Router Traffic Allocation via Weighted Fair Queuing Calculator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current network routers lack clear documentation on traffic weight usage and rate-limiting for broadcast/multicast traffic, leading to confusion and potential lost revenue due to inadequate traffic allocation configurations, especially in asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) networks.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a weighted fair queuing (WFQ) calculator to determine and set traffic allocations based on traffic weight and rate values, which also includes mechanisms for generating additional revenue through analytics and automatic adjustments to alleviate congestion and prevent packet loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If carriers divide ATM network traffic into classes with guaranteed minimum QoS, then service quality is improved, but determining appropriate traffic weight and rate settings becomes difficult leading to lost revenue
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically calculating optimal traffic weight and rate settings based on subscriber-provided parameters (traffic type, expected volume, priority). The configuration tool autonomously determines WFQ weights, rate limits, and allocation percentages without requiring manual expert intervention, thereby simplifying the configuration process while maintaining reliable QoS guarantees.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration tool acts as an intermediary between subscriber requirements and router configuration. It translates high-level service requirements into specific technical parameters (traffic weights, rate limits, allocation percentages) that the router can execute, bridging the gap between service level agreements and implementation details.
2Adaptability or versatility
If manual configuration of traffic allocations is used, then flexibility is maintained, but configuration errors lead to lost revenue and inadequate traffic allocation
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the configuration tool calculates and validates traffic allocations based on provided parameters, then presents the derived configuration for review. This feedback loop ensures accuracy by allowing verification of calculated weights and rates before final implementation, preventing configuration errors while maintaining flexibility through adjustable input parameters.
Solution Approach 2:
The configuration tool performs preliminary calculations and validations before final configuration is applied. It pre-computes optimal traffic weights, rate limits, and allocation percentages based on subscriber requirements, allowing review and adjustment before committing to the actual router configuration, thereby ensuring accuracy while preserving flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are methods and calculators for configuring traffic allocations for service classes with different Quality of Service (QoS) in a router. Example embodiments involve setting allocations at a router based on traffic rate values and/or traffic weight values provided by a user. The router may monitor actual traffic rates to ensure that traffic is not being dropped due to improper rate allocations and to provide historical data for optimizing traffic allocations. In addition, the router may automatically adjust traffic allocations to avoid dropping high(er) priority traffic. The router may also transmit alarms to the user and/or to other network devices to prompt traffic re-routing and/or re-allocation of traffic rates. Example methods and apparatus ensure appropriate traffic allocation to meet certain QoS metrics.