Load Balancer Egress Thresholds for Peer Network Cost Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Communications networks face inefficiencies in managing egress traffic to peer networks, leading to unnecessary charges based on 95th percentile bandwidth usage, even when the traffic is not consistently at that level, resulting in higher effective costs per gigabyte.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a load balancer to set dynamic logical egress traffic thresholds, such as the 95th percentile, to optimize traffic diversion to peer networks, ensuring efficient utilization and cost management by diverting traffic based on customer demand, willingness to pay, and network capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a fixed egress traffic threshold is used for billing purposes, then the network can simplify billing calculations and allow traffic bursts without additional charges, but the network pays for unused bandwidth capacity most of the time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the egress traffic threshold adjustable rather than fixed. The threshold can be dynamically modified based on actual traffic patterns and utilization levels. When traffic consistently remains below the threshold, the threshold is lowered to reduce billing costs. When traffic approaches or exceeds the threshold, it is raised to accommodate the increased demand. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize between paying for unused capacity and the complexity of continuously monitoring and adjusting thresholds.
2Loss of energy
If the egress traffic threshold is lowered to reduce billing costs, then the network pays less for unused bandwidth, but the network may not have sufficient capacity during traffic bursts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where traffic monitoring systems continuously track egress traffic patterns and feed this information back to the threshold adjustment mechanism. When traffic patterns indicate consistent underutilization, the feedback triggers a threshold reduction. When traffic approaches threshold levels, the feedback triggers threshold increases or alerts for capacity planning. This feedback loop ensures that the threshold is optimized for cost while maintaining sufficient capacity to handle actual traffic demands, resolving the contradiction between cost reduction and reliability.
3Reliability
If the egress traffic threshold is raised to accommodate traffic bursts, then the network ensures sufficient capacity during peak demand, but the network pays for excessive unused bandwidth capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the egress traffic threshold parameter based on observed traffic patterns and utilization metrics. Rather than setting a static threshold, the system modifies the threshold parameter in response to changing conditions. When traffic patterns show consistent utilization well below the threshold, the parameter is decreased to reduce costs. When traffic patterns indicate near-threshold utilization, the parameter is increased to maintain reliability. This parameter adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing the threshold to match actual demand levels.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes systems, methods, and devices related to managing egress traffic from a network to one or more peer networks. A method may include generating, using a load balancer of a network, a dynamic logical egress traffic threshold for a peer network; determining, using the load balancer, that first traffic from the network to the peer network is below the logical egress traffic threshold; directing second traffic from the network to the peer network based on the determination that the first traffic is below the logical egress traffic threshold; determining, using the load balancer, that the second traffic from the network to the peer network has reached the logical egress traffic threshold; and directing third traffic from the network away from the peer network based on the determination that the second traffic has reached the logical egress traffic threshold.