Sidecar Protocol Adjustment in Containerized Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Containerized applications are vulnerable to security risks due to outdated or misconfigured communication protocols, and existing methods for updating these protocols are error-prone, time-consuming, and require altering source code or redeploying containers, which can introduce bugs and incompatibilities.
Innovation Solution
A method that receives metadata describing protocol modifications at a sidecar portion within a container, modifies communications accordingly, and transmits the updated messages to external applications without altering the containerized application's source code or redeploying containers, allowing for real-time updates of communication protocol settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If communication protocols are updated by altering source code or redeploying containers, then protocol security is improved, but deployment time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a sidecar component as an intermediary between the application and the external world. This sidecar handles communication protocol modifications without requiring changes to the application source code. The sidecar intercepts communications, applies protocol updates based on metadata, and forwards them externally, thus resolving the contradiction by enabling security updates without redeployment time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the application into two independent parts: the application portion and the sidecar portion. The sidecar is responsible for communication protocols while the application focuses on business logic. This segmentation allows the sidecar to be updated independently with new protocol metadata without affecting or requiring updates to the application code, eliminating deployment time while maintaining security
2Reliability
If communication protocols are updated by altering source code, then protocol configurations are improved, but error introduction and bugs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sidecar acts as an intermediary that handles protocol configuration updates through metadata rather than source code changes. This eliminates the risk of introducing bugs during protocol updates, as the sidecar's update mechanism is designed to apply configurations without requiring complex code modifications that could introduce errors
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses metadata to define protocol parameters and configurations. By changing protocol settings through metadata parameters rather than modifying source code, the system enables precise control over protocol behavior without the risks associated with code changes, thus improving configuration reliability while maintaining code accuracy
3Reliability
If protocol updates require redeployment of containers, then security is improved, but productivity and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic protocol updates where the sidecar can modify communication protocols at runtime based on metadata changes. This dynamic capability eliminates the need for container redeployment, allowing security updates to be applied instantly without interrupting application operations, thus maintaining both security and high productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The sidecar intermediary enables security updates to be applied independently of the application lifecycle. Since the sidecar manages protocol configurations separately, security improvements can be deployed by updating the sidecar's metadata without requiring container redeployment, maintaining operational efficiency while improving security
4Adaptability or versatility
If protocol modifications are made manually, then customization is improved, but time consumption and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses metadata parameters to define and customize communication protocols. This parameter-based approach allows for easy customization of protocols by simply modifying metadata configurations rather than manually editing code. The system automatically applies these parameter changes, reducing both time consumption and operational complexity while maintaining high adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The sidecar automatically applies protocol modifications based on metadata without requiring manual intervention for each change. The system self-services by interpreting metadata and applying protocol updates autonomously, which maintains customization capabilities while dramatically reducing the time and complexity associated with manual protocol modifications
Data Source
AI summary
At a sidecar portion sharing a container with a first application portion, metadata describing a modification to a communications protocol is received. At the sidecar portion, a communication of the first application portion to a second application outside the container is received. The modifying is performed according to the metadata. The modified communication is transmitted to the second application.