TCP Proxy Tunnel for High Latency Backhaul Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication networks face inefficiencies in TCP setup time and data payload transmission over high latency network connections, particularly in GTP flows, leading to increased latency and reduced throughput in backhaul networks.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method where TCP proxy modules on both the tunnel connection initiator and core network sides use non-TCP connections to encapsulate setup messages, establishing a data packet transport tunnel connection, thereby bypassing the traditional TCP three-way handshake and reducing latency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional TCP three-way handshake is used for connection setup over high latency network connections, then connection reliability is ensured, but connection setup time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnection setup time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a tunnel endpoint as an intermediary that pre-establishes transport layer connections (using UDP or other non-TCP protocols) between network nodes. This intermediary handles the connection setup messages, allowing TCP connections to be established faster by reusing the pre-established transport path and avoiding the full three-way handshake over the high-latency satellite link.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary connection setup actions by establishing transport layer connections and exchanging connection setup messages before actual data transmission is needed. The tunnel endpoint pre-configures the communication path, so when TCP connections are needed for data transfer, the heavy lifting of connection establishment has already been done, reducing the perceived setup time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If TCP protocol is used for data transmission over high latency backhaul networks, then data integrity is guaranteed, but transmission latency increases and throughput decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata integrityVSAvoidtransmission latency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The tunnel endpoint acts as an intermediary that terminates TCP connections at the edge of the backhaul network. Data packets are encapsulated in UDP or other faster transport protocols at the tunnel endpoint, allowing them to traverse the high-latency satellite link without TCP's overhead and retransmission delays, while still guaranteeing data integrity through the encapsulation mechanism.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes the TCP protocol mechanism with UDP or other lighter-weight transport protocols for data transmission over the satellite backhaul. This replacement eliminates TCP's complex error handling, flow control, and retransmission mechanisms that contribute to latency, while maintaining data integrity through application-layer protocols or encapsulation at the tunnel endpoint.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If GTP flows are used for transporting user data packets over backhaul networks, then network management is simplified, but setup time and transmission latency increase in high latency environments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork managementVSAvoidsetup time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the network architecture by introducing tunnel endpoints at the edge of the backhaul network. This segmentation separates the control plane (which uses GTP for network management) from the user plane (which uses optimized encapsulation for data transmission). The tunnel endpoint handles GTP message routing and user data encapsulation separately, allowing each to be optimized independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tunnel endpoint serves as an intermediary between the GTP-based core network and the satellite backhaul. It translates GTP control messages while using optimized encapsulation for user data, reducing the setup time and transmission latency associated with GTP flows over high-latency connections while maintaining GTP's network management capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10856344B2Method and an apparatus for reducing connection set-up time in a communications network

Publication Date: 2020.12.01 HONG KONG APPLIED SCI & TECH RES INST

AI summary

A method for setting-up a tunnel connection for transporting data packets over a high latency network connection in a communication network comprises the step of, at a module or node configured on a tunnel connection initiator side of the high latency network connection, using a non-TCP connection to encapsulate a set-up connection message for sending to a module or node configured on a core network (CN) side of the backhaul network to offset-up a data packet transport tunnel connection between the initiator side of the high latency network connection and core network (CN) side of the high latency network connection.