KR102214244B1 - Method and system for partitioning cache memory of helper device - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed are a method and a system for partitioning a cache memory of a helper device to resolve overload problems of a mobile communication system. The method for partitioning a cache memory comprises: a step of partitioning a personal cache area in a cache memory included in a helper device based on the capacity of content expected to be self-consumed through the helper device; a step of partitioning a neighbor cache area in the cache memory excluding the personal cache area based on properties of a user terminal positioned around the helper device and the helper device; and a step of identifying the area of the cache memory excluding the neighbor cache area and the personal cache area as a common cache.

Description

Method and system for partitioning the cache memory of the helper device {METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PARTITIONING CACHE MEMORY OF HELPER DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a technique for dividing a cache memory of a helper device in order to reduce data explosion caused by video streaming or Internet of Things in a next-generation mobile communication system and wireless communication system.

Recently, technologies using high-frequency carriers such as mmWave for commercial communication have been developed, and the problem of wireless bandwidth is being solved to some extent by using a higher carrier frequency. However, if a high-frequency carrier is used, there is a problem of coverage, and if a sufficient number of base stations are not installed due to a cost problem, or if a sufficient high-capacity backhaul is not supplied to all base stations, 100% of the available radio resources may not be utilized. Can occur.

In order to solve the increase in mobile traffic in a wireless network with coverage and backhaul problems, a D2D cache technology that installs a cache memory in a device and supplies content to other devices using a device-to-device (D2D) communication technology is actively used. It is being studied. However, in the case of a general device, it is difficult to secure a cache of sufficient size and there is a problem of power consumption, so it may be difficult to provide content to other devices.

The present invention can provide a method and system for effectively dividing a cache memory of a helper device as a method for solving an overload problem of a mobile communication system due to an explosion of video streaming services.

A method of dividing a cache memory according to an embodiment of the present invention includes dividing a personal cache area from a cache memory included in the helper device based on the capacity of content expected to be consumed by the helper device. ; Dividing a neighbor cache area from a cache memory excluding the personal cache area based on characteristics of the helper device and a user terminal located around the helper device; And identifying an area of the cache memory excluding the private cache area and the neighboring cache area as a common cache area.

The step of dividing the neighboring cache area may divide the neighboring cache area from a cache memory excluding the personal cache area based on a content update period of the helper device and mobility of the helper device and the user terminal.

In the step of dividing the neighboring cache area, when the content update period of the helper device is shorter than a preset period, and the mobility of the helper device and the user terminal is less than a preset reference, the neighboring cache area in the cache memory excluding the personal cache area Can be divided. How to partition the cache memory.

The step of dividing the neighboring cache area includes a neighbor cache area in a cache memory excluding the personal cache area when the content update period of the helper device is longer than a preset period and mobility of the helper device and the user terminal is greater than or equal to a preset reference. Can not be divided.

Storing content received through a network for each of the divided cache memory regions; And processing the stored content according to the request of the helper device and the user terminal.

In the storing step, the content determined based on the characteristic information of the user using the helper device is received through the network and stored in the personal cache area, and the processing step includes the contents stored in the personal cache area. Selected specific content can be executed according to the user's request.

In the storing, the content determined based on the content preference of the user terminal located in the vicinity of the helper device is received through the network and stored in the neighboring cache area, and the processing comprises contents stored in the neighboring cache area. Among them, a specific content selected according to a request of a user terminal located nearby may be transmitted to the user terminal through the network.

In the storing step, the content determined based on the average content preference considering an arbitrary user is received through the network and stored in the common cache area, and the processing step includes the surrounding content among the contents stored in the common cache area. The specific content selected according to the request of the user terminal located at may be transmitted to the user terminal through the network.

In the cache memory partitioning system performed by a helper device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the helper device includes a cache memory and a processor, and the processor corresponds to the capacity of content expected to be consumed by itself through the helper device. A personal cache area is divided from the cache memory included in the helper device on the basis, and neighbors in the cache memory excluding the personal cache area based on the characteristics of the helper device and the user terminal located around the helper device. The cache (Neighbor cache) area is divided, and the area of the cache memory excluding the private cache area and the neighboring cache area may be identified as a common cache area.

The processor may divide a neighboring cache area from a cache memory excluding the personal cache area based on a content update period of the helper device and mobility of the helper device and the user terminal.

When the content update period of the helper device is shorter than a preset period, and the mobility of the helper device and the user terminal is less than a preset reference, the processor may divide a neighboring cache area from a cache memory excluding the personal cache area.

When the content update period of the helper device is longer than a preset period, and the mobility of the helper device and the user terminal is greater than or equal to a preset reference, the processor may not divide the neighboring cache area from the cache memory excluding the personal cache area. .

The processor may store content received through a network for each of the divided cache memory areas, and may process the stored content according to a request of the helper device and the user terminal.

The processor receives the content determined based on the characteristic information of the user using the helper device through the network, stores it in the personal cache area, and selects a specific content selected according to the request of the user among the contents stored in the personal cache area. Content can be executed.

The processor receives the content determined based on the content preference of the user terminal located in the vicinity of the helper device through the network and stores it in the neighboring cache area, and among the contents stored in the neighbor cache area, the user terminal located in the vicinity The specific content selected at the request of may be transmitted to the user terminal through the network.

The processor receives the content determined based on the average content preference considering a random user through the network, stores it in the common cache area, and responds to a request of a user terminal located in the vicinity of the contents stored in the common cache area. Accordingly, the selected specific content may be transmitted to the user terminal through the network.

The present invention can effectively partition a cache memory of a helper device in order to solve a problem of overloading a cellular network due to an explosion of video streaming services.

In addition, according to the present invention, by dividing and using the cache memory of the helper device, the probability of offloading through the cache can be increased, and the load on the cellular network can be reduced through this.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a content caching system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a helper device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of dividing a cache memory of a helper device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, since various changes may be made to the embodiments, the scope of the rights of the patent application is not limited or limited by these embodiments. It should be understood that all changes, equivalents, or substitutes to the embodiments are included in the scope of the rights.

The terms used in the examples are used for illustrative purposes only and should not be interpreted as limiting. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In the present specification, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof described in the specification, but one or more other features. It is to be understood that the presence or addition of elements or numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof, does not preclude in advance.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the embodiment belongs. Terms as defined in a commonly used dictionary should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning in the context of the related technology, and should not be interpreted as an ideal or excessively formal meaning unless explicitly defined in this application. Does not.

In addition, in the description with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same components regardless of the reference numerals, and redundant descriptions thereof will be omitted. In describing the embodiments, when it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the embodiments, the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a content caching system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the content caching system 100 may include a data network 110, a cellular network 120, a user terminal 130, a caching network 140, and a caching server 150. In the present invention, a special device capable of supplying content to other devices in the vicinity using a device-to-device (D2D) technology with a large-capacity cache is defined as a helper device, and content from the helper device A device that can be supplied with is defined as the user terminal 130.

The helper device may be a special device including a storage device such as a large-capacity cache and a communication device for transmitting and receiving content stored in the storage device. Such a helper device has a relatively large storage device compared to the user terminal 130, so it can store contents for other users, and has a large battery on its own, or power is supplied from the outside, so that there are few restrictions on power consumption. have.

In order to increase the cache utility of the helper device, a plurality of helper devices may be connected to various types of wired and wireless networks, which is defined as the caching network 140 in the present invention. That is, in the caching network 140, the user terminal 130 receives the desired content from nearby helper devices using D2D communication, and thus, the burden on the base station of the cellular network 120 during peak times when traffic transmission and reception is active. Can be reduced.

The caching server 150 can perform communication through the data network 110, that is, an application installed in the user terminal 130 by being located in the Internet network, and through this, a plurality of You can control helper devices.

The helper device receives and stores content with high preference from the base station of the cellular network 120 under the control of the caching server 150 before the load of the cellular network 120 reaches a peak time greater than a predetermined reference, Content can be supplied to the user terminal 130 using D2D communication at peak times.

In this case, the helper device may receive content from the base station and update the cache by periodically or intermittently allocating some radio resources if radio resources or backhaul are not always saturated at peak times. Alternatively, the helper device may update the cache with the help of a mobile helper device capable of predicting a moving route, such as a bus or a taxi. That is, the helper device can use the stored content after updating the content intermittently immediately before or during the peak hour.

In this case, since the storage capacity of the cache memory constituting the helper device is limited, it is necessary to effectively use the given storage capacity. To this end, the present invention can provide a method of increasing the probability of offloading through the cache by dividing and using the cache memory of the helper device, thereby reducing the load on the cellular network 120.

2 is a diagram showing the configuration of a helper device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, the helper device 200 may include a cache memory 210, a processor 220, and a communication module 230. As mentioned above, the processor 220 of the helper device 200 receives content with high preference from the base station of the cellular network 120 through the communication module 230 under the control of the caching server 150, and the cache memory ( 210). In addition, content requested from the user terminal 130 may be supplied using D2D communication during peak times.

In this case, the content preference of the user terminal 130 may be defined as a probability of a specific content when the corresponding user terminal 130 requests the content. The helper device 200 may receive content in order of preference through a base station of the cellular network 120 on the basis of an average content preference for all users and store it in the cache memory 210.

Thereafter, when the helper device 200 receives a request for a specific content from the user terminal 130 located nearby, when the specific content is stored in the cache memory 210, the helper device 200 transmits to the user terminal 130 through D2D communication. Can supply.

However, since the average content preference considering all users will be spread over very many contents, the preference for each content may be very low. Accordingly, when the helper device 200 uses the limited storage capacity of the cache memory 210, the hit rate, which is a probability that the content requested by the user terminal 130 exists in the cache memory 210, may not be high.

Therefore, using all the storage capacities given to the cache memory 210 of the helper device 200 based on such average content preference may not be effective unless the storage capacity of the cache memory 210 is very large. In this case, in the present invention, a cache for storing content determined based on an average content preference considering all users is called a common cache.

On the other hand, compared to the average content preference considering all users, each user terminal 130 has a high probability of relatively accurately predicting content that it will consume in the future. Considering all random users, a very large number of contents will be included in the candidate group, but when considering a specific user terminal 130, the probability of consuming a small number of contents increases.

Therefore, since the preference of a specific user terminal 130 will be concentrated on a small number of contents, the helper device 200 may need to store contents that are likely to be required by itself if it consumes the contents. In this case, in the present invention, a cache for storing necessary contents by itself is called a personal cache.

In addition, the user terminals 130 located around the helper device 200 can predict content that is likely to be required by themselves. More specifically, the user terminal 130 may predict content that is likely to be required by itself based on the characteristic information of the user and the characteristic information of the place where the user is located. Thereafter, the user terminal 130 may transmit content information with high preference along with its location information to the caching server 150, and the caching server 150 sends the content preference of the neighboring user terminals 130 to the helper device 200. By notifying, it is possible to control so that content with high preference can be received and stored in the cache memory 210. In this case, in the present invention, a cache for storing contents required by the user terminals 130 located in the vicinity is called a neighbor cache.

As described above, the helper device 200 of the present invention can increase the probability of offloading through the cache by dividing the storage capacity of the cache memory 210 into three areas: a common cache, a personal cache, and a neighbor cache. The load on the cellular network 120 can be reduced.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a method of dividing a cache memory of a helper device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The helper device 200, which is a specific device, may have a very high preference for some specific content and a relatively low preference for the rest of the content compared to a preference for an arbitrary device. Accordingly, the helper device 200 needs to store some specific content that is highly likely to be needed, that is, has high preference, in a personal cache.

Accordingly, in step 310, the helper device 200 may first divide the personal cache area in the cache memory 210 based on the capacity of the content expected to be consumed by itself. More specifically, the helper device 200 may divide the personal cache area based on content whose request probability is higher than a certain criterion, that is, a higher usage probability of content stored in a common cache, based on recently consumed content. Therefore, the size of the personal cache area of the helper device 200 may increase as the number of recently consumed content increases.

The number of neighboring user terminals located within the D2D communication radius of the helper device 200 may vary depending on the environment. Therefore, the distribution of the content preferences of the neighboring user terminals 130 is that a larger number of contents may have a higher preference compared to when one user terminal 130 is considered, and the content preferences in consideration of all user terminals 130 In comparison, it will be concentrated on some.

Therefore, in step 320, the helper device 200 may divide the neighboring cache area from the cache memory 210 excluding the personal cache area based on the content update period and the mobility of the helper device 200 and the neighboring user terminal. have. Specifically, like the personal cache area, the helper device 200 has the likelihood of requesting based on the content recently consumed by neighboring user terminals (the probability of requesting content in the personal cache area X the probability that the neighboring user terminals will continue to be neighbors) on a certain basis. The neighboring cache area can be divided based on the content greater than or equal to the (probability of using content in the common cache area). Therefore, the neighboring cache area of the helper device 200 may increase in proportion to the number of neighboring user terminals.

For example, if the content update period of the helper device 200 is shorter than the preset period, and the mobility of the helper device 200 and the neighboring user terminal is less than a preset criterion, the neighbors until the next content update after the content is updated. Since there may be a high probability that a significant portion of the user terminal will be maintained within the D2D communication radius of the helper device 200, the helper device 200 needs to store content with high preference of neighboring user terminals in the neighbor cache.

On the other hand, if the content update period of the helper device 200 is longer than the preset period, and the mobility of the helper device 200 or the neighboring user terminal is more than a preset standard, after updating the content, the neighboring user terminal until the next content update. Since the probability of being maintained within the D2D communication radius of the helper device 200 may be low, it may be better for the helper device 200 not to use a neighbor cache.

On the other hand, even when the mobility of the helper device 200 and the neighboring user terminal is greater than or equal to a preset standard, when the helper device 200 and the neighboring user terminal have group mobility, the helper device 200 secures the storage capacity of the neighboring cache. You may need it. For example, if the helper device 200 is a bus or a train and the neighboring user terminal is a device of a user boarding therein, the neighboring user terminal may remain within the D2D communication radius of the helper device 200 for a considerable period of time.

In step 330, the helper device 200 may identify an area of the cache memory excluding the personal cache area and the neighboring cache area as a common cache area.

That is, the helper device 200 may first secure a personal cache area in the cache memory 210 and then secure a neighboring cache area, and then identify the remaining storage capacity as a common cache area.

The method according to the embodiment may be implemented in the form of program instructions that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, etc. alone or in combination. The program instructions recorded on the medium may be specially designed and configured for the embodiment, or may be known and usable to those skilled in computer software. Examples of computer-readable recording media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, and magnetic tapes, optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs, and magnetic media such as floptical disks. -A hardware device specially configured to store and execute program instructions such as magneto-optical media, and ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include not only machine language codes such as those produced by a compiler but also high-level language codes that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware device described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operation of the embodiment, and vice versa.

The software may include a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of these, configuring the processing unit to behave as desired or processed independently or collectively. You can command the device. Software and/or data may be interpreted by a processing device or to provide instructions or data to a processing device, of any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage medium or device. , Or may be permanently or temporarily embodyed in a transmitted signal wave. The software may be distributed over networked computer systems and stored or executed in a distributed manner. Software and data may be stored on one or more computer-readable recording media.

As described above, although the embodiments have been described by the limited drawings, a person of ordinary skill in the art can apply various technical modifications and variations based on the above. For example, the described techniques are performed in a different order from the described method, and/or components such as a system, structure, device, circuit, etc. described are combined or combined in a form different from the described method, or other components Alternatively, even if substituted or substituted by an equivalent, an appropriate result can be achieved.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments and claims and equivalents fall within the scope of the following claims.

100: content caching system
110: data network
120: cellular network
130: user terminal
140: caching network
150: caching server
200: helper device
210: cache memory
220: processor
230: communication module

Claims (16)

Dividing a personal cache area in the cache memory included in the helper device based on the capacity of the content expected to be consumed by the helper device itself;
Determining whether to divide a neighbor cache area in the cache memory based on (i) a content update period of the helper device and (ii) mobility of the helper device and a user terminal located in the vicinity of the helper device. ;
If it is determined that the cache memory is to divide the neighboring cache region, dividing the neighboring cache region from a cache memory other than the private cache region; And
Identifying an area of the cache memory excluding the private cache area and the neighboring cache area as a common cache area
Cache memory partitioning method comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The size of the neighboring cache area is,
Cache memory partitioning method that increases in proportion to the number of user terminals located around the helper device. The method of claim 1,
Dividing the neighboring cache area,
When the content update period of the helper device is shorter than a preset period and the mobility of the helper device and the user terminal is less than a preset reference, a neighboring cache area is divided from a cache memory excluding the personal cache area,
When the content update period of the helper device is longer than a preset period, and the mobility of the helper device and the user terminal is greater than or equal to a preset reference, a cache memory partitioning method that does not divide a neighboring cache area from a cache memory other than the personal cache area. The method of claim 1,
The size of the private cache area,
A method of partitioning a cache memory that increases in proportion to the number of contents consumed through the helper device from a certain point in time. The method of claim 1,
Storing content received through a network for each of the divided cache memory regions; And
Processing the stored content according to the request of the helper device and the user terminal
Cache memory partitioning method further comprising a. The method of claim 5,
The storing step,
The content determined based on the characteristic information of the user who uses the helper device is received through the network and stored in the personal cache area,
The processing step,
A cache memory partitioning method for executing specific content selected according to a request of the user among contents stored in the personal cache area. The method of claim 5,
The storing step,
The content determined based on the content preference of the user terminal located in the vicinity of the helper device is received through the network and stored in the neighboring cache area,
The processing step,
A cache memory partitioning method for transmitting a specific content selected according to a request of a user terminal located in the vicinity of the contents stored in the neighboring cache area to the user terminal through the network. The method of claim 5,
The storing step,
The content determined based on the average content preference considering a random user is received through the network and stored in the common cache area,
The processing step,
A cache memory division method for transmitting a specific content selected according to a request of a user terminal located in the vicinity of the contents stored in the common cache area to the user terminal through the network. In the cache memory partitioning system performed by a helper device,
The helper device includes a cache memory and a processor,
The processor,
Dividing a personal cache area from the cache memory included in the helper device based on the capacity of content expected to be consumed by the helper device itself,
Determine whether to divide a neighbor cache area in the cache memory based on (i) a content update period of the helper device and (ii) mobility of the helper device and user terminals located around the helper device,
When it is determined to divide the neighboring cache region from the cache memory, partition the neighboring cache region from a cache memory excluding the private cache region,
A cache memory partitioning system that identifies an area of a cache memory excluding the private cache area and a neighboring cache area as a common cache area. The method of claim 9,
The size of the neighboring cache area is,
A cache memory partitioning system that increases in proportion to the number of user terminals located around the helper device. The method of claim 9,
The processor,
When the content update period of the helper device is shorter than a preset period and the mobility of the helper device and the user terminal is less than a preset reference, a neighboring cache area is divided from a cache memory excluding the personal cache area,
When the content update period of the helper device is longer than a preset period, and the mobility of the helper device and the user terminal is greater than or equal to a preset reference, the cache memory division system does not divide a neighboring cache area from a cache memory other than the personal cache area. The method of claim 9,
The size of the private cache area,
A cache memory partition system that increases in proportion to the number of contents consumed through the helper device from a certain point in time. The method of claim 9,
The processor,
A cache memory division system that stores content received through a network for each of the divided cache memory areas, and processes the stored content according to a request of the helper device and a user terminal. The method of claim 13,
The processor,
The content determined based on the characteristic information of the user who uses the helper device is received through the network and stored in the personal cache area,
A cache memory partitioning system that executes a specific content selected according to a request of the user among the contents stored in the personal cache area. The method of claim 13,
The processor,
The content determined based on the content preference of the user terminal located in the vicinity of the helper device is received through the network and stored in the neighboring cache area,
A cache memory partitioning system for transmitting a specific content selected according to a request of a user terminal located in the vicinity of the contents stored in the neighboring cache area to the user terminal through the network. The method of claim 13,
The processor,
The content determined based on the average content preference considering a random user is received through the network and stored in the common cache area,
A cache memory partitioning system for transmitting specific content selected according to a request of a user terminal located in the vicinity of the contents stored in the common cache area to the user terminal through the network.

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