Flow Information Packet Segmentation for Accurate Traffic Volume Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for estimating flow-specific traffic volumes in combined layer 2/layer 3 routers are unable to accurately account for packet loss during data transfer, leading to inconsistent and unreliable network traffic management.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involves router-for-clients and a router-for-relay to create and transfer flow information packets, prioritizing them to prevent loss, allowing destination routers to calculate and report accurate traffic volumes to a simple network management protocol server, using traffic calculators, samplers, and packet combiners to aggregate and filter data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If packet sampling with limited storage is used for traffic estimation, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to packet loss during transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides traffic measurement into two independent segments: (1) data packets carrying actual user data, and (2) flow information packets carrying measurement data. This segmentation allows the measurement function to be separated from the data forwarding function, enabling precise traffic volume estimation without affecting data packet transmission and eliminating packet loss issues.
Solution Approach 2:
Flow information packets serve as intermediary carriers that transport traffic measurement data from source routers to destination routers. These intermediary packets contain flow identification information and traffic volume data, enabling accurate measurement while being treated as high-priority control packets that are not subject to the same loss conditions as data packets.
2Device complexity
If traffic information is measured at each router independently, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability deteriorates due to inconsistent traffic volume data across different routers
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where flow information packets are sent from source routers to destination routers, and the destination router uses this feedback information to calculate and report accurate traffic volumes. This feedback loop ensures that traffic measurement data is consistent across different routers in the network.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow information packet structure is designed to be universal and applicable across all routers in the network. Each router can generate, receive, and process these standardized packets, enabling consistent traffic measurement throughout the network without requiring router-specific customization.
3Device complexity
If flow information packets are not prioritized, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information occurs when flow information packets are dropped
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies different quality of service (QoS) treatment to different packet types: data packets receive standard handling, while flow information packets receive high-priority treatment. This local quality differentiation ensures that measurement-critical packets are protected from loss without requiring complex handling for all packets.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for exactly estimating a volume of traffic is provided when packets are transferred within the network. The system and method receive data packets from clients through a plurality of router-for-clients, and creating a flow information packet for estimating information about a flow, transfer the data packets and the created flow information packet to the destination router-for-client via a router-for-relay, calculate information about the traffic of a flow at the destination router-for-client through the flow information packets transferred from the router-for-clients, and estimate a volume of the traffic. Thus, the system and method can estimate the volume of the traffic on the network with respect to the aggregated flow defined by the router pair connected to the terminal or the external network when the traffic is actually introduced into the network, instead of the flows of each terminal and each destination.