Dynamic Congestion Threshold Adjustment for Network Queue Throughput
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing network devices face challenges in dynamically adjusting congestion thresholds to meet varying service traffic patterns, leading to inefficient throughput and congestion control, as static thresholds fail to adapt to changing traffic loads.
Innovation Solution
A method where a network device automatically sets a congestion threshold based on the traffic load of a queue by adding a fixed value to the threshold after a period, detecting differences in traffic loads, and adjusting the threshold accordingly to maintain optimal queue performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed congestion threshold is manually configured, then the network device can implement ECN marking to notify sending devices of congestion, but the threshold cannot adapt to dynamically changing service traffic patterns, leading to suboptimal throughput and bandwidth utilization
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static congestion threshold into a dynamic parameter that automatically adjusts based on real-time queue length measurements. The network device continuously monitors queue occupancy and modifies the threshold accordingly, enabling the system to adapt to changing traffic patterns without manual intervention while maintaining optimal throughput and bandwidth utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the network device monitors actual queue length and uses this information to adjust the congestion threshold. The threshold is increased when queue length exceeds the current threshold, and decreased when queue length falls below it, creating a self-regulating system that adapts to traffic conditions while preventing both congestion and excessive buffer usage.
2Quantity of substance
If a comparatively high congestion threshold is set, then more packets can be buffered in the queue requiring higher buffer capability, but this results in longer RTT latency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the congestion threshold based on actual queue length, allowing the buffer capacity to expand when needed and contract when not required. This prevents permanently high thresholds that would always increase latency, while still allowing temporary buffer expansion during high traffic periods, thus balancing packet quantity and RTT latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the congestion threshold parameter dynamically rather than keeping it fixed. By adjusting this parameter based on real-time queue conditions, the system can optimize the balance between buffering capacity and latency, ensuring the threshold reflects current traffic demands rather than static assumptions.
3Loss of time
If a comparatively low congestion threshold is set, then RTT latency is reduced, but this results in lower queue throughput and bandwidth usage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the congestion threshold dynamic, allowing it to increase when queue length indicates available buffer capacity and decrease when buffer pressure rises. This enables the system to achieve low latency during light traffic while maintaining high throughput during heavy traffic, resolving the trade-off between these two performance metrics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adjusts the congestion threshold parameter based on queue length measurements, transforming it from a fixed low value to a dynamic value that optimizes both latency and throughput. When queue length is low, the threshold remains low for fast response; when queue length increases, the threshold rises to utilize available bandwidth, thus achieving both low latency and high throughput at different times.
4Ease of manufacture
If manual configuration of congestion threshold is required, then implementation is simple with fixed values, but this lacks automation and cannot satisfy diversified service requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the network device to automatically configure and adjust its own congestion threshold based on its observed queue length. The device monitors its own buffer conditions and self-adjusts the threshold without external intervention, achieving both automation and simplicity by eliminating manual configuration while using straightforward comparison logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements automatic feedback-based threshold adjustment where the network device uses its own queue length measurements to dynamically set the congestion threshold. This eliminates manual configuration while maintaining implementation simplicity through a straightforward feedback loop that compares queue length to the threshold and adjusts accordingly.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Embodiments of this application disclose a congestion control method and a network device. The method includes: adding, by a network device, a fixed value to a congestion threshold after a first period ends, and detecting whether a difference obtained by subtracting average traffic load of a queue in the first period from average traffic load of the queue in the network device in a second period is greater than a target increase value, and setting the congestion threshold based on a detection result after the second period ends, where the first period is a period previous to the second period; marking, by the network device, a received packet when a quantity of packets buffered in the queue is greater than the congestion threshold, and enqueueing the marked packet in the queue; and sending, by the network device to a receiving device, the marked packet that is dequeued from the queue. According to the embodiments of this application, the congestion threshold of the queue may be automatically set based on traffic load of the queue, to improve a throughput of the queue and congestion control efficiency when there are a comparatively small quantity of packets buffered in the queue.