LAN Traffic Shaping via Rules Engine and Sensor Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Small office or home office networks lack the financial resources, time, and expertise to implement complex data packet control methods used in wide area networks, making it cost-prohibitive to hire a traffic engineer to configure network elements for effective Quality of Service (QoS) management.
Innovation Solution
A rules-based QoS system that uses sensors to collect data traffic information, compares it against pre-defined rules stored in a rules engine, and transmits control signals to a gateway to dynamically configure data traffic processing, enabling automated and economical data traffic shaping within local area networks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual configuration of network elements for QoS is implemented, then data packet control quality is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by allowing the network to automatically monitor and shape its own traffic using sensors embedded in network elements that collect traffic data and apply shaping actions without external intervention, eliminating the need for traffic engineers while maintaining QoS control quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where sensors continuously monitor data traffic characteristics and feed this information back to the control system, which automatically adjusts traffic shaping parameters based on observed network conditions, enabling adaptive QoS management without manual configuration
2Ease of operation
If automated traffic shaping is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges multiple functions into unified network elements that simultaneously perform sensing, data collection, and traffic shaping operations, reducing the need for separate management systems and simplifying operation while maintaining automated capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary layer of sensors and control logic that sits between network elements and traffic flow, automatically translating high-level policies into specific traffic shaping actions, thereby simplifying user operation while managing system complexity through abstraction
Data Source
AI summary
A method, non-transitory computer readable medium and apparatus for shaping data traffic in a local area network (LAN) are disclosed. For example, the method includes receiving data traffic information from one or more sensors of a plurality of network elements within the LAN, determining that a data traffic shaping action is required based on a comparison of the data traffic information to one or more rules stored in a rules engine and transmitting a control signal to a gateway to configure the gateway to process the data traffic in accordance with the data traffic shaping action.