Inbound Traffic Control via Relay Path Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional systems for controlling path selection in communications networks only manage outbound traffic and do not account for historical path quality assessments and predictions when making in-bound traffic decisions, making it difficult to dynamically control in-bound traffic effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize a historical path quality assessment and prediction system to control in-bound traffic by selecting and setting up paths through relays, such as TURN servers, based on continuous monitoring and assessment data, allowing for robust path quality considerations in in-bound traffic management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional path selection systems are used, then outbound traffic can be controlled, but in-bound traffic cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a relay server as an intermediary component that mediates in-bound traffic control. The relay server receives path quality assessments from the path quality assessment system and uses this information to intelligently route in-bound traffic to the appropriate peer, enabling control capability without requiring complex modifications to the peer devices themselves.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the path selection functionality into separate components: outbound path selection handled by conventional systems, and in-bound path selection handled by the relay server using path quality assessment data. This segmentation allows in-bound control to be added without complicating the existing outbound control mechanisms.
2Measurement precision
If historical path quality data is collected and stored, then path selection accuracy improves, but system resource consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential path quality parameters needed for path selection decisions from the complete set of available metrics. By selecting and storing only the most relevant parameters (such as latency, packet loss, and jitter measurements) rather than all possible quality indicators, the system achieves accurate path assessment while minimizing data storage requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms raw path quality measurements into normalized scoring values that represent path suitability. This parameter transformation allows the system to work with compact, standardized metrics rather than large volumes of raw measurement data, improving both assessment accuracy and storage efficiency.
3Speed
If real-time path quality monitoring is implemented, then traffic control responsiveness improves, but processing overhead increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay server performs multiple functions using the same path quality assessment infrastructure: it monitors path quality, stores assessment data, makes routing decisions, and updates path selections. This multi-functionality allows real-time monitoring and responsive path selection without requiring separate dedicated systems for each function, thereby reducing overall processing overhead.
4Adaptability or versatility
If relay-based path control is used, then in-bound traffic management flexibility improves, but network architecture complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The relay server automatically makes path selection decisions for in-bound traffic based on stored path quality assessments without requiring manual configuration or complex control plane interactions. The system self-manages the routing decisions by querying its own assessment database and applying routing rules, which simplifies the overall network architecture compared to systems requiring centralized control or manual path management.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of automatically controlling in-bound traffic from a first communications peer to a second communications peer based on an input from a historical path quality assessment and prediction system is disclosed. The second communications peer receives an input from the historical path quality assessment and prediction system, selects a path through a relay based on the received input, requests allocation of the relay, and sends an address of the selected relay to the first communications peer. The system and method works in concert with an Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) mechanism, or takes advantage of the features of the Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE) mechanism.