Wireless Terminal Link Selection Using QUIC Connection IDs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication protocols fail to effectively determine the quality of individual wireless links and efficiently select the best link for use between multiple available wireless networks, leading to gaps in communication and high overhead during IP address transitions.
Innovation Solution
A wireless terminal performs continuous or intermittent line quality testing to score available wireless links based on packet loss, latency, and jitter, using a connection ID-based protocol like QUIC to maintain communication through IP address changes, and selects the best link for use based on these scores, with cost adjustments for different network types.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If TCP connections are used for wireless communication, then connection reliability is maintained, but communication gaps occur during IP address transitions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the identification parameters from TCP's 4-tuple (source IP, source port, destination IP, destination port) to QUIC's connection ID. This parameter change allows the connection to be identified without relying on IP addresses, enabling seamless transitions when IP addresses change during wireless network roaming.
2Stability of the object's composition
If LISP protocol is used for IP address retention, then IP address continuity is maintained, but overhead increases and performance decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the IP address retention functionality from complex protocols like LISP and integrates it directly into the QUIC protocol layer. By embedding connection migration capabilities within QUIC itself, the system eliminates the need for separate protocol overhead while maintaining IP address continuity through connection ID-based identification.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple wireless networks are available for connection, then communication redundancy is improved, but link selection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service link quality testing mechanism where the wireless terminal autonomously performs continuous or intermittent testing of available wireless links, scores them based on packet loss, latency, and jitter, and automatically selects the best link. This self-service approach eliminates the need for complex external coordination or manual configuration, allowing the system to adaptively manage multiple network connections.
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless terminal communicates test packets via alternative wireless access points, e.g., a WiFi access point, a 4G access point, a 5G access point, to a test server to evaluate alternative wireless links. Test scores are generated for each of the wireless links being evaluated based the performance of previous test packets transmitted over the link. In some embodiments, the controlled rate of test packet transmission over a wireless link is a function of WT speed and/or link score. Link test scores may be, and sometime are, conditionally cost adjusted based on the type of communications network, e.g., scores for more expensive networks, e.g., 4G cellular, are reduced to favor more inexpensive networks such as WiFi. The wireless terminal selects one or more of the alternative wireless connections to use for communication with a communications session end point based on the link scores.