Packet Header Congestion Control Information Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing communication networks face inefficiencies in sending control information due to limited overhead bits per packet, which restricts the amount of information that can be conveyed, and existing methods like Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) are either too simplistic or not backward compatible.
Innovation Solution
The technique involves sending control information, such as congestion information, in the headers of multiple packets using Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) bits, with the option to encode using forward error correcting codes, allowing for more granular information transmission without increasing packet overhead, and supporting multiple data rates and congestion states.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If a larger field is used to carry control information in packet headers, then more control information can be sent, but packet overhead increases which is wasteful when control information is sent intermittently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments control information into multiple parts and transmits them across multiple packets using the available ECN bits in each packet header. Instead of requiring a large dedicated field in every packet, the control information is divided and distributed across several packets, allowing efficient use of limited header space while maintaining full information transmission capability.
2Quantity of substance
If a smaller field is used to carry control information in packet headers, then packet overhead is reduced, but the amount of control information that can be sent is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic transmission of control information segments across multiple packets. By distributing control information over several packets sent at different times, the system achieves comprehensive information transmission using small header fields, while the periodic nature allows for efficient bandwidth utilization and reduced overhead compared to continuous large-field transmission.
3Quantity of substance
If ECN bits are used to indicate congestion, then congestion notification is achieved with minimal overhead, but the granularity and amount of congestion information is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments congestion information into multiple bits that can be transmitted across multiple packets using the ECN field. This segmentation allows for finer granularity in congestion notification while maintaining minimal per-packet overhead, as each packet carries only a portion of the total congestion information rather than requiring a large dedicated field.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extends the one-dimensional ECN bit field into a multi-dimensional information space by transmitting multiple bits across multiple packets. This dimensional expansion allows for more granular congestion information (beyond simple congestion/not-congestion states) while maintaining the low-overhead characteristic of ECN, effectively trading packet count for information granularity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Techniques for sending control information in the header of multiple packets are described. The techniques may allow more control information to be sent using a small number of overhead bits per packet. In one design, a first node (e.g., a network entity) may determine control information to send to a second node (e.g., a UE or another network entity). The first node may send the control information in the header of multiple packets toward the second node. In one design, the control information may include congestion information indicative of traffic congestion at the first node. The congestion information may be sent using Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN) bits in the header of IP packets. The first node may send the control information with or without coding and for all packets or a specific data flow. The first node may also send a synchronization sequence prior to the control information.