Network Capacity Probing for Opportunistic Bandwidth Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks often oversubscribe bandwidth, leading to unknown excess capacity that is not utilized, resulting in increased latency and packet loss when users exceed their allocated bandwidth, making it difficult to determine opportunistic bandwidth availability for emergency or priority usage.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for assessing network bandwidth availability by maintaining a data structure to store estimated maximum network capacity values, using probe data payloads with redundant data to monitor network response characteristics, and iteratively adjusting probing steps to update capacity estimates, allowing for risk-adjusted and cooperative bandwidth allocation across multiple devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If service providers oversubscribe network bandwidth, then network capacity utilization is improved, but network reliability deteriorates when users exceed allocated bandwidth
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by maintaining a data structure with estimated maximum network capacity values and conducting probe transmissions before actual data traffic occurs. This allows the system to pre-assess available bandwidth and predict network conditions, enabling users to understand their actual available capacity before exceeding allocated bandwidth, thus preventing reliability issues before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring network response characteristics (latency, packet loss) to probe transmissions and using this information to update estimated maximum network capacity values. This closed-loop feedback allows the system to continuously adapt to changing network conditions and provide accurate real-time information about available bandwidth, resolving the contradiction between oversubscription and reliability.
2Measurement precision
If probe data payloads with redundant data are transmitted, then measurement precision is improved, but use of energy worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by transmitting probe data payloads that exceed allocated bandwidth only by the necessary amount needed to assess available capacity. The probe transmissions are designed to be sufficient for measurement purposes without being excessively large, and redundant data is included only to the extent needed to ensure accurate bandwidth assessment while minimizing energy consumption.
3Adaptability or versatility
If iterative probing with adjusted steps is performed, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamics by maintaining a data structure that stores estimated maximum network capacity values and iteratively updating these estimates based on probe results. The probing step size is dynamically adjusted based on network conditions and previous probe outcomes, allowing the system to adapt to changing bandwidth availability while managing complexity through structured data storage and systematic update procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
In some embodiments, a computer implemented method for assessing network bandwidth availability in a network connection having unknown excess capacity beyond an initial network capacity is provided. There are two cases to be considered: (1) the network has a given capacity and the system doesn't know what it is (e.g., on a cellular network) this capacity may change over time as more users use the network and/or a user is mobile, and (2) the system is assigned capacity but by pushing the network, the system may be able to get more capacity (e.g., on a satellite hub). The excess capacity may be quantified for future potential opportunistic, emergency or priority usage, or in some embodiments, utilized periodically or continuously.