Application Scaling Tracking for Dynamic Network Bandwidth Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing overlay network deployments face challenges in dynamically allocating bandwidth to meet unpredictable application requirements, relying on human estimations and guesswork, leading to inefficient provisioning and billing in underlay networks.

Innovation Solution

A network controller tracks the compute capacity of a scalable application service platform to dynamically allocate bandwidth by monitoring computing resources and replicas, using APIs to adjust underlay network capacity based on actual application load, enabling precise bandwidth allocation and de-allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If network bandwidth is over-provisioned to handle peak traffic demands, then service reliability is improved, but network resource waste increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork resource waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation that automatically adjusts network resource provisioning based on real-time traffic monitoring and predictive analytics. The system transitions from static over-provisioning to dynamic adaptation, allocating bandwidth according to actual demand patterns while maintaining service reliability through intelligent forecasting and automated scaling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Loss of energy

If network bandwidth is under-provisioned to reduce resource waste, then network resource efficiency is improved, but service quality deteriorates during peak traffic

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork resource efficiencyVSAvoidservice quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively provisioning bandwidth based on predictive analytics before traffic peaks occur. The intelligent forecasting mechanisms anticipate demand surges and pre-allocate resources, ensuring service quality is maintained during peak periods while avoiding the need for continuous over-provisioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If manual bandwidth allocation is used to optimize network resources, then customization flexibility is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecustomization flexibilityVSAvoidoperational complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the network system automatically monitors traffic patterns, analyzes demand requirements, and adjusts bandwidth allocation without manual intervention. The intelligent system performs what would otherwise require complex manual configuration, reducing operational complexity while maintaining customization flexibility through automated adaptive provisioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Device complexity

If static bandwidth allocation is used to simplify network management, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to traffic variations decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork management simplicityVSAvoidadaptability to traffic variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes bandwidth allocation parameters based on monitored traffic conditions and predictive analytics. Rather than using fixed static allocation, the system automatically adjusts bandwidth parameters in response to varying traffic demands, maintaining simplicity of management through automation while achieving high adaptability to traffic variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4226597B1Tracking application scaling for network bandwidth allocation
Publication Date: 2026.05.06 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP4226597B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP4226597B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP4226597B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

Techniques for tracking compute capacity of a scalable application service platform to perform dynamic bandwidth allocation for data flows associated with applications hosted by the service platform are disclosed. Some of the techniques may include allocating a first amount of bandwidth of a physical underlay of a network for data flows associated with an application. The techniques may also include receiving, from a scalable application service hosting the application, an indication of an amount of computing resources of the scalable application service that are allocated to host the application. Based at least in part on the indications, a second amount of bandwidth of the physical underlay to allocate for the data flows may be determined. The techniques may also include allocating the second amount of bandwidth of the physical underlay of the network for the data flows associated with the application.