TCP Advertised Window Control for Fair Bandwidth Sharing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing packet-based information transport systems face challenges in determining congestion and flow control that effectively address security, fairness, and robustness, leading to data loss and inefficient bandwidth utilization due to buffer overflow and aggressive sender behavior.
Innovation Solution
A method for managing network flow control by adjusting the receiver TCP advertised window to match the bandwidth-delay product (BDP) for fair sharing, using self-organized network functionalities and machine learning to estimate available path bandwidth and link capacity, with mechanisms like packet pair dispersion analysis and active probing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the receiver buffer size is increased to hold more data, then the ability to receive data is improved, but buffer overflow and data loss occur when data arrives faster than it can be processed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements flow control through feedback mechanisms where the receiver explicitly signals the sender about buffer status and acceptable data rates. The receiver window (RWND) advertisement provides continuous feedback to the sender, allowing dynamic adjustment of transmission rate to match receiver processing capability and prevent buffer overflow.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic flow control where the receive window size is adaptively adjusted based on real-time buffer status and processing rate. The system transitions from static buffer allocation to dynamic window management, allowing the receiver to modulate the sending rate according to current conditions and prevent data loss.
2Productivity
If the sender transmits data at high speed to improve throughput, then productivity is improved, but congestion and data loss occur at the receiver
Solution Approach 1:
The sender continuously monitors receiver feedback signals including the receive window size and acknowledges packet status. This feedback loop enables the sender to adjust transmission rate dynamically, maintaining high throughput when possible while preventing congestion when the receiver buffer approaches capacity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows the sender to transmit at rates higher than the receiver can immediately process, using the receive window mechanism to manage the excess. The sender can advertise a larger window when the receiver has buffer capacity, enabling bursty transmission patterns that improve throughput while maintaining reliability through controlled window expansion.
3Ease of operation
If the receive window is statically configured to simplify implementation, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability to varying network conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static receive window configuration to dynamic window adjustment. The receiver automatically modifies the window size based on buffer status and processing rate, enabling adaptability to varying network conditions while maintaining a relatively simple implementation through standard TCP flow control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the receive window parameter based on real-time conditions. The window size is adjusted up or down according to buffer availability and receiver processing capability, allowing the system to adapt to different network scenarios without requiring complex reconfiguration or manual intervention.
4Productivity
If the sender uses aggressive transmission to maximize bandwidth utilization, then productivity is improved, but fairness and security control objectives deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback-based flow control where receivers signal their acceptable transmission rates to senders. This feedback mechanism ensures fair bandwidth allocation by allowing each receiver to control its own data reception rate, preventing aggressive senders from monopolizing bandwidth while maintaining security through explicit receiver authorization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the transmission control into per-connection flow control mechanisms. Each receiver independently manages its own receive window and buffer status, allowing fine-grained control of bandwidth allocation. This segmentation enables fair sharing of network resources among multiple concurrent connections while maintaining security through individualized control.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for managing transmission over a network by adjusting a flow control window based on one or more parameters obtained from one or more connections, applications or network conditions. In one embodiment a controller modifies the receiver TCP advertised window of one or several connections to match the end-to-end bandwidth-delay product (BDP) for bandwidth fair sharing and improving the quality of experience (QoE). The controller can be placed in any given entity managing packets, such as a sender entity, a transmitting entity or any other entity handling connection packets. A mechanism for estimating available path bandwidth and/or link capacity and location by analyzing the distribution of inter-packet arrival times. Packet pair dispersion analysis can be utilized based on passive evaluation of the acknowledgements of a TCP flow or based on active probing. Machine learning using a neural network can be used to analyze the distribution of inter-packet arrival times.