Verification Service for Downloaded Content Subsets

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communication networks, the existing method of downloading and verifying content by hashing entire pieces of content requires significant bandwidth and computing resources, especially when only small non-consecutive ranges of the content are needed, leading to performance degradation during congestion.

Innovation Solution

A verification service that allows clients to download and verify only specific subsets of content by generating verification values for non-consecutive ranges, using a hash function to create smaller numeric values that represent the subsets, and utilizing a validation key to retrieve pre-computed verification values when available, thereby reducing data transmission and computational load.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire file is downloaded and verified piece by piece, then content integrity can be validated, but bandwidth consumption increases and network performance degrades

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontent integrity validationVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the content file into multiple pieces, each with its own verification value. Instead of downloading and verifying the entire file, clients can download individual pieces and verify them independently using the corresponding verification values from the authorization digest. This segmentation allows selective downloading of only necessary content pieces, reducing bandwidth consumption while maintaining integrity validation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts verification values from the complete file and places them in an authorization digest that can be downloaded separately. This allows clients to obtain verification information without downloading the entire content file, enabling integrity validation of selectively downloaded pieces without the overhead of downloading and processing the complete file.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Measurement precision

If the entire file is downloaded to verify individual pieces, then verification accuracy is ensured, but download time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification accuracyVSAvoiddownload time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the file into pieces with individual verification values, the patent enables clients to download and verify only the specific pieces needed rather than waiting for the entire file to download. This maintains verification accuracy for each piece while significantly reducing the total download time required.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The authorization digest containing verification values is prepared in advance and can be downloaded or cached separately before content pieces are needed. This preliminary preparation of verification information allows clients to quickly verify downloaded pieces without delaying the actual content download process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If verification values are computed for all pieces, then complete verification capability is achieved, but computing resources are wasted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveverification capabilityVSAvoidcomputing resources

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent computes and stores verification values for individual pieces in the authorization digest rather than requiring computation for the entire file. This allows the system to provide complete verification capability for any piece while computing resources are used only for the specific pieces that need verification, not the entire file.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each piece of content is equipped with its own verification value in the authorization digest, allowing individual pieces to be verified independently without requiring processing of other pieces. This self-contained verification approach enables the system to provide comprehensive verification capability while minimizing computing resource usage by processing only what is necessary.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach reduces bandwidth usage and computing resources by allowing clients to download only necessary content and verifies the integrity of subsets in real-time, enhancing network performance and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHash function:

Data Source

PatentUS10536275B2Verification of downloaded subsets of content

Publication Date: 2020.01.14 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

In some embodiments, a verification service receives a description for a combination of a set of ranges within content available for download. The set of ranges are not sequentially located in the content that a client device has downloaded. The verification service determines if a first portion of the combination of the set of ranges has been received in a prior request. When the first portion has been received, the verification service retrieves a first set of verification values that represent subsets of content corresponding to the first portion. When at least a second portion of the combination of the set of ranges has not been received, the verification service generates a second set of verification values using subsets of content corresponding to the second portion. One or more of the first set of verification values and the second set of verification values are sent to the client device.