OS-Level Per-Connection SLA Enforcement via Virtual Interfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern computer networks treat all packets similarly, regardless of the application or service, making it difficult to differentiate and manage connections effectively, leading to inefficiencies in resource allocation and service level agreement enforcement.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for dynamic assignment and enforcement of application-driven per-connection service level agreements (SLAs), where the operating system receives requests from applications to create connections with specific SLAs, maps these connections, and processes incoming data according to the designated SLAs, enabling applications to set and change connection treatments and exposing lower-level network protocol stack processes to these instructions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If all packets are treated the same by intermediary network devices, then network device complexity is reduced and operation is simplified, but service level agreement enforcement and resource allocation efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments packet handling by creating application-specific virtual network interfaces and connection contexts. Each application's network traffic is separated into distinct virtual interfaces (e.g., veth0, veth1) with dedicated SLA policies, allowing differentiated treatment while maintaining overall system manageability through modular virtualization components.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating system acts as an intermediary between applications and the network protocol stack. It introduces a virtual network interface layer that mediates packet flow, applying SLA-specific processing rules between the physical network interface and applications. This intermediary layer enables differentiated service without requiring changes to lower-level network devices.
2Productivity
If application-specific SLAs are enforced for each connection, then resource allocation efficiency and service quality improve, but system complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal virtual network interface framework that can handle multiple applications and SLA types through a common architecture. The virtual interface layer provides multi-functional capabilities, supporting different SLA policies (bandwidth, latency, priority) through a unified mechanism rather than requiring separate handling for each application.
Solution Approach 2:
Applications self-register their SLA requirements with the operating system through explicit interface creation requests. Each application autonomously defines its own connection parameters and SLA policies, reducing the need for centralized configuration management. The system automatically maps these self-defined requirements to appropriate virtual interfaces and enforcement mechanisms.
3Reliability
If packet data is inspected and processed according to application-specific SLAs, then service differentiation and quality of service improve, but processing time and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The operating system pre-configures virtual network interfaces and SLA policies before actual packet flow begins. Connection contexts, bandwidth limits, and priority rules are established in advance during interface creation, allowing packets to be routed and processed according to pre-determined policies without real-time analysis or decision-making delays.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates virtual copies of network interfaces for different applications rather than physically duplicating hardware. These virtual interface copies (e.g., veth0, veth1) are software-based abstractions that replicate the functionality of physical interfaces while enabling SLA-specific processing through software-controlled packet redirection and policy enforcement at the OS level.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for handling connection requests. The method includes receiving, by an operating system (OS), a request from an application to create a connection, wherein the request comprises a connection identifier and a service-level agreement (SLA), determining that the application is authorized to create the connection, creating the connection targeting the application in response to the determination that the application is authorized to create the connection, and applying the SLA to the connection in response to the determination that the application is authorized to create the connection. The method further includes receiving incoming data targeting the connection identifier from a network, processing, by a network protocol stack on the OS, the incoming data according to the SLA to obtain processed incoming data, and providing the processed incoming data to the application. Similar processing may be done on outgoing data from the application to the network.