METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INFLUENCING THE SELECTION OF PEER DATA SOURCES IN A P2P NETWORK

• US 20110243024A1
• Filed: 12/02/2008
• Published: 10/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Bosneag, Anne-Marie, Császár, András, Österling, Jacob
• Granted Patent: US 9,130,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/252
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1021 based on client or server locations
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1023 based on a hash applied to IP addresses or costs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/104 Peer-to-peer [P2P] networks
• 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

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of selecting a data source node from a plurality of data source nodes, the selected data source node being used to send data to a data requesting node over a packet data network. The method includes, at an intermediate node of the network, intercepting at least one message sent to or from the data requesting node, the message(s) relating to data source node suitability, determining a cost of communication between the data requesting node and each of the data source nodes to which the message(s) relate, and influencing data source node suitability information sent to the data requesting node to take account of the cost to enable the data requesting node to use the information to select a data source node.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a data source node from a plurality of data source nodes, the selected data source node being used to send data to a data requesting node over a packet data network, the method comprising:

at an intermediate node of the network, intercepting at least one message sent to or from the data requesting node, the at least one message relating to data source node suitability;

determining a cost of communication between the data requesting node and each of the data source nodes to which the at least one message relate; and

influencing data source node suitability information sent to the data requesting node to take account of the cost to enable the data requesting node to use the information to select the selected data source node.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the at least one message relating to data source node suitability sent to or from the data requesting node are round-trip time request or round-trip time reply messages relating to at least one of the data source nodes, influencing the data source node suitability information sent to the data requesting node comprises:

influencing the round-trip time reply message sent to the data requesting node from the at least one of the data source nodes.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, wherein influencing the round-trip time reply message comprises:

imposing a delay on the round-trip time reply message sent to the data requesting node from the at least one of the data source nodes, such that the round-trip time indicated to the data requesting node depends on the cost of communication between the data requesting node and the at least one of the data source nodes data source node.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the imposed delay is proportional to the cost of communication.

5. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the imposed delay is selected from at least a first preconfigured delay and a second preconfigured delay, with the first preconfigured delay being shorter than the second preconfigured delay and the first preconfigured delay being imposed on the round-trip time reply message relating to the one of the data source nodes with a lowest cost of communication.

6. A method as claimed in claimed in claim 2, wherein influencing the round-trip time reply comprises:

generating and sending a simulated round trip-time reply message to the data requesting node, such that the round-trip time indicated to the data requesting node depends on the cost of communication between the data requesting node and the at least one of the data source nodes.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the at least one message relating to the data source node suitability sent to or from the data requesting node is a message containing a list of potential data source nodes, influencing the data source node suitability information sent to the data requesting node comprises:

modifying the list such that the data source nodes appearing in the list or an order of the data source nodes in the list depends on the cost of communication between the data requesting node and the data source nodes.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the packet data network is an Evolved Packet System mobile communications network and wherein the intermediate node is an evolved NodeB or a System Architecture Evolution Gateway.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein if the data requesting node is connected to a visited network, and traffic to and from the data requesting node is routed through a home network of the data requesting node, the intermediate node is a node of the home network.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cost of communication can be determined based on at least one of:

network topology;

available bandwidth on network links;

administrative cost of the network links;

load on the network links;

Quality of Service of the network links;

security of the network links; and

current/predicted air interface properties.

11. A recording medium storing computer interpretable instructions for causing a programmable computer to perform a method of selecting a data source node from a plurality of data source nodes, the selected data source node being used to send data to a data requesting node over a packet data network, the method comprising:

upon receipt of at least one message sent to or from the data requesting node, the at least one message relating to data source node suitability, determining a cost of communication between the data requesting node and the or each data source node to which the at least one message relate, and influencing data source node suitability information sent to the data requesting node to take account of the cost to enable the data requesting node to use the information to select a data source node.

12. An apparatus for use in a packet data network, the apparatus comprising

a receiver for intercepting messages sent to or from a data requesting node;

an inspection unit for identifying messages that relate to a suitability of one or more data source nodes for sending data to the data requesting node;

a cost control unit for determining the cost of communication between the data requesting node and each of the data source nodes to which any identified messages relate, and influencing data source node suitability information sent to the data requesting node to take account of the cost; and

a transmitter for sending the data source node suitability information to the data requesting node.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the inspection unit identifies round-trip time request messages and round-trip time reply messages sent to or from the one or more data source nodes.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the cost control unit influences the round-trip time reply messages sent to the data requesting node.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cost control unit imposes a delay on the round-trip time reply messages sent from the one or more data source nodes to the data requesting node, such that a round-trip time measured by the data requesting node depends on the cost of communication between the data requesting node and the respective one or more data source nodes.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cost control unit generates and sends simulated round trip-time reply messages to the date requesting node, such that a round-trip time indicated to the data requesting node depends on the cost of communication between the data requesting node and the respective one or more data source nodes.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the inspection unit is configured to identify messages containing a list of potential data source nodes.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the cost control unit is configured to modify the list of potential data source nodes.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the inspection unit is configured to identify messages that relate to a suitability of the one or more data source nodes for sending data to the data requesting node using deep packet inspection.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the apparatus is an eNodeB or a System Architecture Evolution Gateway.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the cost control unit is configured to determine the cost of communication based on at least one of:

network topology;

available bandwidth on network links;

administrative cost of the network links;

load on the network links;

Quality of Service of the network links;

security of the network links; and

current/predicted air interface properties.

22. A method of constructing and maintaining a routing table at a first node of a collaborative network, the collaborative network being overlaid on a packet data network, the method comprising:

at a node of the packet data network, intercepting at least one message sent between the first collaborative network node and one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, the at least one message relating to the suitability of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network as a next hop in a route from the first collaborative network node, determining a cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and each of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, and influencing one or more second collaborative network nodes suitability information sent to the first collaborative network node to take account of the cost such that the first collaborative network node selects the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network with a lowest cost of communication when using the routing table to route a message in the collaborative network.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein if the at least one message relating to the suitability of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network are round-trip time request or a round-trip time reply messages relating to one of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, influencing the one or more second collaborative network nodes suitability information sent to the first collaborative network node comprises:

influencing the round-trip time reply messages sent to the first collaborative network node from the one of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein influencing the round-trip time reply messages comprises:

imposing a delay on the round-trip time reply messages sent from the one of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network to the first collaborative network node such that a round-trip time measured by the first collaborative network node depends on the cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and the one of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network.

25. A method as claimed in claimed in claim 23, wherein influencing the round-trip time reply messages comprises:

generating and sending a simulated round trip-time reply message to the first collaborative network node, such that a round-trip time indicated to the first collaborative network node depends on the cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and the one of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network.

26. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the packet data network is an Evolved Packet System mobile communications network and wherein the node of the packet data network is an evolved NodeB or a System Architecture Evolution Gateway.

27. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein if the first collaborative network node is connected to a visited network, and traffic to and from the first collaborative network node is routed through a home network of the first collaborative network node, the node of the packet data network is a node of the home network.

28. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein the cost of communication can be determined based at least one of:

network topology;

available bandwidth on network links;

administrative cost of the network links;

load on the network links;

Quality of Service of the network links;

security of the network links; and

current/predicted air interface properties.

29. A recording medium storing computer interpretable instructions for causing a programmable computer to perform a method of constructing and maintaining a routing table at a first node of a collaborative network, the collaborative network being overlaid on a packet data network, the method comprising:

upon receipt of at least one message sent between the first collaborative network node and one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, the message relating to the suitability of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network as a next hop in a route from the first collaborative network node, determining a cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and each of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, and influencing one or more second collaborative network nodes suitability information sent to the first collaborative network node to take account of the cost such that the first collaborative network node selects the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network with a lowest cost of communication when using the routing table to route a message in the collaborative network.

30. An apparatus for use in a packet data network, the apparatus comprising

a receiver for intercepting messages sent between a first node of a collaborative network node and one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, the collaborative network being overlaid on the packet data network;

an inspection unit for identifying messages that relate to the suitability of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network as a next hop in a route from the first collaborative network node;

a cost control unit for determining a cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and each of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, and influencing one or more second collaborative network nodes suitability information sent to the first collaborative network node to take account of the cost; and

a transmitter for sending the one or more second collaborative network nodes suitability information to the first collaborative network node.

31. A method of optimising the utilisation of resources in a collaborative network, the method comprising:

at a node of an access network, the access network being used by a first node of the collaborative network to access the collaborative network, receiving a request message from a first collaborative network node, the message requesting the cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, determining the cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and each of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, and sending a reply message to the first collaborative network node such that the first collaborative network node can take into account the cost when selecting one of the one or more of the second nodes of the collaborative network nodes with which to communicate.

32. A recording medium storing computer interpretable instructions for causing a programmable computer to perform a method of optimising the utilisation of resources in a collaborative network, the method comprising:

upon receipt of a request message from a first node of the collaborative network, the message requesting a cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, determining the cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and each of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network, and sending a reply message to the first collaborative network node such that the first collaborative network node can take into account the cost when selecting one of the one or more of the second nodes of the collaborative network with which to communicate.

33. An apparatus for use in an access network, the apparatus comprising

a receiver for receiving a request message sent from a first node, the access network being used by the first node to access a collaborative network, the message requesting a cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and one or more second nodes of the collaborative network;

a cost control unit for determining the cost of communication between the first collaborative network node and each of the one or more second nodes of the collaborative network; and

a transmitter for sending a reply message to the first collaborative network node.