Reliable Multicast Communication With Network-Assisted Replication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional multicast network communication systems face inefficiencies due to the reliance on unreliable network connections, leading to resource overburdening of the source network node when using reliable connections for unicast communications, and the inability to efficiently deliver data units to multiple destinations.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a network-assisted approach where intermediate network nodes replicate and forward multicast data units, using reliable connections like TCP or InfiniBand, to distribute data units to multiple destinations without overburdening the source node, and incorporating acknowledgment mechanisms to manage data unit delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the source network node establishes reliable unicast connections to each destination node for multicast communication, then data delivery reliability is improved, but the resource burden on the source node increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the multicast delivery function by dividing the source node's responsibilities. The source node generates and sends data units to an intermediate network node, which then replicates and forwards them to multiple destination nodes. This segmentation transfers the burden of multiple connection management from the source node to the intermediate node, maintaining reliability while reducing source node complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediate network node as a mediator between the source node and destination nodes. This intermediary handles the replication and forwarding of data units, establishing reliable connections locally with each destination node rather than requiring the source node to maintain multiple connections. The intermediate node acts as a local relay that ensures reliable delivery without overburdening the source.
2Reliability
If the source network node replicates and sends separate data unit copies to each destination node, then data delivery reliability is improved, but the network bandwidth consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses copying at the intermediate network node rather than at the source node. The source node sends a single copy of each data unit to the intermediate node, which then creates local copies for each destination node. This approach reduces network bandwidth consumption because the expensive replication operation occurs at the intermediate node closer to the destinations, rather than consuming bandwidth across the entire network path from the source to each destination.
3Reliability
If acknowledgment mechanisms are implemented for reliable multicast delivery, then data loss detection is improved, but the communication overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an acknowledgment feedback mechanism where destination nodes send acknowledgments to the intermediate network node when they successfully receive data units. The intermediate node aggregates these acknowledgments and forwards them to the source node. This feedback mechanism enables reliable data loss detection while reducing overhead compared to individual source-destination acknowledgment pairs, as the intermediate node consolidates multiple acknowledgments into a single communication stream back to the source.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments provide for reliable multicast network communication using network connections. According to some embodiments, a source network node sends data to a plurality of destination network nodes (e.g., members of a multicast group of network nodes) over a communications network by one or more multicast data units, where the multicast data units include a sequence number and are sent using (e.g., transported over) one or more network connections.