Aggregated Connection Performance Evaluation via Test Packets
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication devices face challenges in efficiently selecting the most suitable WAN network interfaces, access connections, or end-to-end connections for data packet transmission due to varying performance over time, which affects overall network performance and requires periodic re-evaluation to ensure optimal data transfer.
Innovation Solution
The method involves transmitting evaluation packets through multiple connections to determine performance, with the option to use data packets when available, and selecting connections based on latency requirements to ensure the best performance for data transmission, potentially using load balancing or bonding connections for aggregated performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If performance evaluation is performed frequently to ensure optimal connection selection, then network performance is improved, but system overhead and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary performance evaluations by sending test packets through available connections before actual data transmission begins. This allows the communications device to pre-determine which connections are suitable for data transfer, avoiding the need for frequent evaluations during active transmission and reducing overall system overhead.
Solution Approach 2:
Performance evaluation is implemented as a periodic process rather than continuous monitoring. The system evaluates connection performance at scheduled intervals or when triggered by specific events (such as connection establishment or data transmission initiation), thereby maintaining network performance while limiting the frequency of evaluations to reduce overhead.
2Reliability
If multiple connections are established for aggregation, then bandwidth and reliability are improved, but connection management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each connection in the aggregated group autonomously performs its own performance evaluation by processing test packets independently. The connections self-report their performance metrics to the communications device, eliminating the need for complex centralized management and coordination overhead while maintaining reliability through diversified connection paths.
3Productivity
If connection performance is re-determined periodically, then optimal connection selection is maintained, but transmission delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
Connection performance is evaluated in advance before data transmission begins. The communications device sends test packets through available connections and determines suitable connections beforehand, so that when actual data transmission starts, the optimal connections are already identified and ready, minimizing transmission delay.
Solution Approach 2:
The system evaluates only a subset of available connections or uses simplified evaluation metrics in certain scenarios. Rather than thoroughly evaluating all possible connections with comprehensive tests, the system performs partial evaluations that are sufficient to identify suitable connections without excessive time consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method carried out by a first communications device for determining performance of a plurality of connections and selecting at least one first connection from the plurality of connections substantially based on performance. Data packets are then transmitted through the at least one first connection. The plurality of connections are aggregated to form an aggregated connection. The determining of performance is performed by transmitting evaluation packets through the plurality of connections. The evaluation packets are based on data packets that are received by the first communication device but have not yet been transmitted through the aggregated connection. The data packets may be designated for a host or node reachable through the aggregated connection. Alternatively, the evaluation packets may be based on predefined information when there are no data packets to be transmitted through the aggregated connection. The performance may be determined periodically.