Dynamic Bandwidth Throttling for Network Latency Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face challenges in dynamically managing bandwidth to balance data transmission speed with minimal latency and interference, particularly when large files are transferred, as this can overwhelm available bandwidth and increase latency for other users.
Innovation Solution
A technique that monitors the bandwidth of the narrowest network link by tracking data transmission speed and dynamic capacity, adjusting data transmission rates based on observed latency and capacity metrics to prevent buffer overflow and ensure fair network usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If data is sent as fast as possible to maximize transmission speed, then the data transfer rate is improved, but the available bandwidth for other users is reduced and latency increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth throttling that continuously monitors network conditions and adjusts the data transmission rate in real-time. The system dynamically changes from static maximum-speed transmission to adaptive rate control based on observed network latency and bandwidth availability, resolving the contradiction between maintaining high transfer rates and preserving network responsiveness for other users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms by monitoring network latency and bandwidth usage during data transmission. Based on this feedback, the patent adjusts the transmission rate dynamically - reducing speed when latency increases or bandwidth is constrained, and increasing speed when network conditions improve. This closed-loop control resolves the contradiction by continuously balancing transfer rate against network impact.
2Productivity
If data transmission rate is increased to complete transfers quickly, then productivity is improved, but the effect on other users' latency worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms static high-speed transmission into dynamic rate adaptation. By continuously monitoring network conditions and adjusting the transmission rate accordingly, the system maintains high productivity when bandwidth is available while automatically reducing impact on other users when network congestion is detected, thus resolving the contradiction between transfer efficiency and network courtesy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the transmission rate parameter dynamically based on observed network conditions. Instead of maintaining a fixed high transmission rate that harms other users, the patent adjusts this parameter in response to measured bandwidth and latency metrics, thereby maintaining productivity while minimizing harmful effects on network latency for other users.
3Speed
If data is sent faster than the narrowest link bandwidth to maximize local throughput, then local transmission speed is improved, but data stacks up in buffers increasing latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback from network latency measurements to control the transmission rate. By monitoring the time it takes for data to traverse the network round-trip, the system detects when data is stacking up in buffers and automatically reduces the transmission speed to match the actual bandwidth of the narrowest link, preventing buffer overflow and associated latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary monitoring of network conditions before and during data transmission to anticipate buffer saturation. By detecting latency increases early in the transmission process, the patent takes preliminary action to adjust the transmission rate before significant buffer accumulation occurs, thereby preventing rather than merely responding to buffer latency problems.
Data Source
AI summary
An approximation of the bandwidth of the narrowest link in a network is determined by watching how fast data gets to the other end and then back again. The rate of data transmission is limited according to this approximation. Dynamic capacity of the link, i.e. the amount of data that can be in-flight at the same time, neglecting any buffers, is also tracked. The technique looks at how much data is in-flight and, if there is more data in flight than the dynamic capacity of the network, the data transmission rate is slowed down.