SDN Controller for NDN Content Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current Content Centric Networking (CCN) and Information Centric Networking (ICN) solutions face challenges in scaling content routing and placement, leading to suboptimal performance, latency, cost, and power consumption due to reliance on distributed routing paradigms and lack of real-time network condition awareness, especially in Content Distribution Networks (CDNs).

Innovation Solution

Implementing a centralized, intelligent content placement and routing system using Software Defined Networking (SDN) in conjunction with Named Data Networking (NDN), which employs Universal Resource Identifiers (URIs) for hierarchical addressing and dynamic caching decisions based on user behavior, network topology, and content popularity, to optimize content delivery and routing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If distributed routing paradigm is used in NDN/ICN, then routing flexibility and content availability are improved, but system complexity and suboptimal performance increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting flexibilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the routing control function into two parts: a centralized SDN controller that maintains global network state and makes optimal routing decisions, and distributed NDN routers that execute forwarding rules. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by preserving routing flexibility through the centralized controller while simplifying individual router complexity through rule-based forwarding.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The SDN controller acts as an intermediary between the centralized control plane and distributed data plane. It receives content requests, determines optimal paths based on global network state, and installs forwarding rules at NDN routers. This intermediary approach enables optimal centralized decision-making while maintaining distributed content delivery flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If distributed caching decisions are made at each NDN node, then content availability is improved, but latency and suboptimal placement occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent availabilityVSAvoidlatency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized SDN controller performs preliminary caching decisions by analyzing global network state, content popularity, and user behavior patterns before content requests arrive. It proactively places content at optimal cache locations across the network, eliminating the need for reactive distributed decisions and reducing content delivery latency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback loops where the SDN controller continuously monitors network state, cache hit rates, and content access patterns. Based on this feedback, it dynamically adjusts caching strategies and content placement decisions to optimize both content availability and delivery latency in real-time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If real-time network condition awareness is implemented, then routing optimization is improved, but computational overhead and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting optimizationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the computationally intensive real-time network monitoring and analysis functions from individual NDN routers and consolidates them in a centralized SDN controller. This extraction allows routing optimization based on real-time conditions while reducing energy consumption at distributed network nodes, as the controller handles the computational burden centrally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Productivity

If centralized SDN control is implemented, then routing optimization and performance are improved, but scalability concerns arise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverouting optimizationVSAvoidscalability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a hierarchical dimension to the control architecture, with a centralized SDN controller operating at the network level and distributed NDN routers operating at the link level. This dimensional separation enables centralized optimization for overall network performance while maintaining distributed autonomy for local routing decisions, thus achieving both optimization and scalability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentUS11363116B2Systems and methods for intelligent routing and content placement in information centric networks

Publication Date: 2022.06.14 CIENA CORP

AI summary

A content caching system enables an NDN network to place content closer to each end user(s) and to provide an explicit path for the target end user(s) to that content for better performance just in advance of users' anticipated request(s). The apparatus includes NDN routers and SDN controller employing a content commander, at least a content placement agent and at least one content analysis agent.