Cooperative Congestion Detection in Cellular Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless networks face congestion issues due to limited bandwidth resources, leading to slowed or degraded data transfers when demand exceeds channel capacity, as users typically become aware of congestion after it occurs, and upper application layers lack access to congestion information for timely mitigation.
Innovation Solution
Congestion information is determined based on file segment transfers and shared among user terminals and servers, allowing for real-time adjustments in data transfer rates and preferred delivery periods to manage network traffic effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If users individually detect congestion through periodic measurements, then congestion awareness is achieved, but aggregate traffic burden exacerbates existing congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines congestion detection efforts by having a single terminal perform measurements and share results with others, merging individual detection actions into a coordinated system that avoids duplicate measurement traffic
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service congestion detection where terminals can obtain congestion information either through their own measurements or by receiving shared information from other terminals, allowing flexible adaptation without centralized control
2Loss of information
If congestion detection is performed at lower protocol layers, then congestion information is available, but upper application layers cannot access it for timely mitigation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where congestion information from lower layers is extracted and made available to upper application layers through shared data structures that the application layer can directly access and respond to
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments congestion information into extractable components that can be independently accessed by different protocol layers, allowing the application layer to obtain specific congestion metrics without processing entire protocol messages
3Loss of information
If multiple terminals independently measure congestion, then each terminal has congestion awareness, but measurement traffic aggregate burden increases network congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges redundant congestion measurement actions by enabling terminals to share measurement results, so that instead of each terminal generating separate measurement traffic, one terminal's measurements serve the entire group
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by having only some terminals perform measurements while others receive shared information, reducing overall measurement traffic while maintaining congestion awareness across all terminals
Data Source
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AI summary
Congestion information is determined based on a file segment transferred to one of user terminals. The congestion information is available to a server or controller communicatively linked with a plurality of user terminals. The congestion information is shared with other user terminals that share a bottleneck link.