IP Load Management Gateway Prioritizing Utility Traffic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Rural customers lack affordable broadband Internet access due to high installation costs and limited availability of broadband services, with existing solutions like DSL and satellite Internet suffering from high latency, unreliability, and fair access policies, making it difficult for Internet Service Providers to profitably offer services in these areas.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an IP-based Active Load Management System that prioritizes load management messages over general IP traffic using an Active Load Director and IP-capable two-way gateway, ensuring regulated data is processed before unregulated data, thereby providing reliable and efficient broadband access by separating and routing messages based on priority across hardware and software implementations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If load management messages and general IP traffic are transmitted together over shared broadband networks, then network resource utilization is improved, but message delivery reliability deteriorates due to traffic congestion and competing priorities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments network traffic into two distinct categories: load management messages and general IP traffic. This segmentation is implemented through separate virtual circuits with different service classes, allowing each type of traffic to be handled according to its specific requirements. Load management messages receive guaranteed bandwidth and priority handling, while general IP traffic utilizes remaining network capacity, thus resolving the contradiction between resource utilization and message delivery reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism in the form of a network controller that manages and regulates traffic flow between the two service classes. This intermediary monitors network conditions, allocates bandwidth dynamically, and ensures that load management messages maintain priority status while allowing general IP traffic to utilize available resources, thereby balancing reliability and resource utilization.
2Reliability
If separate virtual circuits are established for load management messages and general IP traffic, then message delivery reliability is improved, but network infrastructure complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal network controller that can handle multiple service classes and traffic types through a single integrated platform. This multi-functional controller provides both the dedicated virtual circuit management for load management messages and the shared resource allocation for general IP traffic, reducing the need for separate physical infrastructure and simplifying network architecture while maintaining high reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the management of separate virtual circuits into a unified control plane. By combining the control functions for both service classes into a single network controller with integrated resource management capabilities, the system achieves reliable message delivery through virtual separation while avoiding the complexity of completely separate physical infrastructures.
3Loss of time
If guaranteed bandwidth is allocated to load management messages, then message processing timeliness is improved, but available network capacity for general IP traffic decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation where the guaranteed bandwidth for load management messages can be adjusted based on network conditions and priority levels. During periods of high network utilization or critical load management events, the system can dynamically allocate more capacity to time-sensitive messages, while during lighter periods, general IP traffic can utilize more available bandwidth, thus balancing timeliness and overall network capacity utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of bandwidth allocation from a static fixed value to a dynamic value that can be modified based on traffic patterns, message priority, and network conditions. This allows the system to optimize message processing timeliness when needed while maximizing overall network capacity utilization during periods when time sensitivity is less critical, effectively resolving the contradiction between timeliness and available capacity.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for prioritizing load management messages on IP-based networks utilizing an Active Load Directory and IP capable two-way gateway. The messages being received from, or sent to, the ISP through the gateway contain a blend of regulated and unregulated data. The regulated data is high-priority utility load management data such as, equipment status and load control instructions. The unregulated data consists of Internet messages such as email and web site data. These methods process all regulatory data before unregulated data within strict time limits, providing the greatest possible load management control and energy savings. The methods emulate dedicated network processor memory in a manner that permits the rules for prioritizing, scheduling, and routing to remain the same across both hardware and software implementations.