Network Bandwidth Allocation for Streaming Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
HTTP adaptive streaming technologies face instability and bandwidth sharing issues, particularly when multiple clients compete for bandwidth, leading to unpredictable results and unfair bandwidth allocation.
Innovation Solution
A method for distributing network bandwidth among ongoing traffic sessions by collecting status messages from devices, ranking sessions based on parameters, and allocating bandwidth dynamically to ensure each device receives its fair share, avoiding wasted bandwidth and maintaining optimal user experience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If HTTP adaptive streaming clients independently select bit rates based on their own measurements, then each client can adapt to network conditions, but bandwidth allocation becomes unstable and unpredictable when multiple clients compete
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple HTTP adaptive streaming clients are merged into a coordinated system through a common bandwidth estimation mechanism. Instead of independently measuring and adapting, clients share bandwidth information and collectively estimate available bandwidth, transforming individual adaptive decisions into a coordinated group behavior that ensures stable and fair bandwidth allocation among competing clients
Solution Approach 2:
A feedback mechanism is introduced where clients periodically share their bandwidth consumption and network status with each other. This feedback loop enables clients to adjust their bit rate selections based on real-time information about overall network conditions and other clients' demands, preventing the instability that arises from independent decision-making
2Measurement precision
If HTTP adaptive streaming clients use periodic download profiles to measure bandwidth, then they can evaluate network conditions, but they cannot reclaim their fair share of bandwidth when competing with greedy TCP flows during OFF periods
Solution Approach 1:
Clients perform preliminary bandwidth estimation and reservation actions during active download periods. By proactively estimating available bandwidth and reserving their fair share before OFF periods occur, clients ensure they can maintain their bandwidth allocation even when competition with greedy TCP flows intensifies during idle periods
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements preliminary anti-action by pre-establishing bandwidth reservations and protection mechanisms before greedy TCP flows can exploit OFF periods. Clients anticipate potential bandwidth theft during idle periods and prepare countermeasures in advance, such as maintaining connection state and readiness to immediately resume downloads at appropriate bit rates when bandwidth becomes available
Data Source
AI summary
The invention concerns a device of a network configured for implementing a method for distributing available bandwidth of said network (N1) amongst ongoing traffic sessions of devices (C1, C2, C3) of the network (N1). Said device comprises: —a communication module (2) to collect status messages from devices (C1, C2, C3) of the network running at least one traffic session; —a ranking module (5) configured to rank said ongoing traffic sessions according to parameters of devices and traffic sessions retrieved from status messages; —a calculator (6) configured to determine bandwidth to be allocated to each ranked traffic session in function of the available bandwidth, a rank of the ranked traffic sessions and a type of the ranked traffic session; —a comparator (7) able to check whether the determined bandwidth to be allocated to a traffic session of the device is different from zero.