FI111890B - A method for optimizing network traffic - Google Patents

Description

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The present invention relates to a method for optimizing traffic in telecommunications networks, wherein at least one communication link is established for implementing packet-switched network traffic between the terminal and at least one server in the communication link, and at least a portion of the data link is routed in the protocol stack of the terminal. The invention further relates to a system for optimizing packet data traffic comprising means for establishing at least one data link between a terminal and at least one server communicating with a data network 10, wherein the terminal has at least one protocol stack for routing at least a portion of the data link.

Current protocols used in data networks, such as the Internet, are designed to operate on wired networks with relatively low latency (delay) and 15 medium bandwidths. The protocol typically communicates with the opposite, sending requests and receiving acknowledgments and responses. When these same protocols, such as TCP, HTTP, POP3, and IMAP, are used on networks with high latency, · · ·· *, the result is poor performance due to increased acknowledgment and response waiting times. In addition, communication over insecure networks. The loss of kernel packages, for its part, undermines protocol performance.

• ': To solve this problem, a variety of methods have been developed to optimize * ... · the usability of web applications. Known methods for optimizing network traffic are based on protocol-specific optimization, where * 'the network traffic of an application using, for example, the HTTP protocol is circulated through a proxy 13 that optimizes requests before being sent to the network.

Figure 3 shows one such prior art system in a reduced * · * diagram. Benefits include: intelligent optimization because the proxy understands: application behavior and the ability to store frequently used data in the client ·: * ·· machine memory. However, the disadvantages of such a solution include, but are not limited to, protocols, the need to configure applications to use a proxy server, and poor performance in high latency communication networks such as GSM and GPRS mobile networks. In addition, some methods utilize an optimized protocol between the proxy client and the server to minimize the problems caused by network latency.

The basic idea of the invention is to perform network traffic optimization at a lower level of network protocol coupling, whereby the invention is able to optimize network traffic for all applications in a fully transparent manner. In the method, the TCP connection (Transmission Control Protocol, RFC 777) used by the application is intercepted by 10 components in the protocol stack and replaced by a virtual connection to a server located in another part of the network. The server again changes the virtual connection to a TCP connection to the original destination. The virtual connection utilizes a protocol optimized for uncertain networks with high latency. In addition, other optimizations, such as data compression and packet wrapping for multiple TCP connections, are utilized in the virtual connection.

More specifically, the method of the invention is essentially characterized by what is stated in the characterizing part of claim 1. The system according to the invention is essentially characterized by what is set forth in the characterizing part of claim 7.

....: 20 The invention provides significant advantages to prior art solutions. · · | compared to. The invention provides a solution that is not protocol-specific or application-specific, and does not require application configuration to optimize network traffic, and which is · · · designed to work optimally on communication networks with large ·: · *! ri latency. Protocol independence allows the user to take advantage of •: 25 inventions in a variety of communication applications such as web browsers, email, file transfer, and remote access. Because there is no need for applications. ' ". In order to be configured to use the invention, it is well implemented and used. \ Straightforward and easy.

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The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the operation of the method in a typical mesh structure.

Figure 2 illustrates the operation of the method with the VPN software.

Figure 3 illustrates the working principle of a typical state-of-the-art solution using a proxy server.

The following examples use TCP, UDP and IP as protocols 10 for use in different layers of the protocol stack 12, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to systems using only these protocols.

The method is based on a client / server model where a filter 3 is added to the protocol stack 12 of the client 10 to intercept certain communication packets and pass them on to the optimizer 4. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in p-15, filter 3 only considers TCP- ',: t * information passing through protocol 1, whereby information passing through UDP protocol 2 • 4 «*" * proceeds directly through to IP protocol 5. A typical application example is t I t "*. where application 15 opens TCP- connection to server 9 and transfer data over this connection. * * * When optimization is enabled, filter 3 detects the opening of the TCP connection.

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20, passes it to the optimizer 4, which establishes a virtual connection (11) through the network 6 to the optimization server 7. While establishing the virtual connection, the filter 3 simulates successful connection establishment for TCP protocol 1, whereby application 15 can essentially immediately send requests to server 9. I ·, ·. 7 opens a TCP connection through network 8 to server 9 and transmits the virtual connection • * ·!! 25 data to server 9, and data from the server back to the optimizer 4, which passes it to application 15. When the TCP connection is closed, this information is passed to the optimization server 7, which closes its own connect to server 9.

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In the virtual connection 11, the method preferably uses an optimized protocol that provides better data transmission efficiency than the TCP protocol. The information passing through the virtual connection may also be compressed, if necessary, by a compression algorithm into a smaller space. In addition, the data may be encrypted by some encryption algorithm, 5 which makes it difficult to determine the information to be transmitted in the data transmission connection without a proper decryption key.

In the second example shown in Figure 2, the client needs to connect to two different servers 9, 19, one of which is behind a secure VPN (Virtual Private Network) connection on an enterprise intranet 18. VPN technology 10 employs a method substantially similar to that of the invention. , intercepting all packets sent to the virtual intranet 18. In this case, TCP connections should be split between two different servers 9, 19 based on IP addresses, for example, 10.0xx addresses via VPN to intranet server 19, and others to public server 9. In Figure 2, the VPN connection sends and receives the packets taken pass through the VPN filter 16, which packets them in its own way. The packets continue their journey in the virtual connection 21 as normal IP packets over the network 22 to the VPN server 17, which opens the VPN packets and forwards the contents of the packets to the optimization server 20. From now on, operation is essentially identical to the previous example. 6 can also be the same network, s · · "'20 for example the Internet.

Alternatively, the method may be implemented by a device outside the protocol stack 12 that intercepts IP packets and processes them through the optimizer. Such a device is typically part of a network infrastructure, such as a router (not shown).

·; ··· The method can also be implemented directly inside the protocol stack 12, for example ** ": 25 TCP protocol. In this case, the invention operates as part of the operating system. The advantage of this 11 ·, V. option is a clearer operating model and > ·> »Can play a big role in a small portable device, for example.

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t I 1 j, j I The method can also be implemented as part of a VPN solution. Software-based VPN * solutions use similar IP packet filtering as the invention, so adding the 5111890 optimizer to the VPN filter 16 is a very straightforward and efficient solution.

In addition, the method can provide additional services that appear to client applications as normal web services. When implemented in this manner, for example, the HTTP-5 proxy can operate within the optimizer 4.

It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

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Claims (10)

111890 A method for optimizing packet-switched network traffic, the method of establishing at least one communication link for implementing packet-switched network traffic between a terminal device (10) and at least one server (9, 19) in a communication network (6, 8, 22, 18), and 12) routing at least a portion of the communication link through an optimizer (4), characterized in that a filter (3) is formed in the protocol stack (12) to examine packets transmitted over the communication link to detect packets to be transmitted via the optimizer (4); (6, 22) over the server (9, 19), and the virtual connection is optimized according to the characteristics of the at least one communication network (6, 22). Method according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the filter detects a connection opening request packet, a virtual connection is established. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information passing through the virtual connection t »· • · ·; 'is compressed into a smaller space. • · 1 ';' The method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the data passing through the virtual connection is protected by an encryption algorithm. «M • · •» 1 Method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that: there are several virtual connections to different servers simultaneously. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the •. · '. · Additional services are provided in conjunction with the optimizer. <I I • · • · ·. '. 25 A system for optimizing packet-switched network traffic, comprising means for establishing at least one communication link between a terminal (10) and at least one server (9,19) communicating with a communication network (6, 22) to a telecommunication network (6, 22), wherein: 10) has at least one protocol stack (12), and at least a portion of the communication link is routed to be routed through an optimizer (4), characterized in that a filter (3) is provided in the protocol stack (12) 5 for packet optimization (4) ) packets to be transmitted, that the rigid system comprises means for establishing a virtual connection over at least one telecommunication network (6, 22) to a server (9, 19), and that the virtual connection is mimicked to optimize the property of at least one telecommunication network (6, 22). according to me. A rigid system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the information traveling in the virtual connection is compressed in a smaller space. 9. A rigid system according to claim 1,2 or 3, characterized in that the data passing through the virtual connection is protected by an encryption algorithm. A rigid system according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized in that there are several virtual connections to different servers (9, 19) simultaneously. «· • · • · 1 · · • · · ♦ 8 111890 Patentkxav