Bandwidth Scavenging for Burst Traffic in Routers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bandwidth allocation methods are inefficient as they limit an application with a large burst of traffic even when other applications are not utilizing their allocated bandwidth, resulting in unused bandwidth that could be used to speed up the traffic.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a bandwidth scavenging mechanism where a network device allocates additional bandwidth incrementally to an application with a large burst of traffic if no congestion is detected, up to a preset limit, allowing it to send more packets and utilize unused bandwidth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If bandwidth limiting is applied to prevent one application from monopolizing network bandwidth, then fairness among applications is improved, but network efficiency deteriorates when one application has a large burst of traffic and others have little or no traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where applications can borrow unused bandwidth from other applications in real-time. The bandwidth limit is not fixed but adapts based on current network conditions and usage patterns, allowing an application with a large burst of traffic to access unused bandwidth while maintaining fairness when bandwidth is needed by multiple applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the bandwidth parameter dynamically by allowing applications to exceed their prescribed bandwidth limits when other applications are not utilizing their full allocation. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by making bandwidth limits flexible rather than static, improving efficiency during bursts while preserving fairness during normal operation.
2Reliability
If an application is limited to its assigned bandwidth, then other applications receive guaranteed bandwidth, but the application cannot speed up its large burst of traffic even when bandwidth is unused
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows applications to self-adjust their bandwidth usage by borrowing unused bandwidth from other applications without requiring centralized control or manual intervention. The application with burst traffic automatically accesses unused bandwidth from idle applications, improving transmission speed while other applications continue to receive guaranteed bandwidth when needed.
3Device complexity
If bandwidth is allocated statically to each application, then bandwidth management is simple, but unused bandwidth cannot be utilized to speed up network traffic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal bandwidth pool where all applications contribute their unused bandwidth and any application can access this pooled resource when needed. This multi-functional approach allows the same bandwidth resource to serve both as a guaranteed allocation and as a shared pool for bursting traffic, improving throughput without significantly increasing management complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Applications executed out of router memory may acquire additional bandwidth that is not being used by other applications, in order to speed up network traffic. Scavenging may occur up to a point where current congestion is detected, at which point any scavenged bandwidth is relinquished and the application returns to its prescribed limit. After current congestion is mitigated, scavenging may occur up to a limit below the point where congestion was detected. After a predetermined interval, additional scavenging may occur beyond this limit until a preset bandwidth limit is reached.