Latency Increase Estimated Rate Decrease Algorithm for Network Traffic Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional broadband networks, such as the Internet, struggle to provide reliable quality of service for real-time applications like voice over IP due to factors like low throughput, packet loss, bit errors, latency, jitter, and out-of-order packet delivery, especially in consumer-grade connections where congestion leads to data corruption and packet loss.

Innovation Solution

Configuring rate limiters of network devices based on latency measurements to adjust transmission rates dynamically, ensuring maximum possible rates while maintaining traffic prioritization, by using the Latency Increase Estimated Rate Decrease (LIERD) algorithm to calculate and apply rate reductions based on measured latency increases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If rate limiters are configured to support quality of service for real-time applications, then reliability and latency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvequality of service reliabilityVSAvoidnetwork device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring latency measurements and using this information to dynamically adjust rate limiter configurations. The system measures latency between network devices and feeds this information back to automatically tune rate limiters, eliminating the need for manual configuration while maintaining quality of service reliability for real-time applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The network devices perform self-configuration of rate limiters by autonomously measuring latency and adjusting their own rate limiter settings. This self-service approach allows the system to optimize quality of service without requiring external manual intervention or complex centralized control, thereby improving reliability while keeping device complexity manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If transmission rate is increased to improve throughput, then productivity increases, but latency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork throughputVSAvoidnetwork latency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the transmission rate adjustable and adaptive rather than fixed. The rate limiter configuration is dynamically tuned based on measured latency, allowing the system to optimize throughput while maintaining acceptable latency levels. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between maximizing productivity and minimizing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of time

If rate limiters are manually configured to reduce latency, then latency decreases, but ease of operation decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork latencyVSAvoidconfiguration ease
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-configuration by automatically measuring latency and adjusting rate limiter settings without requiring manual intervention. This eliminates the operational burden on users while achieving latency reduction, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining the latency benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The automatic feedback loop continuously monitors latency and adjusts rate limiter configurations based on measured performance. This eliminates manual configuration requirements while maintaining optimized latency levels, resolving the contradiction between reducing latency and maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3714580B1Latency increase estimated rate limiter adjustment
Publication Date: 2022.07.20 HUGHES NETWORK SYST
  • EP3714580B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3714580B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3714580B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The technology described herein is directed to configuring the rate limiters of network devices based on latency measurements. The rate limiters are configured based on latency measurements such that the network traffic is transmitted and/or received at a maximum possible rate while minimizing/preventing the loss of traffic prioritization. To this end, a latency increase, estimated rate decrease algorithm may be implemented whereby the percentage rate reduction of a rate limiter is based on the rate of increase in inbound latency or outbound latency measured over a predetermined period of time (e.g., over a predetermined number of latency measurements). Depending on the change of inbound latency or outbound latency of traffic on the network, a receive rate limiter or a transmit rate limiter of an edge device may be dynamically adjusted.