Direct Congestion Feedback for Low-Latency Network Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing AR/VR/MR systems experience significant latency and congestion due to inefficient congestion control mechanisms, particularly in cellular networks, leading to degraded user experience.
Innovation Solution
Implement a modified feedback system that directly conveys congestion information from intermediary network devices to the transmitting endpoint, bypassing unnecessary hops, using ICMP packets with ECN bit marking to adjust codec rates and reduce latency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If traditional congestion control mechanisms are used in cellular networks, then network stability is maintained, but latency increases and user experience degrades
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where intermediary network devices send ICMP packets with ECN (Explicit Congestion Notification) bits to transmitting endpoints. This direct feedback loop allows the endpoint to receive real-time congestion information and adjust its transmission rate accordingly, reducing latency while maintaining reliable congestion control through continuous monitoring and adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the feedback path by using ICMP packets as a separate control channel from the primary data transmission path. This segmentation allows congestion control signals to be transmitted independently and efficiently to the endpoint without interfering with the main data flow, enabling faster response times while maintaining network stability.
2Loss of time
If congestion information is conveyed through multiple network hops, then comprehensive network monitoring is achieved, but feedback latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential congestion information from the complex multi-hop network path and encapsulates it in a dedicated ICMP packet sent directly to the transmitting endpoint. This extraction approach removes unnecessary intermediate processing steps while preserving the critical congestion state information, significantly reducing feedback latency without losing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses ICMP packets as an intermediary carrier that bridges the intermediary network devices and the transmitting endpoint. This intermediary mechanism efficiently conveys congestion information across the network while maintaining a direct and reliable communication path, avoiding the delays associated with traditional multi-hop feedback mechanisms.
3Productivity
If codec rate is adjusted in response to congestion, then throughput is optimized, but system responsiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the transmitting endpoint continuously monitor for ICMP congestion notifications and prepare rate adjustments in advance. When congestion is detected, the endpoint can immediately implement rate changes without waiting for additional feedback cycles, optimizing throughput while maintaining rapid system responsiveness through proactive adaptation.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for latency improvement may include a first endpoint which is configured to transmit, via one or more intermediary network devices to a second endpoint, first traffic generated by the first endpoint for receipt by the second endpoint. The first endpoint may receive, from a first intermediary network device of the one or more intermediary network devices, a packet generated by the first intermediary network device, the packet indicating congestion experienced by the first intermediary network device. The first endpoint may transmit, via the one or more intermediary network devices to the second endpoint, second traffic generated by the first endpoint according to the packet received from the first intermediary network device.