CDN Flow Control Parameters for Streaming QoS and Congestion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional content delivery networks face challenges with network flow and bandwidth limitations when distributing content to devices and applications, leading to inconsistent performance and potential network congestion, particularly for applications requiring high-quality service like streaming media.
Innovation Solution
Implementing customized network flow parameters for specific types of applications and devices within a content delivery network (CDN) to optimize content delivery, including quality of service criteria and TCP flow control mechanisms, ensuring consistent and efficient transmission rates based on application type.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional network flow control is used in CDN, then network bandwidth is shared among all applications, but network performance becomes inconsistent and buffering occurs for quality-sensitive applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by implementing application-specific network flow parameters that tailor bandwidth allocation and quality of service criteria to individual application requirements. Different applications receive customized flow control settings based on their performance needs, ensuring that quality-sensitive applications get prioritized treatment while maintaining overall network efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes network flow parameters dynamically based on application type and performance requirements. By adjusting flow control parameters, bandwidth allocation, and quality of service criteria according to specific application needs, the system resolves the contradiction between consistent performance and delivery efficiency.
2Speed
If high bandwidth is allocated to all applications, then content delivery speed increases, but network congestion occurs and other applications suffer from resource starvation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by allocating bandwidth selectively based on application requirements rather than providing excessive bandwidth to all applications uniformly. Quality-sensitive applications receive enhanced bandwidth allocation while less demanding applications receive appropriate but limited resources, preventing network congestion while maintaining high delivery speeds where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts bandwidth allocation parameters and flow control settings based on application type, network conditions, and performance requirements. This parameter customization allows high-speed delivery for critical applications without causing congestion that would harm other applications.
3Device complexity
If uniform network flow parameters are applied to all applications, then system complexity is reduced, but quality of service cannot be optimized for specific application types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by configuring specific network flow parameters for different application types rather than using uniform settings. This allows quality of service to be optimized for each application category (e.g., streaming media, real-time communication) while maintaining manageable system complexity through standardized parameter sets for common application types.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent achieves universality by creating a framework that handles multiple application types through standardized flow control mechanisms. While specific parameters are customized for different applications, the overall system uses a universal approach to parameter management and quality of service enforcement, balancing complexity and reliability.
4Productivity
If bandwidth is limited for bandwidth-sensitive applications, then network congestion is reduced, but these applications experience buffering and performance degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by identifying bandwidth-sensitive applications and providing them with enhanced bandwidth allocation and favorable flow control parameters. This ensures that applications requiring high throughput (such as video streaming and large file transfers) receive sufficient resources to maintain performance while other applications operate within their reasonable bandwidth requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts flow control parameters and bandwidth allocation dynamically based on application characteristics. Bandwidth-sensitive applications receive parameter configurations that prioritize their throughput needs, resolving the contradiction between overall network productivity and individual application reliability.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present disclosure include a content delivery network (CDN) for delivering content associated with a plurality of different types of applications/devices. Using a CDN flow application, a plurality of network flow parameters are generated for content delivery unique to different types of applications or devices. The network flow parameters include customized data transmission rates. The network flow parameters include predetermined settings for transmission control protocol (TCP) connections between the CDN and devices using a TCP flow control mechanism. Upon receiving a content request, the CDN fulfills the content request based upon first network flow parameters. The network flow parameters may be adjusted for each of the plurality of different types of applications/devices. The network flow parameters may be generated based upon requests or based upon the performance of each of the plurality of applications/devices.