Edge Network Device Bandwidth Control via Phantom Packets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Edge network devices face challenges in controlling the quality-of-service (QoS) of incoming network traffic flows due to upstream bottlenecks that can hinder or contradict the desired QoS policies, making it difficult to manage bandwidth effectively and maintain performance, especially when dealing with bandwidth-limited wide-area networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an edge network device that limits the bandwidth of incoming network traffic flows to slightly less than the maximum available bandwidth, using phantom packets to dynamically adjust bandwidth allocations and ensure that each traffic class adheres to its minimum guaranteed bandwidth, thereby shifting the bottleneck to the edge device and allowing it to control QoS.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If upstream network devices are used to control QoS for incoming network traffic flows, then QoS policies can be implemented at the source, but upstream devices may operate as bottlenecks that hinder or contradict the desired QoS control at the edge device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the bottleneck function from upstream network devices and relocates it to the edge network device by artificially creating a bottleneck at the edge device. This is achieved by monitoring bandwidth usage and dynamically adjusting the edge device's bandwidth allocation to ensure it becomes the controlling bottleneck, thereby centralizing QoS control authority at the edge device where it can effectively enforce policies without interference from upstream devices.
2Productivity
If the edge network device allows maximum bandwidth for incoming network traffic flows, then throughput is maximized, but the device cannot control QoS when upstream bottlenecks exist
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth adjustment at the edge network device. Instead of statically allocating maximum bandwidth, the device continuously monitors the sum of bandwidth allocations across all traffic classes and dynamically modifies individual class allocations. This dynamic control ensures that the total bandwidth consumed by incoming traffic flows is limited to slightly less than the maximum available bandwidth, allowing the edge device to maintain QoS control while maximizing throughput under varying traffic conditions.
3Reliability
If the edge network device limits incoming network traffic flow bandwidth to slightly less than maximum, then QoS control is achieved, but bandwidth utilization may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the edge network device continuously monitors the actual bandwidth consumption of incoming network traffic flows and compares it against the allocated bandwidth for each traffic class. Based on this feedback, the device dynamically adjusts the bandwidth allocation for subsequent traffic packets. This closed-loop control ensures that the sum of bandwidth allocations remains slightly less than the maximum available bandwidth, preventing upstream bottlenecks while maximizing bandwidth utilization under varying traffic conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An edge network device controls the quality-of-service of incoming network traffic flows by limiting the bandwidth of incoming network traffic flows. To ensure that incoming network traffic classes quickly converge to the desired bandwidth allocations, the maximum bandwidth allocation to each network traffic class is dynamically varied based on current overall usage. The maximum bandwidth allocated to each traffic class at any given moment is the sum of its minimum guaranteed bandwidth and a portion of the available excess bandwidth. Each traffic class' portion of the excess bandwidth is proportional to the ratio between its minimum guaranteed bandwidth and the sum of all traffic classes' minimum guaranteed bandwidths. Phantom network packets equivalent to the difference between each traffic class' allocated and actual bandwidth may be added to its scheduling queue to implement this dynamic variation. Phantom packets occupy transmission slots during packet scheduling and are discarded when selected for transmission.