QoE Management System Dynamic Bandwidth Allocation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current network traffic management systems face challenges in prioritizing traffic types effectively during link congestion, particularly for video streaming, which can lead to poor Quality of Experience (QoE) for users due to inadequate bandwidth allocation and lack of contextual awareness, resulting in suboptimal resource allocation and increased capital expenditures for network upgrades.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for Quality of Experience (QoE) management that categorizes network traffic into service categories, such as video streaming, gaming, and voice/messaging, and dynamically adjusts the minimum bandwidth intent based on user scores and bandwidth usage, allowing for real-time shaping of traffic flows to ensure optimal QoE across all categories by allocating bandwidth proportionally and reducing video streaming traffic when necessary to free up resources for other services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If video streaming traffic is prioritized to maintain high QoE, then video quality is improved, but bandwidth for other services is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevideo qualityVSAvoidbandwidth for other services
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic bandwidth allocation that adjusts video streaming bandwidth in real-time based on network conditions and user experience metrics. The system monitors QoE scores and automatically reduces video bandwidth when QoE thresholds are not met, while increasing bandwidth when conditions improve, creating a flexible balance between video quality and other services

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the bandwidth allocation parameter dynamically based on QoE measurements. When QoE for video streaming falls below the minimum threshold, the system reduces the bandwidth intent for video and reallocates it to other services. This parameter adjustment resolves the contradiction by making video quality conditional on actual user experience rather than fixed priority

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If fixed bandwidth allocation is used for each traffic type, then network management is simplified, but QoE cannot be maintained under congestion

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork managementVSAvoidQoE
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism that continuously monitors QoE scores for video streaming and automatically adjusts bandwidth allocation. The system measures user experience metrics, compares them against minimum thresholds, and triggers bandwidth reallocation when thresholds are breached. This closed-loop feedback system maintains QoE under congestion while keeping management automated rather than complex manual configuration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The network system performs self-adjustment of bandwidth allocation based on automated QoE monitoring. The patent enables the network to autonomously detect when video QoE deteriorates and automatically reduce video bandwidth while increasing bandwidth for other services, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining reliable QoE

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If network capacity is increased to handle all traffic types at full bandwidth, then QoE for all services is improved, but capital expenditure increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveQoE for all servicesVSAvoidcapital expenditure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies partial action by allocating bandwidth selectively rather than providing full bandwidth to all services simultaneously. The system ensures minimum QoE thresholds are met for all services by dynamically adjusting allocations, rather than over-provisioning capacity for all services at maximum levels. This allows acceptable QoE across services with optimized rather than excessive bandwidth investment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3920487B1System and method for quality of experience management
Publication Date: 2024.08.07 SANDVINE CORP
  • EP3920487B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3920487B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3920487B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A system and method for Quality of Experience (QoE) management on a network. The method including: determining a set of service categories for an operator's traffic, wherein at least one of the service categories is video streaming; mapping a plurality of traffic flows to each of the service categories; determining a target and minimum intent for each of the service categories; measuring a score and bandwidth use for each of the service category; determining whether each of the service categories are reaching an associated minimum bandwidth intent; if the minimum bandwidth intent is not being reached for at least one service category, adjusting the minimum intent for at least one of the service categories; allocating a bandwidth per service category based on the adjusted minimum intent; and shaping the traffic flow to the allocated bandwidth; otherwise allowing the traffic flow to continue with a current bandwidth allocation.