Multipath Packet Sending Control Policy for Redundant Transmission

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Solution Overview

Problem

In multipath transmission technologies like MPTCP, the small packet sending control policy restricts timely transmission of multiple small packets carrying the same data across different paths, affecting data transmission efficiency due to constraints such as the Nagle mechanism and redundant scheduling policies.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that determine specific conditions to disable the small packet sending control policy, allowing for adaptive control of the time interval for sending small packets, enabling their simultaneous transmission on multiple paths in a redundant mode without modifying default protocol stack settings, by using mechanisms like sequence number modification, unacknowledged packet management, and timer control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the small packet sending control policy is enabled to increase payload in sent packets, then packet transmission interval is controlled and payload is increased, but multiple small packets carrying same data cannot be sent timely on multiple paths

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovepayloadVSAvoidtransmission delay
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically adjusts the small packet sending control policy based on transmission mode. When redundant transmission mode is detected, the policy is disabled to allow simultaneous sending of multiple small packets on different paths. When normal mode is used, the policy remains enabled to control transmission interval and increase payload. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction between payload optimization and transmission speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the state parameter of the small packet sending control policy (enabled/disabled) based on the transmission mode. By detecting whether redundant transmission mode is active, the system switches the control policy state to optimize either for payload (enabled state) or for transmission speed (disabled state), thereby resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the small packet sending control policy is enabled to control time interval, then transmission interval is regulated, but data transmission efficiency is reduced due to delayed packet sending

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransmission controlVSAvoiddata transmission efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the transmission control dynamic by conditionally enabling or disabling the small packet sending control policy based on the transmission mode. In redundant transmission mode, control is disabled to maximize efficiency. In normal mode, control is enabled to maintain regulated transmission. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between ease of control and transmission efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If redundant scheduling policy is used to repeatedly send small packets on multiple subflows, then reliability is improved, but small packets cannot be sent timely due to control policy constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoidpacket sending delay
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent dynamically disables the small packet sending control policy when redundant transmission mode is detected, allowing immediate repeated sending of small packets on multiple subflows without delay. This dynamic adjustment maintains reliability through redundant transmission while eliminating the timing constraints that would otherwise cause delays, thus resolving the contradiction between reliability and transmission speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3739784B1Data packet sending method and related device
Publication Date: 2023.06.21 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP3739784B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3739784B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3739784B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Embodiments of this application disclose a packet sending method and a related device. The method includes: determining, by a sender, that the multipath connection meets a first condition, where the first condition is used to disable a small packet sending control policy used for the multipath connection, the small packet sending control policy is used to control a time interval at which the sender sends a small packet by using the multipath connection, and a length of data included in the small packet is less than a maximum packet length MSS; disabling, by the sender, the small packet sending control policy; and sending, by the sender, a plurality of small packets on a plurality of paths of the multipath connection in a redundant transmission mode after disabling the small packet sending control policy, where the plurality of small packets include small packets that carry same data. According to the embodiments of this application, data transmission efficiency is improved.