TCP Header Compression for Constrained IoT Networks

Solution Overview

Problem

Constrained IoT networks, such as LPWANs, face challenges in supporting TCP traffic due to limited energy and bandwidth constraints, as well as high latency introduced by TCP protocols, which are not compatible with low-latency requirements.

Innovation Solution

A source proxy is introduced to compress TCP packets by removing the TCP packet header, creating a simple compression mode packet with a connection identifier, and sending it over a wireless link to a destination proxy, which reconstructs the TCP packets for transmission, using a simple compression mode protocol that adapts TCP/IP traffic to constrained networks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If TCP/IP protocols are used for data transmission over constrained networks, then reliable data transmission is achieved, but bandwidth consumption increases and latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliable data transmissionVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes redundant header information from TCP packets before transmission over the constrained network. The header compression entity identifies and removes unnecessary header fields, keeping only essential data, which reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining the core reliability function of TCP through selective field retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the TCP packet into essential and non-essential parts. The header compression entity separates critical data that must be transmitted reliably from redundant information that can be omitted or compressed, allowing efficient bandwidth utilization while preserving transmission reliability for essential elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If TCP/IP protocols are used for data transmission over constrained networks, then reliable data transmission is achieved, but transmission speed decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereliable data transmissionVSAvoidtransmission speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes redundant header information from TCP packets before transmission over the constrained network. The header compression entity identifies and removes unnecessary header fields, keeping only essential data, which reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining the core reliability function of TCP through selective field retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the TCP packet into essential and non-essential parts. The header compression entity separates critical data that must be transmitted reliably from redundant information that can be omitted or compressed, allowing efficient bandwidth utilization while preserving transmission reliability for essential elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If IPv6/UDP/CoAP protocols are adapted over LPWANs, then connectivity is achieved, but header overhead exceeds available frame size

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveconnectivityVSAvoidprotocol header overhead

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes redundant header information from TCP packets before transmission over the constrained network. The header compression entity identifies and removes unnecessary header fields, keeping only essential data, which reduces bandwidth consumption while maintaining the core reliability function of TCP through selective field retention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the TCP packet into essential and non-essential parts. The header compression entity separates critical data that must be transmitted reliably from redundant information that can be omitted or compressed, allowing efficient bandwidth utilization while preserving transmission reliability for essential elements

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS11102679B2Simple communication protocol for data transmission over constrained networks

Publication Date: 2021.08.24 ACTILITY

AI summary

A source proxy for transmitting one or more TCP packets sent from a source device to a destination device over a wireless link is provided. Each TCP packet comprises a TCP data section and a TCP packet header. The source proxy is located on the wireless link and is configured to: receive the one or more TCP packets; determine a simple compression mode packet from the one or more TCP packets by removing the TCP packet header comprised in each TCP packet, the simple compression mode packet comprising the TCP data sections comprised in the one or more TCP packets and a header that comprises a connection identifier, and send the simple compression mode packet to a destination proxy located on the wireless link, the destination proxy being configured to: receive the simple compression mode packet and acknowledge reception to the source proxy; determine one or more reconstructed TCP packets by extracting the data sections of each TCP packet from the simple compression mode packet, and send the one or more reconstructed TCP packets to the destination device.