Packet Switch Rate Control via Network Path Performance Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
In networks, packet tunnels often experience varying performance characteristics such as bandwidth, latency, and error rates, leading to inefficient packet forwarding due to unsophisticated congestion management by intermediate packet switches, which can result in undesirable packet discrimination and service level agreement violations.
Innovation Solution
A method where a packet switch monitors and adjusts its packet forwarding rate based on performance characteristics of the network path or tunnel, using data from itself or other packet switches and network management systems, to optimize forwarding rates and adapt to changing network conditions, thereby controlling congestion and maintaining service quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If intermediate packet switches use unsophisticated congestion management, then device complexity is reduced, but packet discrimination and service level agreement violations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the congestion management function into two parts: simple local packet marking at intermediate switches and centralized rate modification at endpoint switches. This segmentation allows intermediate switches to maintain low complexity while the system as a whole achieves reliable service level agreement compliance through the coordinated action of endpoint switches that have full visibility of tunnel performance characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces performance characteristic data as an intermediary that mediates between the simple congestion management at intermediate switches and the required service quality. This data flows through the network to enable endpoint switches to make informed rate modification decisions, ensuring service level agreement compliance without requiring complex congestion management at intermediate switches.
2Productivity
If packet forwarding rate is increased, then productivity is improved, but packet loss and latency increase under congestion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback through performance characteristic data that is collected from network paths and used to dynamically modify packet forwarding rates. Endpoint switches continuously monitor tunnel performance and adjust rates accordingly, ensuring high productivity when conditions permit while maintaining packet delivery quality when congestion is detected, thus resolving the contradiction between forwarding rate and delivery quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the packet forwarding rate dynamic rather than static. Rates are continuously adjusted based on real-time performance characteristics, allowing the system to maximize productivity during good conditions while automatically reducing rates to maintain delivery quality during congestion, thereby resolving the contradiction between high forwarding rates and reliable packet delivery.
3Adaptability or versatility
If packet tunnels experience varying performance characteristics, then adaptability is improved, but congestion management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex congestion management logic from intermediate packet switches and relocates it to endpoint switches. Intermediate switches perform only simple packet marking, while endpoint switches that have access to performance characteristic data perform the complex rate modification decisions. This extraction resolves the contradiction by concentrating complexity where it can be effectively managed while maintaining adaptability to varying tunnel performance.
Data Source
AI summary
Network operating methods provide a first packet switch configured to send a plurality of packets from the first packet switch to a second packet switch via a network path traversing one or more intermediate packet switches, access data describing at least one performance characteristic of the network path, and based on the data, modify a rate at which the first packet switch sends the plurality of packets to the second packet switch via the path. Network management methods receive data describing at least one performance characteristic of a network path having a first endpoint on a first packet switch, a second endpoint on a second packet switch, the network path traversing one or more intermediate packet switches and, based on the received data, instruct the first packet switch to modify a rate at which the first packet switch sends packets to the second packet switch via the network path.