Service Session Resource Manager Bandwidth Mediation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current bandwidth management systems in local area networks struggle to effectively mediate simultaneous service sessions across multiple devices, particularly when non-UPnP QoS-enabled client terminals request premium bandwidth, leading to potential quality of service (QoS) degradation or unexpected service terminations due to lack of resource reservation and monitoring.
Innovation Solution
A service session resource management system that includes a service request interceptor to intercept requests from all client terminals, determine required resources, and forward reservation requests to a resource manager, ensuring resource availability and updating internal state for accurate QoS management, even for non-UPnP QoS-enabled devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If bandwidth management systems only monitor UPnP QoS-enabled devices, then the complexity of the system is reduced, but non-UPnP devices can cause QoS degradation or unexpected service terminations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a service request interceptor as an intermediary component that sits between non-UPnP devices and the bandwidth management system. This interceptor captures service requests from non-UPnP devices, extracts necessary information, and translates it into a format that the existing UPnP-based bandwidth management system can process. This allows the system to monitor and manage bandwidth for all devices without requiring complex modifications to the core bandwidth management logic or device-specific integrations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system intercepts and processes service requests from all client terminals, then QoS management coverage is improved, but the processing overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The service request interceptor creates simplified copies or representations of service requests from non-UPnP devices, extracting only the essential information needed for bandwidth management (such as service type, bandwidth requirements, and device identification). Instead of processing complete service requests or implementing full UPnP stacks in every device, the interceptor generates condensed request representations that the bandwidth management system can efficiently process, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining comprehensive coverage.
3Reliability
If resource reservation is enforced for all service sessions, then QoS is maintained, but flexibility in service access is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements partial resource reservation by applying reservation enforcement selectively based on service type, device characteristics, and current network conditions. Rather than uniformly reserving resources for all service sessions, the bandwidth management system identifies critical services that require guaranteed bandwidth allocation while allowing more flexible access for less critical services. This partial enforcement approach maintains QoS for essential services while preserving user flexibility for non-critical access patterns.
Data Source
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AI summary
A service session resource manager (72) for use in a router (18) capable of routing a plurality of at least partially contemporaneous service sessions over a communications line is described which mediates between services competing for bandwidth. The service session manager (72) updates its internal state based on both mediation enabled (22b) and mediation non-enabled (22a) devices. The resource manager (72) comprises memory arranged to store a current resource utilisation indicator for a resource of said communications line, a service request processor arranged to process a new service session request from a client terminal to determine a required resource for said new service session over said communications line and to determine if the required resource is available in dependence on an available line rate and said current utilisation indicator, means to reserve the required resource, means to update said current utilisation indicator to indicate the allowed resource reservation; and means to respond to said requesting client that said resources have been reserved, wherein said current resource utilisation indicator is also updated by said service request processor to indicate a resource used by one or more service sessions established by one or more client terminals configured to send service requests over said communications line without requesting access to the service from said service session manager.