Application Bandwidth Controller for Priority-Based Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data communication devices often experience unsatisfactory data transfer rates when running multiple applications simultaneously due to limited bandwidth, making it difficult for users to identify and resolve performance issues, as closing applications may not always improve performance and may result in lost benefits.

Innovation Solution

A data communication device equipped with a computer processing system, application bandwidth monitor, and user interface that allows users to monitor and control bandwidth allocation among active applications, enabling selective activation, bandwidth prioritization, and maximum bandwidth settings to optimize data transfer across limited bandwidth channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If multiple data communication applications are run simultaneously, then application functionality and user productivity are improved, but data transfer performance deteriorates due to limited bandwidth

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication functionalityVSAvoiddata transfer rate

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements application-specific bandwidth allocation where each application receives a customized bandwidth portion based on its priority level and requirements. High-priority applications receive guaranteed bandwidth portions while lower-priority applications receive remaining bandwidth, ensuring that critical applications maintain optimal data transfer rates even when multiple applications are running simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts bandwidth allocation parameters based on application priority levels, network conditions, and user-defined preferences. The bandwidth controller modifies data transfer parameters in real-time to optimize performance for high-priority applications while maintaining functionality for lower-priority applications, resolving the contradiction between running multiple applications and maintaining data transfer speed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Speed

If users close applications to improve performance, then data transfer rate may be improved, but application benefits and productivity are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transfer rateVSAvoidapplication benefits

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the bandwidth controller continuously monitors data transfer performance and application bandwidth consumption. When performance degradation is detected, the system automatically adjusts bandwidth allocation among running applications rather than requiring users to close applications. This feedback loop ensures optimal data transfer rates are maintained while preserving application functionality and user productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service bandwidth management where the bandwidth controller automatically monitors, allocates, and adjusts bandwidth among applications without user intervention. The controller identifies which applications are consuming excessive bandwidth and automatically reduces their allocation to maintain overall system performance, eliminating the need for users to manually close applications to improve data transfer rates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Ease of operation

If bandwidth is allocated equally among applications, then fairness is improved, but performance of critical applications deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebandwidth allocation fairnessVSAvoidcritical application performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments bandwidth allocation into priority-based portions, dividing the total available bandwidth among applications according to their priority levels. Critical applications receive guaranteed bandwidth segments that ensure their performance requirements are met, while non-critical applications receive remaining bandwidth. This segmentation approach maintains fairness by providing structured allocation while prioritizing critical applications to prevent performance deterioration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic bandwidth allocation that adjusts in real-time based on application priority, network conditions, and current system state. Rather than static equal allocation, the bandwidth controller continuously adapts allocation proportions to ensure critical applications receive sufficient bandwidth for reliable operation while still providing bandwidth to other applications, balancing fairness with performance reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9008673B1Data communication device with individual application bandwidth reporting and control

Publication Date: 2015.04.14 CELLCO PARTNERSHIP INC

AI summary

An application bandwidth monitor may be configured to determine the amount of data communication channel bandwidth being utilized by each active data communication application within a data communication device. A user interface may be configured to report this information and to receive information indicative of a desired bandwidth allocation among the active applications. An application bandwidth controller may be configured to control the maximum bandwidth that may be utilized by each active data communication application, based on this user information.