Token Bucket Traffic Control with Virtual Threshold Balancing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing token bucket algorithm for traffic control often results in traffic imbalance between long and short packets, where most short packets are marked green and most long packets are marked red, leading to inefficient traffic management.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that compare the number of tokens in a token bucket with the length of a packet and a preset virtual threshold, refreshing the token count and marking the packet accordingly, allowing for flexible balance control by adjusting the virtual threshold to achieve a desired passing ratio for long and short packets.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a token bucket algorithm is used for traffic control, then traffic management capability is provided, but traffic imbalance occurs between long and short packets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual threshold parameter that changes the traditional token bucket algorithm's behavior. By comparing packet length against this virtual threshold rather than solely relying on token counts, the system can adjust the marking behavior to balance traffic between long and short packets, resolving the imbalance issue while maintaining traffic control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different marking strategies based on packet characteristics (length). By introducing packet length as a distinguishing feature and applying threshold-based differentiation, the system provides localized quality control - treating short and long packets differently based on their characteristics, thereby achieving traffic balance
2Device complexity
If traditional token bucket algorithm is used, then simple implementation is achieved, but packet marking accuracy for different packet lengths deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the token bucket algorithm by adding a virtual threshold parameter that enables length-based differentiation. This parameter change allows the system to maintain the simplicity of the original algorithm while achieving more accurate packet marking for different packet lengths through the threshold comparison mechanism
3Productivity
If token accumulation speed is increased to match high traffic rates, then traffic handling capability improves, but the distinction between short and long packets becomes less effective
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a virtual threshold parameter that provides packet length differentiation independent of token accumulation speed. This allows the system to maintain high traffic handling capability through fast token generation while still effectively distinguishing and managing short versus long packets based on their length relative to the virtual threshold
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention applies to the field of communications technologies and provides a method and a system for controlling packet traffic. The method includes: comparing the number of tokens in a token bucket at a current time point with a length of a packet to be sent and a preset virtual threshold when the packet to be sent is received, refreshing the current number of tokens in the token bucket according to a comparison result, and marking the packet to be sent with a color.