Probationary Admission Control for Packet Network QoS
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packet networks often fail to ensure satisfactory quality-of-service guarantees, leading to potential degradation in network performance, especially when quality-of-service is not explicitly provided.
Innovation Solution
A technique that directs and re-directs packet streams through a network by initially placing them on probation, comparing their quality-of-service score with a decreasing threshold, and re-routing them when the score falls below the threshold to maintain network quality, using a source node, relay nodes, and switching nodes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If packet streams are allowed to flow through the network without probationary monitoring, then network throughput and speed are improved, but quality-of-service degradation and harmful effects on other streams occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements probationary monitoring that begins immediately when a packet stream is admitted to the network, before quality degradation can occur. During this probation period, the stream is closely monitored against quality thresholds, and preemptive remediation actions are taken if thresholds are approached, preventing harmful effects before they manifest
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors quality-of-service metrics for packet streams during the probation period and compares them against dynamically adjusted thresholds. This feedback mechanism enables real-time detection of quality degradation trends and triggers automated remediation actions to maintain service quality while allowing network throughput
2Reliability
If strict quality-of-service monitoring is applied to all packet streams from the beginning, then quality-of-service is maintained, but network complexity and operational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies differentiated monitoring strategies based on the specific characteristics and risk profiles of individual packet streams. Not all streams receive identical levels of monitoring intensity throughout their lifecycle - the monitoring depth and threshold strictness are tailored to the local requirements of each stream type and network condition
Solution Approach 2:
Probationary monitoring provides a time-limited period of enhanced surveillance for new packet streams, after which streams that have demonstrated acceptable quality behavior transition to standard monitoring. This preliminary intensive monitoring phase ensures quality assurance for potentially problematic streams while reducing ongoing complexity for established streams
3Productivity
If packet streams are quickly admitted to the network without probation, then productivity is improved, but the ability to detect and remedy quality problems is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system initiates probationary monitoring immediately upon stream admission, establishing a detection mechanism before quality problems can develop. This preliminary monitoring framework is in place and active from the moment the stream enters the network, enabling immediate detection of any quality degradation without delaying stream admission
4Reliability
If probationary monitoring with decreasing thresholds is implemented, then quality-of-service is maintained and problems are detected quickly, but network complexity and computational overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a structured probation period with systematically decreasing thresholds that occur at defined intervals or time points. This periodic structure provides a predictable framework for threshold adjustments, making the complexity manageable through standardized time-based or event-based trigger points rather than continuous arbitrary adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring thresholds are dynamically adjusted during the probation period based on elapsed time, stream performance history, and network conditions. This parameter change strategy allows the system to adapt monitoring strictness to the evolving risk profile of each stream, maintaining reliability while managing complexity through adaptive rather than static threshold management
Data Source
AI summary
A technique that seeks to direct and re-direct streams of packets through a packet network without adversely affecting the quality of service of existing streams is disclosed. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, streams of packets that are directed and re-directed through a packet network are initially put on probation. During the probation period, a quality-of-service measure for the stream is compared with a threshold whose value is initially high and decreases with time. This has the advantageous affect of noticing problems quickly so that they can be remediated quickly.