Asymmetric Traffic Load Allocation Across Heterogeneous Network Endpoints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network traffic management systems evenly distribute traffic, leading to packet dropping by intermediate modules and global backoff, resulting in ineffective performance.
Innovation Solution
Implement a method and apparatus that extract packet headers, apply hashing and load balancing functions to determine endpoints based on characteristics, and map packets asymmetrically to avoid overloading and packet dropping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traffic is evenly distributed among multiple endpoints, then load balancing is simplified, but intermediate modules drop packets causing global backoff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies asymmetric load balancing by distributing traffic unevenly among endpoints based on their individual characteristics (capacity, latency, reliability). Instead of uniform distribution, the system calculates optimal asymmetric routing paths that match traffic patterns to endpoint capabilities, preventing packet drops while maintaining operational simplicity through automated characteristic-based routing decisions
2Productivity
If multiple traffic management systems are used to manage heavy traffic, then traffic capacity is increased, but intermediate modules begin dropping packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality optimization by evaluating and routing traffic to specific endpoints based on their individual local characteristics (capacity, latency, reliability metrics). Each endpoint is assessed on its own merits, and traffic is directed to the most suitable endpoint for each flow, maximizing overall traffic capacity while minimizing packet drops through localized optimization rather than uniform treatment
3Adaptability or versatility
If packets are routed through intermediate modules, then traffic can be directed to different endpoints, but packet dropping occurs causing global backoff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms where the system continuously monitors endpoint performance characteristics (capacity utilization, latency, packet loss rates) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust routing decisions. This closed-loop approach allows the system to adapt routing paths in real-time based on actual endpoint behavior, maintaining routing flexibility while preventing packet drops through data-driven decision-making
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, non-transitory computer readable media, network traffic manager apparatuses, and systems that assist with allocating a traffic load through heterogenous topology of a network includes extracting a header of each of a plurality of received packets of a traffic flow. Each of the headers comprises fields. Next, the network traffic manager apparatus executes a hashing function over the fields of each of the headers, applies a load balancing function to determine one of a plurality of endpoints to send each of the received packets based on one or more endpoint characteristics, and maps the index for each corresponding one of the received packets to the corresponding selected one of the endpoints. The received packets are not evenly divided among the plurality of endpoints. Lastly, the network traffic manager apparatus sends the received packets selected endpoint based on the mapping from the load balancing policy.