Collective Bandwidth Throttling for Network Congestion Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computer systems face challenges in managing bandwidth efficiently across multiple clients in a network, leading to potential congestion and downtime, as individual bandwidth throttling alone may not prevent collective bandwidth overload.

Innovation Solution

Implementing collective bandwidth throttling, where each client in a local area network coordinates its bandwidth use with others to ensure the total bandwidth usage does not exceed a defined maximum, by determining and adjusting effective bandwidth allocations based on individual and collective allocations, and notifying other clients of changes in bandwidth usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If individual bandwidth throttling is implemented, then each client can manage its own bandwidth usage, but total bandwidth overload cannot be prevented

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindividual bandwidth managementVSAvoidnetwork congestion prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines individual bandwidth throttling with collective bandwidth throttling mechanisms. Each client not only manages its own bandwidth allocation but also participates in a coordinated system where all clients collectively enforce a maximum total bandwidth limit on the shared communication link, preventing network overload while maintaining individual control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where clients monitor and report their bandwidth usage to the network system. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of bandwidth allocations and enforcement of collective bandwidth limits, allowing the system to respond to changing network conditions and prevent congestion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If centralized authority is used to manage bandwidth, then total bandwidth can be controlled, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal bandwidth controlVSAvoidcentralized control structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables clients to autonomously determine and enforce their own effective bandwidth allocations based on collective bandwidth constraints. Each client independently calculates its fair share of the maximum total bandwidth and self-regulates its usage, eliminating the need for a centralized bandwidth management authority while maintaining effective control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments the bandwidth management function into individual client responsibilities. Rather than requiring a centralized controller, each client is empowered to manage its own bandwidth usage within the collective constraints, distributing the control function across multiple independent entities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7664034B1Systems and methods for collective bandwidth throttling

Publication Date: 2010.02.16 IVANTI INC

AI summary

In an exemplary method, a computer system connects to a computer network that comprises one or more other computer systems. The computer system communicates with a remote system that is in electronic communication with the computer network via a communication link. The computer system coordinates its use of the communication link with the one or more other computer systems' use of the communication link such that a total bandwidth used by computer systems in the computer network does not exceed a defined maximum value.