Bandwidth Estimation Using OWD Threshold Packet Pair Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bandwidth estimation techniques in complex network environments, such as SDWANs, face challenges due to noise in packet timing, leading to poor accuracy and larger errors in bandwidth estimation, especially when network devices are across different administrative domains.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves novel techniques for selecting points of equal congestion with reduced One-Way Delay (OWD) noise, using a new OWD threshold calculation based on the strength of congestion and packet batching noise measurement, to improve the accuracy of bandwidth estimation in SDWANs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional bandwidth estimation techniques are used in complex network environments, then bandwidth measurement can be performed, but noise in packet timing leads to poor accuracy and larger errors in bandwidth estimation
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by sending probe packets before actual data traffic to measure available bandwidth. The bandwidth estimation is performed in advance to inform routing decisions, allowing the network to proactively identify and avoid congested paths before carrying production traffic.
Solution Approach 2:
Probe packets serve as intermediaries between the bandwidth measurement system and the actual data traffic. These intermediary packets carry measurement information without being the production traffic itself, allowing accurate bandwidth assessment while separating measurement activities from data plane operations.
2Measurement precision
If direct measurement is performed on network devices, then accurate bandwidth data can be collected, but it becomes impossible when network devices are in different administrative domains or when measurable characteristics are hidden by tunneling or encapsulation
Solution Approach 1:
The bandwidth measurement system is designed to be universal and work across different administrative domains and network configurations. The probe packets can traverse various network environments including tunneling and encapsulation scenarios, making the measurement capability adaptable to diverse network architectures without requiring domain-specific modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces direct physical access to network devices with an end-to-end measurement approach using probe packets. Instead of requiring direct measurement capabilities on each network device (mechanical access), the system uses packet-based measurements that can traverse any network infrastructure, substituting physical device access with network-layer measurement techniques.
3Productivity
If packet pairs are selected without OWD threshold filtering, then all packets can be processed, but noise in packet timing prevents the algorithm from finding optimal pairs, leading to poor bandwidth estimates
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality filtering by selecting packet pairs based on their specific One-Way Delay characteristics. Instead of uniformly processing all packets, the algorithm identifies and processes only those packet pairs that exhibit similar OWD values, applying quality-based selection criteria locally to each packet pair to ensure accurate bandwidth estimation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the selection parameter from processing all packets to filtering packets based on OWD threshold criteria. By introducing an OWD-based filtering parameter, the algorithm transforms the packet selection process from a brute-force approach to a selective approach that prioritizes packet pairs with matching delay characteristics, thereby improving estimation accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques and architectures for measuring available bandwidth. A train of probe packets is received from a remote electronic device. A per-packet one-way delay (OWD) is calculated for at least two packets from the train of probe packets. An OWD threshold value is calculated based on the calculated OWD for the at least two packets from the train of probe packets. A packet pair is selected from the train of probe packets based on the per-packet OWD for each packet in the packet pair exceeding the OWD threshold value. An estimated available bandwidth is computed based on one or more transmission characteristics of the selected packet pair.