Tunnel Node Content Fetching for Congestion-Resilient Internet Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication over the Internet is hindered by network congestion, traffic load balancing, and unpredictable network behavior, leading to issues such as packet loss, duplication, and out-of-order delivery, which are not effectively addressed by current TCP/IP protocols.
Innovation Solution
The use of intermediate nodes that function as both end-users and intermediate nodes to enhance communication by optimizing TCP/IP operations, including managing connections and data transfer phases, and employing devices with dual roles to improve reliability and efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCP/IP protocols are used for Internet communication, then data delivery is achieved, but network congestion and unpredictable network behavior cause packet loss, duplication, and out-of-order delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediate nodes (gateway devices) that act as mediators between end devices and the Internet. These gateway devices receive data from end devices, manage transmission through the network, and handle retransmission of lost packets. The intermediary gateway absorbs the complexity of network congestion management, shielding end devices from packet loss and delivery issues while maintaining reliable communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the communication system into distinct functional components: end devices, gateway devices (intermediate nodes), and Internet infrastructure. Each segment has specialized responsibilities - end devices generate data, gateways manage transmission and retransmission, and the Internet provides backbone connectivity. This segmentation allows the gateway to specifically address packet loss through targeted retransmission mechanisms without requiring changes to the entire TCP/IP stack.
2Reliability
If intermediate nodes are introduced to improve data delivery, then communication reliability improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device is designed with multi-functionality to reduce overall system complexity. It simultaneously performs multiple roles: acting as an end device for receiving data from local devices, serving as an intermediate node for managing Internet communication, providing retransmission functionality for packet loss recovery, and enabling direct Internet access for connected devices. By consolidating these functions in a single device, the patent avoids the complexity of multiple separate components while maintaining high communication reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway device implements self-service mechanisms for managing network communication. It autonomously monitors data transmission status, detects packet loss, initiates retransmission of lost packets, and manages connections between end devices and the Internet without requiring external control or complex coordination with other network components. This self-service capability simplifies the system architecture by eliminating the need for additional control mechanisms.
3Productivity
If dual-role devices are used to function as both end-users and intermediate nodes, then resource utilization improves, but device functionality complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dual-role gateway devices that universally perform both end-device and intermediate-node functions. As an end device, the gateway receives data from local devices and generates its own Internet traffic. As an intermediate node, it manages Internet communication for other connected devices, handling retransmission and connection management. This universal functionality maximizes resource utilization by having each dual-role device contribute to both data consumption and network management, eliminating the need for dedicated intermediate nodes and improving overall system efficiency.
4Reliability
If retransmission of lost packets is implemented, then data delivery completeness improves, but transmission time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway device implements preliminary action by proactively monitoring data transmission and identifying lost packets before the receiving end device detects the problem. The gateway maintains knowledge of transmitted data and can immediately retransmit lost packets without waiting for timeout signals or error reports from end devices. This preliminary detection and retransmission approach reduces the overall time required compared to traditional reactive retransmission methods.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the gateway continuously monitors transmission status and receives information about packet delivery from end devices. Based on this feedback, the gateway intelligently determines which packets were lost and initiates selective retransmission only for the specific lost packets rather than retransmitting all data. This targeted feedback-driven approach minimizes retransmission time while ensuring complete data delivery.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for fetching a content from a web server to a client device is disclosed, using tunnel devices serving as intermediate devices. The client device accesses an acceleration server to receive a list of available tunnel devices. The requested content is partitioned into slices, and the client device sends a request for the slices to the available tunnel devices. The tunnel devices in turn fetch the slices from the data server, and send the slices to the client device, where the content is reconstructed from the received slices. A client device may also serve as a tunnel device, serving as an intermediate device to other client devices. Similarly, a tunnel device may also serve as a client device for fetching content from a data server. The selection of tunnel devices to be used by a client device may be in the acceleration server, in the client device, or in both. The partition into slices may be overlapping or non-overlapping, and the same slice (or the whole content) may be fetched via multiple tunnel devices.