Bandwidth Tracking Modules for Network Rate Limiting
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Solution Overview
Problem
In direct broadband systems, the lack of rate-shaping mechanisms leads to users consuming full line speed bandwidth, which can diminish the quality of service for others, necessitating a method to apportion available bandwidth among users.
Innovation Solution
A switching device with M ports and N bandwidth tracking modules, including a rate limiting module that adjusts fullness levels and performs actions on packets based on their properties, such as VLAN ID, source address, and destination address, using calculations like packet size or criteria to manage bandwidth allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If rate-limiting mechanisms are implemented to apportion bandwidth among users, then quality of service for multiple users is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments bandwidth management by creating multiple independent bandwidth tracking modules (N modules for M ports where N > M). Each module independently tracks bandwidth usage and applies rate-limiting rules, allowing distributed decision-making that improves quality of service while keeping individual module complexity manageable. The segmentation enables parallel processing of bandwidth control for different ports simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an additional dimension by allowing each port to be assigned to a unique subset of bandwidth tracking modules rather than a single module. This many-to-many mapping relationship (where N > M) creates a dimensional expansion in the bandwidth management architecture, enabling more granular control and redundancy without linearly increasing per-port complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If bandwidth tracking modules are assigned to multiple ports with unique subsets, then bandwidth allocation flexibility is improved, but mapping complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation by allowing the mapping between ports and bandwidth tracking modules to be reconfigurable. Each port can be dynamically assigned to different subsets of N bandwidth tracking modules based on traffic patterns and service requirements. This dynamic mapping enables flexible bandwidth apportionment while the modular architecture keeps the complexity of managing these mappings tractable through standardized assignment rules.
Data Source
AI summary
A switching device includes a plurality of bandwidth tracking modules each configured to store an adjustable first threshold, a fullness level, and an adjustable rate. Subsets of the bandwidth tracking modules are assigned to each of the plurality of ports. Each subset includes one or more bandwidth tracking modules. A rate limiting module is configured to perform an action on a packet received at one of the plurality of ports based on the fullness levels of the bandwidth tracking modules in a corresponding one of the subsets of the bandwidth tracking modules.