Bandwidth Measurement Using Acknowledgement Timing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bandwidth estimation methods, such as those described in Patent Literature 1, face challenges in accurately measuring available bandwidth without deteriorating communication efficiency, particularly when the maximum transmission unit (MTU) is changed to improve estimation accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A bandwidth measurement apparatus and method that acquire the data size of transmission data, the reception time of acknowledgement packets, and calculate the available bandwidth using these metrics when the sum of data sizes in a predetermined time is double or more the predetermined size, thereby avoiding the need to change the MTU.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the MTU is changed to improve bandwidth estimation accuracy, then the bandwidth estimation accuracy is improved, but the communication efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter used for bandwidth estimation from packet size (which would require MTU changes) to acknowledgment packet reception time. This allows accurate bandwidth estimation without modifying the MTU, thus maintaining communication efficiency while achieving the goal of improved measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces acknowledgment packets as an intermediary element for bandwidth estimation. Instead of directly measuring based on transmission packet sizes (which would require MTU changes), the system uses the timing information from acknowledgment packets returned by the receiver to calculate bandwidth, thereby avoiding the need to change MTU and preserving communication efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Data transmission means divides data into one or more transmission packets in units of a predetermined size in conformity with a predetermined protocol, transmits the transmission packets to a reception apparatus, and receives an acknowledgement packet returned from the reception apparatus. Data size acquisition means acquires a data size of transmission data. Acknowledgement reception time acquisition means acquires a reception time of an acknowledgement packet. An available bandwidth calculation means calculates the available bandwidth in a network using the reception time of the acknowledgement packet when a sum of the data sizes of the transmission data in the predetermined time is double or more the predetermined size.