Virtual Channel Data Framing for Network Metadata Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network communication protocols require significant metadata transmission, which can lead to inefficiencies in data transfer and increased overhead, particularly when negotiating payload encoding schemes between clients and servers.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a method and system that allows clients and servers to negotiate payload encoding schemes prior to data transmission, reducing the metadata required by using a connection management service that defines virtual channels and assigns channel-identifiers, and employing protocols like SOAP and XML to optimize data framing and encoding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional communication protocols (HTTP, TCP, IP) are used to transmit data, then data can be transmitted reliably over the network, but significant metadata overhead is generated and data transfer efficiency is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transfer efficiencyVSAvoidmetadata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary metadata from the data transmission process. By using a connection management service that establishes virtual channels with unique identifiers, the system eliminates the need for repeated protocol headers and metadata that traditionally accompany each data packet, thereby reducing metadata transmission volume while maintaining reliable data transfer

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing connection management and virtual channel configurations before actual data transmission begins. The connection management service pre-negotiates and configures the communication parameters, encoding schemes, and channel identifiers in advance, so that subsequent data transfers can occur with minimal metadata overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If payload encoding schemes are negotiated between clients and servers during data transmission, then data can be encoded appropriately, but the negotiation process increases metadata transmission and reduces efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepayload encoding scheme flexibilityVSAvoiddata transfer efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent resolves encoding scheme negotiations in advance through the connection management service before actual data transmission occurs. The service pre-configures the appropriate encoding schemes for each virtual channel based on the data types and requirements, eliminating the need for repeated negotiations during data transfer and thus maintaining both flexibility and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The connection management service acts as an intermediary between clients and servers, handling the complex task of negotiating and configuring payload encoding schemes. This intermediary service abstracts the negotiation complexity from the actual data transmission process, allowing efficient transfers while maintaining encoding flexibility

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple data streams are transmitted over separate TCP connections, then each stream can be managed independently, but the number of connections increases system complexity and resource consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata stream management capabilityVSAvoidnumber of TCP connections
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple data streams into a single TCP connection by using virtual channels with unique identifiers. Instead of establishing separate TCP connections for each data stream, the system combines them under one connection and uses the virtual channel mechanism to distinguish and manage individual streams, thereby reducing connection complexity while maintaining independent stream management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent adds a new dimension of virtual channel identification to the traditional single TCP connection. By introducing virtual channel identifiers as an additional layer of organization, the system can manage multiple independent data streams within the constraints of a single connection, effectively moving from a connection-based multiplication to a channel-based differentiation approach

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP1909191B1Method and system for transmitting data over a network
Publication Date: 2011.09.14 SUN MICROSYST FRANCE
  • EP1909191B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1909191B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3F
  • EP1909191B1 patent drawingFigure 3G~3I

AI summary

A method for transmitting data that includes receiving a first request to open a first virtual channel, the first virtual channel associated with a TCP connection, and negotiating a first payload encoding scheme between a client and a server to use on the first virtual channel. The method further includes receiving a first frame from the client, the frame including a first channel-id associated with the first virtual channel and a first payload that includes a first datum encoded using the first payload encoding scheme. In addition, the method includes decoding the first payload to obtain a decoded first datum and processing the decoded first datum to obtain a second datum. The method additionally includes generating a second frame that includes the first chamel-id and a second payload that includes the second datum encoded using the first payload encoding scheme, and sending the second frame to the client.