Data transfer scheme using caching technique for reducing network load

• US 20030005047A1
• Filed: 06/13/2002
• Published: 01/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanai, Tatsunori, Sato, Hideaki, Toyama, Haruhiko, Miyazawa, Takayuki, Yoshida, Hideki, Yoshii, Kenichiro, Kimura, Yasuhiro, Seki, Toshibumi
• Granted Patent: US 7,383,348 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/203
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/288 Distributed intermediate devices, i.e. intermediate devices for interaction with other intermediate devices on the same level
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/5651 Reducing the amount or size of exchanged application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

In a data transfer scheme using a caching technique and/or a compression technique which is capable of reducing the network load of a network connecting between data transfer devices, correspondences between data and their names are registered at the data transfer devices and the corresponding names are transferred, instead of transferring the data, for those data for which the correspondences are registered, so that it is possible to reduce the amount of transfer data among the data transfer devices. Server side data transfer devices and client side data transfer devices can be provided in multiple-to-one, one-to-multiple, or multiple-to-multiple manners.

Claims

1. A data transfer device for receiving first data transmitted from a first communication device, transmitting the first data to one of other data transfer devices connected to one of second communication devices that is a destination of the first data, receiving second data transmitted from one of the second communication devices through one of the other data transfer devices, and transmitting the second data to the first communication device that is a destination of the second data, the data transfer device comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive the first data from the first communication device;

a cache unit configured to register cache data that were transmitted to one other data transfer device in past, in correspondence to cache data names each of which is generated according to a content of each cache data and assigned to each cache data, for each one of the other data transfer devices;

a processing unit configured to carry out a processing for transmitting a first data name that is generated according to a content of the first data and assigned to the first data, instead of transmitting the first data, when the first data name is registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the one other data transfer device to which the first data should be transferred, or a processing for registering the first data in correspondence to the first data name into the cache unit as corresponding to the one other data transfer device, and transmitting the first data, when the first data name is not registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the one other data transfer device, upon receiving the first data transmitted from the first communication device; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit the first data name or the first data to the one other data transfer device according to a processing carried out by the processing unit.

2. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the cache unit registers a correspondence between each cache data name corresponding to each cache data and an identification information for identifying a corresponding other data transfer device.

3. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the cache unit registers a correspondence between each cache data name corresponding to each cache data and one or a plurality of identification information for identifying a group of other data transfer devices to which each cache data name is available.

4. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the cache unit registers the cache data names each of which is a value obtained by compressing each cache data by a prescribed method, and the processing unit transmits or registers the first data name which is a value obtained by compressing the first data by the prescribed method,

5. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the cache unit registers the cache data names each of which is a value obtained by applying a prescribed hash function to each cache data, and the processing unit transmits or registers the first data name which is a value obtained by applying the prescribed hash function to the first data.

6. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit also transmits the first data name to be assigned to the first data at a time of transmitting the first data to the one other data transfer device as the first data name is not registered in the cache unit.

7. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit transmits the first data name and registers the first data into the cache unit at least with respect to a data of a reply message which is not null.

8. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the processing unit excludes data that satisfy a prescribed condition from targets for carrying out a registration into the cache unit.

9. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the data transfer device is connected to the first communication device through a local area network.

10. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the data transfer device is provided in a form of a software implemented on the first communication device.

11. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the data transfer device is connected to the first communication device which is a server device, while each other data transfer device is connected to the second communication device which is a client device.

12. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the data transfer device is connected through Internet with each other data transfer device which is a proxy device.

14. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the data transfer device transmits the first data to the another data transfer device which is one of other data transfer devices connected to one of second communication devices and receives the second data transmitted from one of the second communication devices through the another data transfer device which is one of the other data transfer devices;

the cache unit registers the cache data in correspondence to the cache data names, for each one of the other data transfer devices; and

the processing unit transmits the first data name when the first data name is registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the another data transfer device to which the first data should be transferred, or registers the first data in correspondence to the first data name into the cache unit as corresponding to the another data transfer device, and transmits the first data, when the first data name is not registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the another data transfer device.

15. The data transfer device of claim 14, wherein the cache unit registers a correspondence between each cache data name corresponding to each cache data and an identification information for identifying a corresponding other data transfer device.

16. The data transfer device of claim 14, wherein the cache unit registers a correspondence between each cache data name corresponding to each cache data and one or a plurality of identification information for identifying a group of other data transfer devices to which each cache data name is available.

17. The data transfer device of claim 13, wherein the cache unit registers the cache data names each of which is formed by the data transfer device identification information unique to the data transfer device and a value obtained by compressing each cache data by a prescribed method, and the processing unit transmits or registers the first data name which is formed by the data transfer device identification information unique to the data transfer device and a value obtained by compressing the first data by the prescribed method,

18. The data transfer device of claim 13, wherein the cache unit registers the cache data names each of which is formed by the data transfer device identification information unique to the data transfer device and a value obtained by applying a prescribed hash function to each cache data, and the processing unit transmits or registers the first data name which is formed by the data transfer device identification information unique to the data transfer device and a value obtained by applying the prescribed hash function to the first data.

19. The data transfer device of claim 13, wherein the processing unit also transmits the first data name to be assigned to the first data at a time of transmitting the first data to the another data transfer device as the first data name is not registered in the cache unit.

20. The data transfer device of claim 13, wherein the processing unit transmits the first data name and registers the first data into the cache unit at least with respect to a data of a reply message which is not null.

21. The data transfer device of claim 13, wherein the processing unit excludes data that satisfy a prescribed condition from targets for carrying out a registration into the cache unit.

22. The data transfer device of claim 13, wherein the data transfer device is connected to the first communication device through a local area network.

23. The data transfer device of claim 13, wherein the data transfer device is provided in a form of a software implemented on the first communication device.

24. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the data transfer device is connected to the first communication device which is a server device, while the another data transfer device is connected to the second communication device which is a client device.

25. The data transfer device of claim 1, wherein the data transfer device is connected through Internet with the another data transfer device which is a proxy device.

28. The data transfer method of claim 27, wherein the data transfer device transmits the first data to the another data transfer device which is one of other data transfer devices connected to one of second communication devices and receives the second data transmitted from one of the second communication devices through the another data transfer device which is one of the other data transfer devices;

the judging step uses the cache unit which registers the cache data in correspondence to the cache data names, for each one of the other data transfer devices; and

the carrying out step transmits the first data name when the first data name is registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the another data transfer device to which the first data should be transferred, or registers the first data in correspondence to the first data name into the cache unit as corresponding to the another data transfer device, and transmits the first data, when the first data name is not registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the another data transfer device.

13. A data transfer device for receiving first data transmitted from a first communication device, transmitting the first data to another data transfer device connected to a second communication device that is a destination of the first data, receiving second data transmitted from the second communication device through the another data transfer device, and transmitting the second data to the first communication device that is a destination of the second data, the data transfer device comprising:

a reception unit configured to receive the first data from the first communication device;

a cache unit configured to register cache data that were transmitted to the another data transfer device in past, in correspondence to cache data names each of which is formed by a prescribed data transfer device identification information for uniquely identifying the data transfer device among a plurality of data transfer devices for transmitting data to the another data transfer device and data dependent information generated according to a content of each cache data and assigned to each cache data;

a processing unit configured to carry out a processing for transmitting a first data name that is generated according to a content of the first data and assigned to the first data, instead of transmitting the first data, when the first data name is registered in the cache unit, or a processing for registering the first data in correspondence to the first data name into the cache unit and transmitting the first data, when the first data name is not registered in the cache unit, upon receiving the first data transmitted from the first communication device; and

a transmission unit configured to transmit the first data name or the first data to the another data transfer device according to a processing carried out by the processing unit.

26. A data transfer method at a data transfer device for receiving first data transmitted from a first communication device, transmitting the first data to one of other data transfer devices connected to one of second communication devices that is a destination of the first data, receiving second data transmitted from one of the second communication devices through one of the other data transfer devices, and transmitting the second data to the first communication device that is a destination of the second data, the data transfer method comprising:

receiving the first data from the first communication device;

judging whether a first data name that is generated according to a content of the first data and assigned to the first data is registered in a cache unit, which is configured to register cache data that were transmitted to one other data transfer device in past, in correspondence to cache data names each of which is generated according to a content of each cache data and assigned to each cache data, for each one of the other data transfer devices; and

carrying out a processing for transmitting the first data name, instead of transmitting the first data, when the first data name is registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the one other data transfer device to which the first data should be transferred, or a processing for registering the first data in correspondence to the first data name into the cache unit as corresponding to the one other data transfer device, and transmitting the first data, when the first data name is not registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the one other data transfer device.

27. A data transfer method at a data transfer device for receiving first data transmitted from a first communication device, transmitting the first data to another data transfer device connected to a second communication device that is a destination of the first data, receiving second data transmitted from the second communication device through the another data transfer device, and transmitting the second data to the first communication device that is a destination of the second data, the data transfer method comprising:

receiving the first data from the first communication device;

judging whether a first data name that is generated according to a content of the first data and assigned to the first data is registered in a cache unit, which is configured to register cache data that were transmitted to the another data transfer device in past, in correspondence to cache data names each of which is formed by a prescribed data transfer device identification information for uniquely identifying the data transfer device among a plurality of data transfer devices for transmitting data to the another data transfer device and data dependent information generated according to a content of each cache data and assigned to each cache data; and

carrying out a processing for transmitting the first data name, instead of transmitting the first data, when the first data name is registered in the cache unit, or a processing for registering the first data in correspondence to the first data name into the cache unit and transmitting the first data, when the first data name is not registered in the cache unit.

29. A computer program product for causing a computer to function as a data transfer device for receiving first data transmitted from a first communication device, transmitting the first data to one of other data transfer devices connected to one of second communication devices that is a destination of the first data, receiving second data transmitted from one of the second communication devices through one of the other data transfer devices, and transmitting the second data to the first communication device that is a destination of the second data, the computer program product comprising:

a first computer program code for causing the computer to receive the first data from the first communication device;

a second computer program code for causing the computer to judge whether a first data name that is generated according to a content of the first data and assigned to the first data is registered in a cache unit, which is configured to register cache data that were transmitted to one other data transfer device in past, in correspondence to cache data names each of which is generated according to a content of each cache data and assigned to each cache data, for each one of the other data transfer devices; and

a third computer program code for causing the computer to carry out a processing for transmitting the first data name, instead of transmitting the first data, when the first data name is registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the one other data transfer device to which the first data should be transferred, or a processing for registering the first data in correspondence to the first data name into the cache unit as corresponding to the one other data transfer device, and transmitting the first data, when the first data name is not registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the one other data transfer device.

30. A computer program product for causing a computer to function as a data transfer device for receiving first data transmitted from a first communication device, transmitting the first data to another data transfer device connected to a second communication device that is a destination of the first data, receiving second data transmitted from the second communication device through the another data transfer device, and transmitting the second data to the first communication device that is a destination of the second data, the computer program product comprising:

a first computer program code for causing the computer to receive the first data from the first communication device;

a second computer program code for causing the computer to judge whether a first data name that is generated according to a content of the first data and assigned to the first data is registered in a cache unit, which is configured to register cache data that were transmitted to the another data transfer device in past, in correspondence to cache data names each of which is formed by a prescribed data transfer device identification information for uniquely identifying the data transfer device among a plurality of data transfer devices for transmitting data to the another data transfer device and data dependent information generated according to a content of each cache data and assigned to each cache data; and

a third computer program code for causing the computer to carry out a processing for transmitting the first data name, instead of transmitting the first data, when the first data name is registered in the cache unit, or a processing for registering the first data in correspondence to the first data name into the cache unit and transmitting the first data, when the first data name is not registered in the cache unit.

31. The computer program product of claim 30, wherein the data transfer device transmits the first data to the another data transfer device which is one of other data transfer devices connected to one of second communication devices and receives the second data transmitted from one of the second communication devices through the another data transfer device which is one of the other data transfer devices;

the second computer program code uses the cache unit which registers the cache data in correspondence to the cache data names, for each one of the other data transfer devices; and

the third computer program code causes the computer to transmit the first data name when the first data name is registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the another data transfer device to which the first data should be transferred, or register the first data in correspondence to the first data name into the cache unit as corresponding to the another data transfer device, and transmit the first data, when the first data name is not registered in the cache unit as corresponding to the another data transfer device.