HTTP optimization, multi-homing, mobility and priority

• US 8,964,757 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2010
• Issued: 02/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Watson, Mark, Vicisano, Lorenzo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hanh N
• Application Number:
  US12/965,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20110222404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 370229-236, 370/242, 370/244, 370/245, 370250-253, 370/400, 370/395.21, 370/395.4, 370/328, 370/329, 709/203, 709/207, 709220-222, 709223-230, 709/232, 709/231, 709/200, 718/105
• US Class Current: 370/395.21
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/10 Flow control between communication endpoints
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/16 Involving different core network technologies, e.g. a packet-switched [PS] bearer in combination with a circuit-switched [CS] bearer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Combining parallel Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) connections and pipelining overcomes an impact of increasing Round Trip Time (RTT) by varying in real time the number of parallel connections and pipelined requests such that the number of outstanding requests is minimal and the link remains fully utilized. Optimal construction and scheduling of requests and connections in an HTTP stack improves page load time and also provides for greater responsiveness to changes in object priorities. Multi-homing and mobility at the application layer for HTTP are addressed. Multi-homing provides for simultaneous use of multiple interfaces, for example WWAN and WLAN interfaces which improves download time, especially in the case that the available bandwidth the interfaces is of the same order of magnitude. Mobility provides for switching connections as the device moves. In combination they provide for smoother mobility. Mobility can be provided this way without server or network support.

Claims

1. A method for packet data communications, the method comprising:

establishing, by a mobile device, a number of open parallel connections for packet data communication;

ordering, by the mobile device, a plurality of pipelined requests such that objects for higher priority pipelined requests are delivered before objects for lower priority pipelined requests are delivered;

transmitting, by the mobile device, the plurality of pipelined requests via the number of open parallel connections for retrieving a hypertext object comprising packet data portions respectively stored on a plurality of servers, wherein delivery of the objects for higher priority pipelined requests is performed to maximize available bandwidth usage of the open parallel connections; and

maintaining a separate Domain Name Service (DNS) cache for each interface associated with each of the open parallel connections.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the plurality of pipelined requests further comprises accessing a node of a wireless wide area network.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising dynamically varying, by the mobile device, the number of open parallel connections and the plurality of pipelined requests to reduce outstanding requests while maintaining full link utilization.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein maintaining full link utilization further comprises utilizing a greedy request opportunity.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein maintaining full link utilization further comprises utilizing a just-in-time request opportunity.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein dynamically varying the number of parallel connections and pipelined requests further comprises:

estimating bandwidth and round trip time; and

transmitting pipelined requests so that a number of requested packet data portions that have not been received does not exceed a product of the estimated bandwidth and round trip time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein establishing the number of open parallel connections for packet data communication further comprises:

minimizing a number of connections to each of the plurality of servers;

using the number of open parallel connections to reduce overall congestion response to late or lost requested packet data; and

dynamically varying the number of open parallel connections and the number of connections.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining an ordering for rendering the packet data portions; and

prioritizing an order of the plurality of pipelined requests in relation to the determined ordering.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the plurality of pipelined requests further comprises requesting header compression.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving server identified resources.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

determining that the server identified resources are not needed; and

canceling the server identified resources.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the plurality of pipelined requests further comprises transmitting a plurality of partial pipelined requests.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the plurality of pipelined requests further comprises:

detecting that an interface has become unavailable or has become available;

identifying open connections using the interface;

constructing a list of incomplete pipelined requests that have been issued on the open connections; and

dynamically varying the number of open parallel connections and the plurality of pipelined requests with connection round robin based in part upon the identified open connections, the interface, and the list of incomplete pipelined requests.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein when the delivery of the objects for higher priority pipelined requests is out of priority order to maximize the available bandwidth usage of the open parallel connections, the objects for higher priority pipelined requests are delivered in out of priority order.

15. At least one processor for packet data communications, the at least one processor comprising:

a first module for establishing, by a mobile device, a number of open parallel connections for packet data communication;

a second module for ordering, by the mobile device, a plurality of pipelined requests such that objects for higher priority pipelined requests are delivered before objects for lower priority pipelined requests are delivered;

a third module for transmitting, by the mobile device, the plurality of pipelined requests via the number of open parallel connections for retrieving a hypertext object comprising packet data portions respectively stored on a plurality of servers, wherein delivery of the objects for the higher priority pipelined requests is performed to maximize available bandwidth usage of the open parallel connections; and

a fourth module for maintaining a separate Domain Name Service (DNS) cache for each interface associated with each of the open parallel connections.

16. The at least one processor of claim 15, further comprising a fifth module for dynamically varying, by the mobile device, the number of open parallel connections and the plurality of pipelined requests to reduce outstanding requests while maintaining full link utilization.

17. The at least one processor of claim 15, wherein when the delivery of the objects is out of priority order to maximize the available bandwidth usage of the open parallel connections, the objects for higher priority pipelined requests are delivered in out of priority order.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing sets of computer executable code comprising:

a first set of codes for causing a computer of a mobile device to establish a number of open parallel connections for packet data communication;

a second set of codes for ordering, by the mobile device, a plurality of pipelined requests such that objects for higher priority pipelined requests are delivered before objects for lower priority pipelined requests are delivered;

a third set of codes for causing the computer to transmit the plurality of pipelined requests via the number of open parallel connections for retrieving a hypertext object comprising packet data portions respectively stored on a plurality of servers, wherein delivery of the objects for the higher priority pipelined requests is performed to maximize available bandwidth usage of the open parallel connections; and

a fourth set of codes for maintaining a separate Domain Name Service (DNS) cache for each interface associated with each of the open parallel connections.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, further comprising a fifth set of codes for causing the computer to dynamically vary the number of open parallel connections and the plurality of pipelined requests to reduce outstanding requests while maintaining full link utilization.

20. An apparatus for packet data communications, the apparatus comprising:

means for establishing, by a mobile device, a number of open parallel connections for packet data communication;

means for ordering, by the mobile device, a plurality of pipelined requests such that objects for higher priority pipelined requests are delivered before objects for lower priority pipelined requests are delivered;

means for transmitting, by the mobile device, the plurality of pipelined requests via the number of open parallel connections for retrieving a hypertext object comprising packet data portions respectively stored on a plurality of server, wherein delivery of the objects for the higher priority pipelined requests is performed to maximize available bandwidth usage of the open parallel connections; and

means for maintaining a separate Domain Name Service (DNS) cache for each interface associated with each of the open parallel connections.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising means for dynamically varying, by the mobile device, the number of open parallel connections and the plurality of pipelined requests to reduce outstanding requests while maintaining full link utilization.

22. An apparatus for packet data communications, the apparatus comprising:

a transceiver for establishing, by a mobile device, a number of open parallel connections for packet data communication;

the transceiver further for ordering, by the mobile device, a plurality of pipelined requests such that objects for higher priority pipelined requests are delivered before objects for lower priority pipelined requests are delivered;

the transceiver further for transmitting, by the mobile device, the plurality of pipelined requests via the number of open parallel connections for retrieving a hypertext object comprised of packet data portions respectively stored on a plurality of servers, wherein delivery of the objects for the higher priority pipelined requests is performed to maximize available bandwidth usage of the open parallel connections; and

a computing platform for maintaining a separate Domain Name Service (DNS) cache for each interface associated with each of the open parallel connections.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the transceiver is further for transmitting the plurality of pipelined requests by accessing a node of a wireless wide area network.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the computing platform is further for dynamically varying, by the mobile device, the number of open parallel connections and the plurality of pipelined requests to reduce outstanding requests while maintaining full link utilization.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computing platform via the transceiver is further for establishing the number of open parallel connections for packet data communication by:

minimizing a number of connections to each of the plurality of servers;

using the number of open parallel connections to reduce overall congestion response to late or lost requested packet data; and

dynamically varying the number of open parallel connections and the number of connections.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computing platform is further for determining an ordering for rendering the packet data portions, and for prioritizing an order of the plurality of pipelined requests in relation to the determined ordering.

27. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computing platform is further for maintaining full link utilization by utilizing a greedy request opportunity.

28. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computing platform is further for maintaining full link utilization by utilizing a just-in-time request opportunity.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computing platform is further for determining that server identified resources received by the transceiver are not needed, and for canceling the server identified resources.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computing platform is further for

detecting that an interface has become unavailable or has become available;

identifying open connections using the interface;

constructing a list of incomplete pipelined requests that have been issued on the open connections; and

dynamically varying the number of open parallel connections and the plurality of pipelined requests with connection round robin based in part upon the identified open connections, the interface, and the list of incomplete pipelined requests.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computing platform is further for dynamically varying the number of open parallel connections and the plurality of pipelined requests by:

estimating bandwidth and round trip time; and

transmitting pipelined requests so that a number of requested packet data portions that have not been received does not exceed a product of the estimated bandwidth and round trip time.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the transceiver is further for transmitting the plurality of pipelined requests by requesting header compression.

33. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the transceiver is further for receiving server identified resources.

34. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the transceiver is further for transmitting the plurality of pipelined requests by transmitting a plurality of partial pipelined requests.