Adaptive Traffic Routing via Latency-Aware Packet Gap Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
In communication networks, re-routing data streams to maintain packet order without increasing system complexity, processing latency, or costs is challenging, especially when dealing with latency differences between network paths, which can result in data loss and distorted packet order.
Innovation Solution
A method and network element that re-route data streams by determining latency differences between network paths and re-routing only when a sufficient time gap exceeds the latency difference, ensuring packet order is maintained without additional processing at the receiver end, using a receiver, transmitter, path determination unit, latency difference determination unit, and re-routing engine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If re-routing is performed to optimize resource utilization, then network resource efficiency is improved, but packet order may be distorted and data loss may occur due to latency differences between paths
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting packet gaps before re-routing occurs. The latency difference determination unit calculates the expected latency difference between current and target paths, and the re-routing is triggered only when a sufficient packet gap is detected, ensuring that packets will arrive in correct order despite path changes
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring packet arrival patterns and detecting gaps between consecutive packets. This feedback information is used to determine the appropriate timing for re-routing operations, ensuring that resource optimization does not compromise packet order integrity
2Adaptability or versatility
If re-routing is performed frequently to adapt to changing bandwidth demands, then adaptability is improved, but processing latency and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes parameters by determining latency differences between network paths and using this parameter to control re-routing decisions. The re-routing is conditioned on the packet gap exceeding the calculated latency difference, providing an adaptive yet controlled mechanism for responding to changing bandwidth demands
3Adaptability or versatility
If re-routing is performed without considering latency differences, then resource allocation flexibility is improved, but packet arrival order is distorted requiring additional processing at the receiver
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of latency differences between network paths before executing re-routing. This advance preparation ensures that re-routing decisions account for transmission time variations, eliminating the need for complex receiver-side processing to correct packet order distortions
Data Source
AI summary
At least one data-stream is re-routed and a network element is provided for re-routing at least one data-stream. A first part and a second part of a data-stream received at a first node and are transmitted to a second node via two different network paths, respectively. The first is transmitted from the first node to the second node via a first network path. A second network path is determined, and the difference between latencies of the first and second network paths is also determined. If the latency of the first network path is larger than the latency of the second network path, the at least one data-stream at the first node is re-routed from the first network path to the second network path provided that the time gap between data packets received by the first node exceeds said difference between latencies.