Network Appliance Congestion Window Control for High-Priority Traffic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional network traffic prioritization techniques fail to effectively increase high-priority traffic throughput during low overall network traffic volumes, as they do not dynamically adjust congestion windows based on priority and link characteristics.

Innovation Solution

A network appliance with a transport layer controller and traffic priority controller that acquires link and transport layer characteristics, determines congestion, and increases the congestion window for high-priority traffic when no congestion is present, optimizing network bandwidth for high-priority flows.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional traffic prioritization techniques are used to push more high-priority packets into the network, then high-priority traffic throughput is improved, but when overall network traffic becomes scarce, the QoS module does not receive enough high-priority traffic to induce drastic throughput increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh-priority traffic throughputVSAvoidadaptability to varying network traffic volumes

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic congestion window adjustment that adapts to varying network conditions and traffic volumes. The system continuously monitors network state and dynamically modifies the congestion window size for high-priority flows based on current throughput measurements and network conditions, allowing the system to respond effectively whether overall traffic volume is high or low.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the congestion window parameter dynamically based on network conditions and flow priority. By adjusting this key TCP parameter, the system can increase high-priority throughput when conditions permit while maintaining adaptability to changing network traffic volumes, resolving the contradiction between achieving high throughput and adapting to varying conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If a predefined proportion of TCP flow is allocated to high-priority traffic based on overall low traffic volume, then network stability is maintained, but greater high-priority throughput could be achieved by enhanced high-priority traffic management

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh-priority traffic throughputVSAvoidnetwork stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors high-priority flow throughput and network conditions. Based on this feedback, the system dynamically adjusts the congestion window to achieve target throughput levels for high-priority traffic while maintaining network stability through controlled adjustment rates and monitoring of overall network state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by proactively increasing the congestion window for high-priority flows before severe congestion occurs. This preliminary adjustment allows the system to achieve greater high-priority throughput by preparing the network capacity in advance, while still maintaining stability through monitored, gradual adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If the congestion window is increased for high-priority traffic without awareness of network conditions, then high-priority throughput is improved, but network overload may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehigh-priority traffic throughputVSAvoidnetwork overload

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from network condition monitoring to control congestion window adjustments. By measuring actual throughput, packet loss, and network utilization, the system can increase high-priority throughput while detecting signs of approaching overload, thereby preventing harmful network congestion through continuous adaptive adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS10158575B2System for bandwidth optimization with high priority traffic awareness and control

Publication Date: 2018.12.18 CITRIX SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

An appliance for optimizing network traffic is described. The appliance includes a transport layer controller configured to acquire link characteristics of a link, determine a congestion window for a flow of a plurality of data packets over the link, and determine transport layer characteristics for the flow. The appliance also includes a traffic priority controller configured to acquire a flow priority of the flow, determine whether congestion is or going to occur using the transport layer characteristics and the link characteristics, and increase the congestion window for the flow based on the congestion determination and on the flow priority having been indicated as being higher priority. The appliance further includes a quality of service engine configured to output the flow according to the congestion window.