Dummy Data Flow Bandwidth Reservation for VoIP QoS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Internet Protocol Networks (IP Packet Networks) face challenges in providing guaranteed quality of service (QoS), particularly due to congestion caused by peer-to-peer file sharing, which affects voice and video calls by delaying or dropping packets, and existing solutions require complex modifications to routers or protocols, increasing costs and reducing the advantages of using IP.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the transmission of dummy data packets between nodes to determine and maintain a sufficient quality of service by adjusting the transmission rate, ensuring time-critical traffic has a guaranteed path without modifying routers or protocols, using a control mechanism that establishes a dummy data packet flow ahead of time-critical traffic to prioritize and protect it from congestion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If peer-to-peer file sharing traffic is allowed to use all available bandwidth, then file transfer speed is improved, but quality of service for time-critical traffic deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent establishes a preliminary dummy data flow between nodes before actual time-critical traffic needs to be transmitted. This dummy flow reserves bandwidth and creates a guaranteed path in advance, ensuring that when real time-critical traffic arrives, the path is already established and bandwidth is available, preventing degradation of service quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dummy data packets as an intermediary mechanism to reserve bandwidth and establish guaranteed paths. These dummy packets act as placeholders that occupy network resources in advance, mediating between the competing demands of file sharing traffic and time-critical traffic by ensuring dedicated bandwidth allocation
2Reliability
If complex modifications are made to routers and network equipment to implement QoS schemes, then quality of service for time-critical traffic is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-service QoS mechanism where end nodes autonomously establish guaranteed paths using dummy data flows without requiring modifications to routers or network equipment. The nodes themselves manage bandwidth reservation and path establishment, eliminating the need for complex router modifications and centralized QoS management infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses simple dummy data packets as disposable objects to reserve bandwidth and establish paths. These dummy packets are inexpensive to generate and transmit, and can be easily created and discarded by end nodes without requiring expensive network equipment modifications or complex protocol changes
3Reliability
If dummy data packets are transmitted at high rates to reserve bandwidth, then guaranteed path establishment is improved, but network congestion increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transmits dummy data packets at rates that are sufficient to establish guaranteed paths and reserve necessary bandwidth, but not excessively high rates that would cause unnecessary congestion. The dummy flow rate is calibrated to match the actual time-critical traffic requirements, providing just enough bandwidth reservation without over-provisioning that would harm overall network performance
Data Source
AI summary
In order to keep a pathway for time critical data packets (for example for VoIP calls) a dummy flow of data packets is established between a home hub router (20) and a broadband remote access server (25) being the first gateway to the IP network. Should a call be made from the telephone (23), the dummy flow is replaced for the duration of the call by the packets generated for the VoIP call. The dummy flow is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of data packets transmitted in order to ensure that a minimum bandwidth having a tolerable delay is available. The dummy flow works by causing non time critical (i.e. P2P data packet flows) to back off and no modification is required to routers and the like incorporated into the network.