handles the complex task of navigating varying network configurations and identifying servers, while clients simply query the registry and establish communications based on returned information. This segmentation isolates the reliability-critical communication establishment from the variability-critical network configuration navigation
3Device complexity
If clients directly search for servers in complex networks, then no additional infrastructure is needed, but the time and resources required for network discovery increase
Solution Approach 1:
The registry server performs preliminary network discovery and maintains updated mappings of WAN addresses to server locations in advance. When clients need to find servers, they simply query the pre-computed registry rather than performing time-consuming searches through complex network topologies, dramatically reducing network discovery time while the added infrastructure remains centralized and efficient
Solution Approach 2:
The registry server dynamically maintains and updates its database of server locations as devices join or leave the network. This dynamic approach ensures that the registry always contains current information without requiring clients to perform repeated static discovery processes, reducing both time and computational resources for network discovery while providing responsive, real-time server location information
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, devices and methods are described to identify server nodes operating on a data network that are available to a client node. A registry server receives registration messages from each of the of server nodes and maintains a listing server nodes and their associated server addresses. When a request is received from a client, the registry server identifies server nodes having the same network address as the client, thereby indicating that the client and server nodes are likely to reside behind a common router or on a common local area network. A list of identified server nodes can then be forwarded to the client so that the client can establish connections as desired. These techniques may be used, for example, to establish video placeshifting connections between a placeshifting server device and a phone, tablet or other media client.