Network Congestion Management via Backwards Feedback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Network traffic congestion leads to increased delays and potential system failures due to oversubscription of network links, where existing systems often rely on packet dropping or rate adjustments that are inefficient and resource-intensive.

Innovation Solution

A system that monitors congestion point queues, generates consolidated feedback parameters, and sends feedback messages to adjust network traffic rates, using techniques like backwards congestion notification (BCN) to mitigate congestion by shifting traffic from congested core areas to less aggregated edge areas with available resources.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If device level algorithms are used to handle congestion by dropping packets, then transient congestion is alleviated, but network resource waste increases and reliability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecongestion handling reliabilityVSAvoidpacket loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where network devices monitor queue lengths and send feedback signals to source devices. When the queue length exceeds a threshold, feedback is sent to reduce the transmission rate, enabling dynamic adaptation without packet dropping.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses preliminary actions by setting equilibrium queue levels and offsets before congestion occurs. The system proactively adjusts transmission rates based on predicted queue states, preventing congestion before it leads to packet loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If transport level algorithms are used to adjust transmission rates, then sustained congestion is alleviated, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesustained congestion managementVSAvoidcongestion control complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes parameters by using equilibrium queue levels and offsets as simplified metrics for congestion control. Instead of complex multi-parameter optimization, the system adjusts transmission rates based on changes in these simplified queue parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If detailed queue state information is transmitted for congestion control, then congestion management precision is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecongestion state measurementVSAvoidbandwidth consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential congestion information (equilibrium queue level and offset) from the complete queue state. This selective extraction provides sufficient congestion management precision while minimizing the bandwidth required for feedback transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS8477615B2Method and system to manage network traffic congestion

Publication Date: 2013.07.02 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A method and system to manage network congestion are provided. In one example embodiment, the method comprises receiving an indication of a rate increase request at a reaction point computer system, determining information indicative of a frequency of rate decrease requests during a period of time, and initiating a rate increase signal utilizing the information indicative of the frequency of rate decrease requests during the period of time.