Dynamic Flow Control Switching for Data Transmission Congestion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Data center networks face challenges in achieving both high throughput and low latency due to limitations in existing data transmission control methods, such as active and passive flow control, which either lead to increased latency or packet loss during congestion.

Innovation Solution

A method that dynamically switches between active and passive flow control based on congestion status, using a scheduling module on the source node and congestion detection modules on the destination node to adjust the transmission mode, ensuring efficient data transmission by utilizing the advantages of both control methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If passive flow control is used, then latency is reduced, but throughput decreases and packet loss occurs during congestion

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidthroughput
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic flow control mode switching between passive and active modes based on real-time network congestion detection. The system transitions from static to dynamic operation by adapting the flow control strategy according to current network conditions, thereby optimizing both latency and throughput performance across varying load scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the flow control parameter (mode between passive and active) based on network congestion status. When congestion is detected, the system switches from passive to active mode, and when network conditions improve, it switches back to passive mode, thereby dynamically adjusting the control parameter to resolve the contradiction between latency and throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If active flow control is used, then throughput is maintained, but latency increases due to request-response negotiation

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethroughputVSAvoidlatency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects between active and passive flow control modes based on real-time congestion detection, avoiding the continuous overhead of active mode negotiation when network conditions permit passive operation, thereby reducing latency while maintaining throughput capability when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the flow control mode selection logic from the data transmission process itself, implementing a separate congestion detection and mode switching mechanism. This allows the system to optimize transmission efficiency by selecting the appropriate control mode without adding negotiation overhead to every data transmission interaction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Loss of time

If passive flow control is used during congestion, then latency remains low, but packet loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovelatencyVSAvoidpacket loss
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback-based flow control mode switching by continuously monitoring network congestion status and adjusting the flow control mode accordingly. When congestion is detected through feedback signals, the system switches to active mode to prevent packet loss, and when congestion clears, it switches back to passive mode to maintain low latency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adapts its flow control strategy based on real-time network conditions, transitioning between passive and active modes to simultaneously address latency and packet loss concerns. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to optimize for low latency during normal conditions while ensuring reliability during congestion events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3694164B1Data transmission method and device, and computer storage medium
Publication Date: 2023.08.30 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3694164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3694164B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3694164B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a data transmission method, a device, and a computer storage medium, where the method includes: obtaining, by a first device, a congestion status of a transmission port, where the transmission port is a communications port used by the first device when a second device transmits data to the first device, and the congestion status is used to indicate whether data congestion occurs on the transmission port; and sending indication information to the second device when a mode switching condition is met, where the indication information is used to instruct the second device to switch a transmission mode used when the second device transmits the data, so that the second device transmits the data to the first device in a switched transmission mode, and the mode switching condition is associated with the congestion status of the transmission port. Performance of both a high throughput and a low latency of a network can be implemented by using the embodiments of the present invention.