Congestion-Based Pricing for High-Speed File Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current electronic file transfer services lack the capability to provide guaranteed delivery times and a fair pricing system, as traditional TCP-based protocols are inefficient and unable to scale like physical courier services, leading to underutilized bandwidth and unfair charging models.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a congestion-based pricing system with new transport technologies like the fasp protocol and Virtual Link control, which dynamically adjust bandwidth allocation and charge users based on their actual impact on network congestion, ensuring high-speed, global file transfers with differentiated service levels and fair cost allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional TCP-based protocols are used for file transfer, then compatibility and ease of operation are maintained, but bandwidth utilization is poor and delivery time guarantees cannot be provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of the transfer protocol from traditional TCP to a custom protocol (FASP) with modified congestion control algorithms. This allows the system to achieve superior bandwidth utilization by adjusting key protocol parameters such as window size, retransmission timing, and congestion detection thresholds, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical TCP protocol mechanism with a new transport mechanism (FASP) that uses different principles for flow control and congestion management. This substitution enables the system to break free from TCP's inherent limitations in bandwidth utilization while maintaining protocol-level abstractions that preserve ease of operation.
2Reliability
If dedicated delivery services with expensive infrastructure are used, then delivery time guarantees are achieved, but pricing becomes prohibitive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service through automated congestion-based pricing mechanisms that dynamically adjust charges based on actual network conditions and resource consumption. This eliminates the need for expensive dedicated infrastructure by allowing the system to self-regulate and allocate resources efficiently, achieving delivery guarantees at variable but generally lower costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic pricing and dynamic resource allocation that adapt to real-time network conditions. Instead of static expensive infrastructure, the system dynamically adjusts bandwidth allocation and pricing based on demand, enabling delivery time guarantees while keeping costs variable and generally lower than dedicated services.
3Adaptability or versatility
If traditional FTP services are used, then basic file transfer functionality is provided, but differentiated service levels and meaningful pricing based on delivery utility cannot be implemented
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the service into distinct tiers (Best Effort, Guaranteed Time, Overage) with different pricing and performance characteristics. This segmentation enables differentiated service levels while keeping each tier's complexity manageable, as each segment can be independently configured and billed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic service level adjustment where users can upgrade from Best Effort to Guaranteed Time or Overage services based on their needs. This dynamic approach allows the system to adapt to varying user requirements without requiring complex static configurations for every possible service level.
4Loss of energy
If flat-rate commodity Internet bandwidth is used, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but quality of service guarantees and congestion cost allocation become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that continuously monitor network congestion and resource usage, then use this information to dynamically adjust pricing and allocate bandwidth. This feedback loop enables the system to provide quality of service guarantees on top of flat-rate commodity bandwidth by charging users based on their actual impact on network congestion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer (the virtual link control module) that sits between users and the underlying flat-rate bandwidth infrastructure. This intermediary manages congestion, allocates resources fairly, and implements congestion-based pricing, thereby enabling quality of service guarantees without requiring expensive dedicated infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A practical economic and technical model for building commercial-grade electronic file delivery services that provide the same scale, predictability, and differentiated service levels as physical courier services traditionally used to move electronic data on physical media. Systems and methods for providing such services using a charge-back scheme based on congestion pricing are described.