Bonding Device Scheduling Data Packets Over Access Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing channel bonding technologies, while increasing bandwidth, often fail to improve the quality of real-time applications like VoIP due to sensitivity to loss and delay jitter, and lack effective mechanisms for resilient data transmission in access bundling scenarios.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of intelligent interface selection and packet duplication mechanisms, utilizing a neuronal network to dynamically schedule data packet distribution across multiple access links, prioritizing high-quality links for primary transmission and lower-quality links for duplicates, while adjusting delays to optimize quality of service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If channel bonding approaches are used to increase available bandwidth, then bandwidth is improved, but quality of real-time applications like VoIP deteriorates due to sensitivity to loss and delay jitter

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidquality of real-time applications
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements packet duplication mechanisms where original data packets are copied and transmitted over multiple access links simultaneously. This ensures that if one link experiences loss or jitter, duplicate packets can compensate, thereby maintaining quality of real-time applications while utilizing bonded bandwidth resources.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling module dynamically adjusts packet distribution strategies based on real-time link quality conditions. It adaptively selects which packets to duplicate, which links to use for primary transmission, and modifies scheduling decisions according to changing network conditions, optimizing both bandwidth utilization and service quality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If multiple access links are used for transmission, then bandwidth is increased, but complexity of scheduling and packet management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebandwidthVSAvoidscheduling mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a scheduling module as an intermediary component that manages packet distribution across multiple access links. This module centralizes the complexity of multi-link coordination, providing a unified interface for packet scheduling while handling the intricacies of link selection, duplication, and quality monitoring behind the scenes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The scheduling module manages multiple parameters including link quality metrics, packet priority levels, duplication factors, and timing adjustments. By systematically controlling these parameters, the system handles the complexity of multi-link operations through parameter-based decision-making rather than complex structural arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If packet duplication is implemented to improve reliability, then quality of service is improved, but loss of time due to additional processing and transmission increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission reliabilityVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The scheduling module performs preliminary actions by pre-selecting high-quality access links for primary packet transmission and pre-determining duplication strategies based on link quality assessments. This advance planning reduces the need for time-consuming retransmissions and real-time decision-making, thereby minimizing additional delay while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different quality levels to different packets and links locally. High-priority real-time packets receive preferential treatment with selective duplication on the most reliable links, while less critical traffic receives standard handling. This localized quality differentiation optimizes reliability for time-sensitive traffic without uniformly increasing delay across all traffic types.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3396908B1Bonding device for scheduling a distribution of data packets over access links
Publication Date: 2019.07.17 DEUTSCHE TELEKOM AG
  • EP3396908B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3396908B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3396908B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The disclosure relates to bonding device (200) for transmission of a plurality of data packets (101, 102, 103, 104), the bonding device (200) comprising: a plurality of access links (210) for transmission of the plurality of data packets (101, 102, 103, 104); a processor (203) comprising a scheduling module (201), configured to schedule a distribution of the plurality of data packets (101, 102, 103, 104) over the plurality of access links (210) according to a scheduling scheme (204), wherein the scheduling scheme (200) is based on a decision (205) which of the access links (211, 212, 213) to select for transmission, how many duplications (101 a, 101 b, 101 c, 101 d) of a data packet (101, 102, 103, 104) to send over each of the selected access links (211, 212, 213) and which delay to apply for data packets (101, 102, 103, 104) sent over the selected access links (211, 212,213).