Overlay Network Bandwidth Allocation via Router Probing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing complexity and heterogeneity of network traffic, combined with demands for reduced latency and increased bandwidth, require customized network connections that can effectively handle diverse traffic patterns and transmission media, but existing technologies struggle to dynamically manage these requirements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that manage network connections by probing routers in an overlay network to determine available bandwidth, dividing it by the number of expected flows, and using this information to set an initial packet transmission rate, which is then regulated by a congestion control algorithm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If network connections are customized to handle diverse traffic patterns and meet bandwidth/latency requirements, then network performance is improved, but network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary bandwidth probing before establishing the actual data transfer. Routers send probe packets to measure available bandwidth along the path, and this information is stored and later used to set appropriate transmission parameters, avoiding the need for complex real-time adjustments during data transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where routers provide feedback information about available bandwidth to hosts. This feedback allows the host to adjust its transmission rate accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that adapts to network conditions without requiring complex centralized control
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple TCP congestion control algorithms are implemented to handle different network conditions, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of implementing multiple complex algorithms, the system changes the parameter of available bandwidth information being provided to the host. By dynamically adjusting the bandwidth parameter based on probing results, the system adapts to different network conditions using a single simple transmission control mechanism
Solution Approach 2:
Routers act as intermediaries that perform the complex measurement and calculation of available bandwidth, then simplify this information into a single bandwidth parameter that the host can use. This intermediary approach moves complexity from the host to the network infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
In general, the invention relates to a method for managing a network connection. The method includes receiving a request for the network connection from a host, where the network connection is associated with an overlay network. The method further includes sending, in response to the request, a first available bandwidth per flow to the host, and receiving packets from the host. The packets received from the host are associated with the network connection and the initial packet transmission rate of the packets over the network connection is based on the first available bandwidth per flow. Further, the first available bandwidth per flow is obtained by probing a first router in the overlay network to obtain a first available bandwidth associated with the first router.