Bandwidth Control for Video Terminals by Class Segmentation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing video calling services face challenges in managing bandwidth effectively across multiple sites with varying communication rates and terminal classes, leading to inefficient allocation of bandwidth resources.
Innovation Solution
A communications system that allocates selected classes with respective communication rates to information terminals, using a control device with an interface to obtain class and rate information, and a control section to set upper limits on communication rates, ensuring appropriate bandwidth allocation based on terminal classes and real-time network conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If bandwidth control is performed based on the number of connected terminals only, then bandwidth allocation can be simplified, but it cannot provide differentiated service quality for different terminal classes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments terminals into different classes (first class, second class, third class) with different communication rate priorities. The bandwidth control is performed separately for each class, allowing simplified control within each segment while achieving overall service differentiation across multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different communication rate limits are applied to different terminal classes based on their service requirements. First class terminals receive higher priority and higher rate limits, while third class terminals receive lower priority and lower rate limits, achieving local quality differentiation.
2Reliability
If equal bandwidth allocation is provided to all terminals, then service fairness is maintained, but bandwidth resources cannot be optimized for different service requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different bandwidth allocation policies to different terminal classes. First class terminals (e.g., video calling) receive guaranteed higher bandwidth, while third class terminals (e.g., web browsing) receive lower bandwidth, optimizing overall resource efficiency while maintaining fairness within each service category.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication rate limits for different terminal classes are dynamically adjusted based on network conditions and service requirements. The control section modifies transmission parameters to achieve optimal bandwidth utilization across different service types.
3Reliability
If high communication rates are allocated to all terminals, then service quality is improved, but bandwidth resources are quickly depleted under heavy load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the terminal population into different classes with different communication rate priorities. This segmentation allows the system to maintain high communication rates for critical services (first class) while limiting rates for less critical services (third class), preventing bandwidth exhaustion under heavy load.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by providing high communication rates only to necessary terminals (first and second classes) while applying rate limits to non-critical terminals (third class). This selective approach maintains service quality for essential communications while conserving bandwidth resources.
Data Source
AI summary
A control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure controls communications between a plurality of information terminals at a first site and an information device at a second site. The control device includes: an interface that obtains class information indicating what class is allocated to each of those information terminals and also obtains rate information indicating a rate of communication with the information device over a network; and a control section that puts an upper limit on the communication rate of each of the information terminals by reference to the class information and the rate information and notifies the information terminal of the upper limit.