Multipath Network Traffic Flow Management via Link Load Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing multipath network technologies face challenges in efficiently managing traffic flow, leading to path oscillation, increased router loads, and reduced bandwidth utilization for TCP connections, particularly due to dynamic partitioning methods that require per-flow state-maintenance and packet tagging, which limit scalability and bandwidth utilization.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves forwarding packets along a first link and tracking its load, preserving the link for subsequent packets with the same flow address if the desired load change is less than a predetermined value, using a variable dial to adjust link assignments and minimize traffic switching, and employing a fairness mechanism for path rotation based on loss rates to optimize bandwidth utilization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If dynamic partitioning is employed to distribute packets across multiple paths, then load balancing is improved, but path oscillation occurs causing packets of the same stream to be delivered out of order
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-assigning packets of the same stream to a specific path before transmission begins. The system determines an initial path for each stream and maintains this assignment throughout transmission, preventing path oscillation while still allowing dynamic load balancing across different streams. This preliminary path determination resolves the contradiction by establishing stability before the transmission process occurs.
2Stability of the object's composition
If path assignments are recorded in packet headers (packet tagging), then path oscillation is reduced, but processing time per packet increases and router loads increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the path assignment information from the packet header by using the existing flow address (source and destination addresses) to identify and track streams. Instead of adding tags to packets, the system maintains path assignments based on flow addresses at the router level, eliminating the need for packet tagging while still achieving stable path assignments. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by removing the time-consuming tagging operation while preserving path stability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If per-flow state-maintenance is implemented to track each flow's path assignment, then path oscillation is minimized, but memory requirements increase and the number of flows per router is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by using the existing flow address structure (source IP, destination IP, source port, destination port) for multiple purposes: stream identification, path assignment tracking, and load balancing decisions. The system maintains path assignments in a unified data structure that handles all flows uniformly without requiring separate memory allocations for different flow types. This multi-functional use of the flow address resolves the contradiction by achieving path consistency without proportionally increasing memory requirements.
4Quantity of substance
If flows are grouped into buckets with hashed addresses to reduce memory requirements, then memory usage decreases, but load balancing granularity is reduced and path oscillation may increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting the path assignment based on real-time load conditions while maintaining fine-grained control at the individual flow level. The system modifies the path selection parameters (which path to assign) based on current network state without changing the fundamental flow identification parameters. This allows the system to maintain fine-grained load balancing capability while adapting to varying memory conditions, resolving the contradiction between memory usage and balancing granularity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing traffic flow through a multipath network and systems and apparatuses configured to employ such a method are provided. The method includes forwarding a packet along a first link of the multipath network and tracking a load of the first link subsequent to forwarding the packet. In addition, the method includes preserving the first link for a subsequent packet having the same flow address as the forwarded packet upon determining a desired load change of the first link is less than a predetermined value.