Virtual Private Router DNS Interception via Pseudo IP Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Internet browsing experiences are hindered by DNS latency, especially in mobile networks, due to frequent DNS requests from client computers, which can lead to increased latency and data traffic, even when connected through proxy or VPN servers that could otherwise reduce this burden.
Innovation Solution
A Virtual Private Router (VPR) intercepts DNS requests, returns pseudo IP addresses, and manages content requests through an intermediary server, reducing the need for client-side DNS queries by using pseudo IP addresses that do not require real-time DNS resolution, thereby decreasing latency and data traffic.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If client computer issues DNS requests to resolve domain names to IP addresses, then content retrieval is enabled, but DNS latency increases overall content fetching time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary DNS resolution by having the proxy server resolve domain names to IP addresses before the client needs to access them. The proxy server maintains a cache of these pre-resolved addresses, so when the client requests content, the resolution has already been done in advance, eliminating the DNS latency from the client's perspective.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy server acts as an intermediary between the client and the DNS infrastructure. Instead of the client directly querying DNS servers, the proxy server handles all DNS resolution requests, caches the results, and provides IP addresses to the client. This intermediary approach centralizes DNS resolution and allows for optimized caching strategies.
2Measurement precision
If client computer issues frequent DNS requests to ensure up-to-date domain resolution, then routing accuracy is maintained, but network data traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts the DNS resolution function from the client and relocates it to the proxy server. The proxy server independently handles all domain name resolution, maintaining its own cache of IP addresses. This extraction eliminates the need for clients to generate DNS traffic, as all resolution requests are handled centrally by the proxy server.
Solution Approach 2:
The proxy server implements an intelligent caching strategy where it retains DNS resolution results for extended periods (discarding the need for frequent re-resolution) while recovering freshness by periodically updating the cache when TTL values indicate expiration. This approach maintains routing accuracy while dramatically reducing the frequency of DNS queries.
3Productivity
If proxy server caches DNS responses to reduce client DNS requests, then DNS request frequency decreases, but cache inconsistency may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The proxy server implements a feedback mechanism where it monitors DNS response TTL values and uses this information to determine when cache entries should be refreshed. The system receives feedback from DNS servers about the freshness requirements of records and adjusts its caching behavior accordingly, extending cache duration for stable records while refreshing more frequently for dynamic records.
Solution Approach 2:
The caching strategy is dynamic rather than static. The proxy server adjusts cache duration based on TTL values received from DNS servers, extending cache life for records with long TTLs and refreshing more frequently for records with short TTLs. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between cache hit ratio and information freshness.
Data Source
AI summary
A virtual private router (VPR) intercepts DNS requests and returns a pseudo IP address to the requesting application and the pseudo IP address is mapped to a domain name in the request. Requests for content including the pseudo IP address are modified to include the corresponding domain name and transmitted to an intermediary server, which resolves the domain name to a real IP address and forwards the content request. The content is received by the intermediary server, which returns it to the requesting application, such as by way of the VPR. Real IP addresses may be returned by the intermediary server such that subsequent content requests to the domain name may bypass the intermediary server. Requests for certain domains, ports, and/or protocols may bypass the intermediary server such that the VPR resolves the domain names to real IP addresses.