Destination Node Network Congestion Detection via MAC Payload Comparison
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional TCP congestion control techniques primarily focus on the source node, which may not accurately determine network congestion at wireless APs or routers, leading to inefficient congestion control and increased costs due to the need for modifying existing TCP standards.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus and method that extract physical and MAC frame payload information at the destination node to compare data sizes and determine congestion levels without altering existing TCP standards, allowing for direct congestion detection and control at the destination node.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If congestion control is performed at the source node using conventional TCP techniques, then the source node can directly determine and control congestion, but the congestion level cannot be accurately determined when congestion occurs at wireless APs or routers between source and destination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism where the destination node extracts and compares protocol layer data sizes (MAC frame payload vs. TCP segment data) to detect congestion indicators. This intermediary detection at the destination provides accurate congestion information about intermediate wireless APs/routers without requiring complex modifications at the source node, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If congestion detection is performed at the destination node, then accurate congestion information can be obtained, but additional cost is incurred for transmitting control instructions from destination to source
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by having the destination node autonomously perform congestion detection through local data size comparison of received frames. The destination node independently extracts MAC frame payload sizes and TCP segment data sizes, compares them locally, and determines congestion status without requiring additional control instruction transmissions to the source node. This eliminates the energy cost of bidirectional control signaling while maintaining accurate congestion detection.
3Measurement precision
If existing TCP standards are modified to enable destination-based congestion control, then congestion can be accurately detected at the destination, but the implementation becomes complex and requires significant standard changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by implementing only the necessary destination-side functions for congestion detection (data size extraction and comparison at the destination node) without requiring full modification of the TCP standard. The solution uses existing protocol fields and adds minimal functionality at the destination, avoiding excessive complexity while achieving accurate congestion detection. This partial implementation approach resolves the contradiction by doing just enough at the destination without comprehensive standard changes.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and a method for detecting network congestion based on a destination node are provided. To elaborate, the apparatus may include: a physical information extraction unit that extracts physical information of an electrical signal received through an antenna of the destination node; a MAC information extraction unit that extracts a size of a MAC frame payload from a MAC frame on the basis of the extracted physical information; a TCP information extraction unit that extracts a size of service data included in the MAC frame payload; a data size comparison unit that compares the size of the MAC frame payload with the size of the service data and generates comparison result data; and a congestion detection unit that receives the comparison result data, compares the comparison result data with a predetermined threshold value, and determines presence or absence of network congestion.