Adaptive Packet Duplication for Hybrid WAN Link Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network degradation leads to packet loss and increased latency, causing network interruptions between devices in data communication networks, which existing technologies fail to adequately address by efficiently managing bandwidth and packet duplication.

Innovation Solution

A system and method for dynamically duplicating network packets onto a secondary link, which adapts based on the quality of the primary link, managing bandwidth and setting duplication rates to maintain effective packet loss or delay rates within thresholds, even when the primary link degrades.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all traffic is duplicated onto the secondary link to preserve network reliability, then packet loss rate is reduced, but bandwidth consumption on the secondary link exceeds its capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork reliabilityVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by duplicating only a portion of packets onto the secondary link rather than all traffic. The duplication rate is dynamically adjusted based on primary link quality, ensuring that enough packets are duplicated to maintain reliability while preventing secondary link bandwidth overload.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the duplication rate based on real-time monitoring of primary link quality metrics. When the primary link degrades, the duplication rate increases; when it improves, the duplication rate decreases. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize between reliability and bandwidth consumption under varying network conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the duplication rate is increased to maintain packet loss thresholds, then network reliability is improved, but the bandwidth of the secondary link is exceeded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket loss rateVSAvoidbandwidth utilization
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring packet loss rates and secondary link bandwidth utilization, then adjusting the duplication rate accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures that packet loss remains below thresholds while preventing secondary link saturation through real-time parameter adjustment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If packet duplication is applied to handle network degradation, then packet loss and latency are reduced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork qualityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system manages complexity by dynamically changing operational parameters (duplication rate, traffic selection criteria) rather than altering the fundamental system architecture. This allows adaptive response to network conditions while maintaining a relatively simple underlying system structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3603023B1Auto tuning of hybrid wan links by adaptive duplication of packets on alternate links
Publication Date: 2023.03.15 CITRIX SYSTEMS INC
  • EP3603023B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3603023B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3603023B1 patent drawingFigure 1C

AI summary

Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a system and method for dynamically duplicating network packets onto a reliable link. Network devices can be connected by a primary link and by a secondary link. As the network quality of the first link degrades, the system can adaptively duplicate network packets onto the second link. As a high priority link, the secondary link can have less total bandwidth when compared to the primary link. Accordingly, all the traffic traversing the primary link may not be able to be duplicated onto the secondary link to preserve network reliability when the quality of the first link degrades. The present solution can effectively manage the bandwidth of the secondary link and set duplication rates that control the duplication of the packets onto the secondary link.