Network Congestion Measurement via Multi-bit Sampling Indicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Network congestion management is challenging due to the inability of existing technologies to effectively measure and control data transfer rates in communication networks, leading to inefficiencies in bandwidth utilization and potential bottlenecks.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involves an intermediate network device, such as a switch, sampling frames to compute a congestion measurement value, representing it with at least two bits, and transmitting a multi-bit indicator to control the frame transfer rate, allowing source network devices to adjust their transmission rates based on available bandwidth and congestion levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If existing technologies are used for network congestion management, then network communication can be maintained, but effective measurement and control of data transfer rates cannot be achieved, leading to bandwidth utilization inefficiencies and bottlenecks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where intermediate network devices measure congestion levels and send congestion indicators back to source devices. Source devices use these indicators to adjust their data transfer rates dynamically, creating a closed-loop control system that improves bandwidth utilization while maintaining reliable congestion control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical or hardware-based flow control mechanisms with software-based congestion measurement and control algorithms. The system uses multi-bit congestion indicators and rate adjustment algorithms that can be implemented through firmware or software, providing more flexible and efficient congestion management without additional physical infrastructure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If multi-bit congestion indicators are transmitted to control data transfer rates, then congestion control stability and fairness improve, but network device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the congestion control function into distinct components: congestion measurement at intermediate devices, multi-bit indicator generation, and rate adjustment at source devices. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently, improving overall stability while managing complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses multi-bit parameters to represent congestion levels, allowing for finer-grained control compared to traditional single-bit indicators. By changing the parameter representation from binary to multi-bit, the system achieves greater stability and fairness in congestion control, while the increased information density compensates for the moderate increase in processing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If congestion measurements are computed from sampled information, then accurate real-time congestion detection is achieved, but information processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by sampling only a subset of information units rather than processing every unit. Intermediate devices selectively measure congestion based on sampled packets, achieving accurate real-time congestion detection while significantly reducing the processing overhead compared to examining every single data unit passing through the network.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments of a system and method for providing a congestion measurement in a network are disclosed. In an example embodiment information is received at an information transfer rate, from a source network device. A sample of the information may be taken before the information is transmitted to a destination network device. In an example embodiment, a congestion measurement value is computed that corresponds to the sample and represented with at least two bits. A multi-bit indicator of the congestion measurement value is then transmitted to control the information transfer rate of information arriving in the future.