Packet Scheduling to Eliminate IP Network Microburst Accumulation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing packet transmission methods in IP networks suffer from microburst accumulation, leading to unpredictable delays and jitters, which are not suitable for large-scale networks and critical applications requiring deterministic delays.

Innovation Solution

A packet transmission method that employs leaky bucket shaping, queuing systems, and schedulers to manage packet flows, ensuring they meet specific bandwidth and dwell time requirements, with active delay mechanisms to maintain deterministic delays and jitters.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If line-rate processing is used to increase packet transmission speed, then transmission speed is improved, but packet gap is reduced causing burst accumulation and unpredictable delay

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket transmission speedVSAvoidpacket delay predictability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces periodic time slots for different packet flows, where each flow is transmitted in its designated time period. This periodic scheduling ensures that packets from different flows do not squeeze each other, maintaining predictable delays while achieving high transmission speeds through efficient resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the transmission time into different time slots for different packet flows. By dividing the transmission medium into time-separated segments, each flow gets dedicated transmission opportunities, eliminating burst accumulation while maintaining overall high throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of time

If cyclic queuing and forwarding method is used to eliminate burst accumulation, then delay predictability is improved, but implementation complexity increases due to clock synchronization requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket delay predictabilityVSAvoidclock synchronization complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables each network device to independently determine its own time slot based on packet flow identification information, without requiring complex clock synchronization with other devices. Each device self-organizes the transmission schedule, greatly simplifying implementation while maintaining delay predictability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of synchronizing clocks across all devices as in CQF, the patent inverts the approach by having each device independently determine transmission timing based on packet flow ID. This reverses the synchronization paradigm from centralized clock alignment to decentralized independent timing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Loss of time

If cyclic queuing and forwarding method is used to ensure deterministic delay, then delay predictability is improved, but network scale is limited due to period duration constraints

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepacket delay predictabilityVSAvoidnetwork scale adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces dynamic time slot adjustment mechanisms that allow the transmission schedule to adapt to varying network conditions and traffic patterns. This dynamic approach enables the system to scale to large networks while maintaining deterministic delay guarantees, overcoming the fixed period limitations of CQF.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent allows flexible adjustment of time slot parameters based on network scale and traffic requirements. By changing parameters such as time slot duration and frequency allocation dynamically, the system can accommodate networks of any scale while preserving delay predictability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP4184872B1Packet transmission for eliminating micro-burst accumulation
Publication Date: 2025.12.03 HUAWEI TECH CO LTD
  • EP4184872B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4184872B1 patent drawingFigure 3A
  • EP4184872B1 patent drawingFigure 3B

AI summary

This application discloses a packet transmission method, an apparatus, a device, and a readable storage medium, and relates to the field of communication technologies. The method applied to a second network device includes: First, a first packet sent by a first network device is received, and then a second packet, a first dwell time period, and a second dwell time period are obtained based on the first packet. Then, a time difference between the second dwell time period and the first dwell time period is determined. Then, a third dwell time period and a fourth dwell time period are determined, to encapsulate the third dwell time period, the fourth dwell time period, and the second packet to obtain a third packet. After the received first packet reaches the time difference and is queued in a queuing system of the second network device, the third packet is sent to a next-hop network device of the second network device. By actively delaying a to-be-transmitted packet, a deterministic delay of the to-be-transmitted packet in a transmission process is ensured. This method is applicable to IP networks of various scales.