Adaptive Thresholds for Multicast Stream Admission Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
In service provider networks, IGMP leave requests can be lost or corrupted, leading to bandwidth inefficiencies as access nodes continue to deliver multicast streams to non-active subscriber devices, necessitating periodic general queries that consume resources and increase bandwidth usage.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an adaptive threshold mechanism in access nodes based on historical data of multicast stream deliveries, where a threshold value is determined as a moving average or maximum of previous stream counts, allowing access nodes to reduce the frequency of general queries and detect lost leave requests by comparing projected stream counts to this threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If periodic general queries are sent to detect lost leave requests, then reliability of multicast stream delivery is improved, but resource consumption and bandwidth usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of query frequency from fixed periodic to dynamic adaptive. The access node monitors the number of active subscriber devices and adjusts the general query interval accordingly - sending queries more frequently when many devices are active and less frequently when fewer devices are active. This resolves the contradiction by making reliability maintenance proportional to actual need while reducing unnecessary resource consumption during low-activity periods.
2Loss of energy
If general queries are sent frequently to detect lost leave requests, then bandwidth efficiency is improved, but bandwidth consumption for query messages increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the query frequency dynamic rather than static. The access node adapts the interval between general queries based on the current number of active subscriber devices. When the number of active devices is high, queries are sent more frequently to efficiently detect lost leave requests. When the number of active devices is low, queries are sent less frequently, reducing bandwidth consumption. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between bandwidth efficiency and bandwidth consumption.
3Measurement precision
If periodic general queries are used to ensure accurate multicast delivery, then detection precision of lost leave requests is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the access node maintain a record of the number of active subscriber devices and use this information proactively to determine query frequency. Instead of using a fixed periodic schedule or complex real-time analysis, the access node prepares advance by monitoring active device counts and uses this pre-collected data to adaptively adjust query timing. This simplifies the overall system complexity while maintaining detection precision.
Data Source
AI summary
In general, techniques are described for applying adaptive thresholds to multicast streams within computer networks. For example, an access node may implement the techniques to facilitate efficient delivery of multicast streams. The access node comprises an interface that couples to a subscriber network having a subscriber device. The access node also includes a control unit that determines a multicast stream count reflecting current delivery of multicast streams to the subscriber network and a threshold value based on historical multicast stream counts delivered to the subscriber. The interface receives a message requesting to join a multicast group in accordance with a multicast management protocol. In response to this message, the control unit determines a projected stream count based on the above current multicast count. The control unit then compares the projected stream count to the threshold value, and admits the subscriber device to the multicast group based on the comparison.