Cluster Formation Control for Stream Relay Path Quality
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network technologies face challenges in maintaining the quality of the stream relay path when adding a participant terminal, especially in scenarios with limited cluster resources, leading to potential deterioration of the stream relay path quality.
Innovation Solution
A communication terminal equipped with a cluster quality calculation section, a cluster sustainability calculation section, and a cluster division/integration analysis section determines optimal cluster formation by assessing packet loss and resource availability to promptly add participant terminals while maintaining stream relay path quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If a large number of communication terminals belong to one cluster, then the time for measuring bandwidth and delay is reduced, but the flexibility for reconstructing the stream relay path is reduced and it becomes difficult to receive a participant terminal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cluster into sub-clusters based on terminal count thresholds. When the number of terminals exceeds a first threshold, the cluster is divided into multiple sub-clusters, each with its own cluster head. This segmentation maintains measurement efficiency while restoring path reconstruction flexibility, as each sub-cluster can independently manage participant terminals.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a small number of communication terminals belong to one cluster, then the flexibility for reconstructing the stream relay path is improved, but the time for measuring bandwidth and delay increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges clusters into a single cluster when the number of terminals falls below a second threshold. This consolidation reduces the number of separate measurement processes required, thereby reducing the time for measuring bandwidth and delay while maintaining sufficient flexibility through the unified cluster structure.
3Productivity
If the number of communication terminals in a cluster exceeds a threshold, then the cluster can promptly perform addition of a participant terminal, but the quality of the stream relay path may deteriorate due to limited cluster resources
Solution Approach 1:
When the number of terminals exceeds the first threshold, the cluster is segmented into multiple sub-clusters. This allows the system to accept participant terminals promptly across multiple sub-clusters while distributing the resource burden, thereby maintaining stream relay path quality through resource distribution rather than concentration.
4Adaptability or versatility
If clusters are frequently divided and integrated, then the network can adapt to changing terminal numbers, but the complexity of cluster management increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where cluster heads monitor the number of terminals in their cluster and automatically trigger division or integration operations based on predefined thresholds. This automated feedback loop enables the network to adapt to terminal number changes while minimizing manual intervention and reducing overall management complexity through rule-based automation.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
It is an object to provide a communication terminal capable of determining a cluster formation so as to promptly perform addition of a participant terminal, while maintaining the quality of a stream relay path. Cluster monitoring terminal (430) is an apparatus to determine a cluster formation in a network performing packet transfer according to terminal relay-type multipoint communication, and includes: a cluster quality calculation section (432) for acquiring cluster quality representing a small loss in a packet to be received, per a cluster; a cluster sustainability calculation section (433) for acquiring cluster sustainability representing ease of acceptance of a participant terminal, per a cluster; and cluster division/integration analysis section (434) for determining cluster division with respect to a cluster having low cluster quality, and determining integration with other cluster with respect to a cluster having high cluster quality and low cluster sustainability.