Selective Packet Field Decoding for Telecommunications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packet decoding methods in telecommunications networks are inefficient as they decode entire packets before processing, wasting effort by decoding unnecessary fields and performing additional checks, especially when only a small portion of the data is required for application processing.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus and method that generate decoding instructions based on an enhanced protocol specification, determining which fields are required for specific application operations and generating instructions to decode only those fields, thereby optimizing the decoding process by interleaving decoding and application operation instructions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the entire packet is decoded before processing, then complete packet data is available for processing, but processing efficiency decreases due to decoding unnecessary fields

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata completenessVSAvoidprocessing efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the packet decoding process into selective field decoding based on application requirements. The protocol compiler generates decoding operations that identify and decode only the specific fields needed by the application, rather than decoding the entire packet structure. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining data completeness for required fields while eliminating waste on unnecessary fields.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial action by decoding only the necessary portion of the packet rather than the complete packet. The system determines which fields are required by the application and performs decoding operations exclusively on those fields, avoiding the excessive action of decoding the entire packet when only a subset is needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

2Manufacturing precision

If protocol specification-driven decoding is used, then decoding accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases due to multiple protocol specifications

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedecoding accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal protocol compiler framework that handles multiple protocol specifications through a common architecture. The system uses a standardized method of attaching application operations to protocol specifications and generating decoding instructions that work across different protocols. This universality maintains decoding accuracy for each protocol while reducing overall system complexity by avoiding separate decoding systems for each protocol.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The protocol compiler acts as an intermediary between the protocol specifications and the decoding operations. It translates protocol specifications into decoding instructions that the decoder can execute, mediating between the complexity of multiple protocols and the simplicity of the decoding engine. This intermediary approach preserves decoding accuracy while managing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Productivity

If filtering is applied to weed out packets, then processing load is reduced, but additional processing time is required for the filtering pass

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprocessing load reductionVSAvoidfiltering overhead time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary action by determining which fields are required by the application before the decoding process begins. The protocol compiler analyzes application operations and identifies necessary fields in advance, allowing the decoder to skip unnecessary fields during packet processing. This preliminary field identification eliminates the need for separate filtering passes while reducing processing load.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the field selection function with the decoding operation itself. Rather than performing separate filtering and decoding passes, the system combines these operations by generating decoding instructions that inherently select only the required fields. This merging eliminates the time overhead of separate filtering while maintaining processing load reduction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS7266131B2Data packet decoding
Publication Date: 2007.09.04 VIAVI SOLUTIONS INC(US)
  • US7266131B2 patent drawing
  • US7266131B2 patent drawing
  • US7266131B2 patent drawing

AI summary

Apparatus and method for generating decoding instructions for a decoder for decoding data packets from a telecommunications network, each of the data packets having a plurality of fields formatted in a predetermined protocol defined by a protocol specification. The apparatus comprises an input, an instruction generator and an output, the instruction generator receiving an enhanced protocol specification having the protocol specification and application operations attached thereto. The instruction generator analyzes the enhanced protocol specification to determine which fields in a data packet formatted in the corresponding protocol are required in order to enable the application operations to be executed and generates instructions for controlling the decoder to decode the required fields and to execute the particular application instruction.