Traffic Shaper Segments Delay-Critical Data Flows

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for shaping data traffic flow transmission speed fail to effectively manage delay-critical and non-delay-critical traffic without increasing transfer delay or variation, especially when delay-critical traffic exceeds predetermined speed and burst limitations.

Innovation Solution

A method and equipment that categorize protocol data units into delay-critical and non-delay-critical traffic, delaying non-delay-critical traffic if necessary to meet transmission speed conditions, while allowing delay-critical traffic to transmit without delay if it meets preset conditions, using a network element with a scheduler and buffer memory to manage traffic categories.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the transmission speed of a traffic flow is limited according to speed and burst limitations, then the transmission speed control is achieved, but the transfer delay and delay variation of delay-critical traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission speedVSAvoidtransfer delay

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The traffic flow is segmented into delay-critical and non-delay-critical portions. The shaper applies different delay policies to each segment: delay-critical traffic is transmitted without artificial delay even if speed limitations are exceeded, while non-delay-critical traffic is delayed to meet speed and burst limitations. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing speed control without unnecessarily delaying time-sensitive traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality attributes are applied to different portions of the traffic flow. Delay-critical traffic receives preferential treatment with waived delay penalties, while non-delay-critical traffic undergoes strict speed shaping. This local differentiation of treatment quality enables the system to maintain speed limitations while protecting time-sensitive applications from excessive delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Speed

If the transmission speed of a traffic flow is limited according to speed and burst limitations, then the transmission speed control is achieved, but the delay variation of delay-critical traffic increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission speedVSAvoiddelay variation

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The traffic flow is segmented into delay-critical and non-delay-critical portions. The shaper applies different delay policies to each segment: delay-critical traffic is transmitted without artificial delay even if speed limitations are exceeded, while non-delay-critical traffic is delayed to meet speed and burst limitations. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing speed control without unnecessarily delaying time-sensitive traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality attributes are applied to different portions of the traffic flow. Delay-critical traffic receives preferential treatment with waived delay penalties, while non-delay-critical traffic undergoes strict speed shaping. This local differentiation of treatment quality enables the system to maintain speed limitations while protecting time-sensitive applications from excessive delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Speed

If the sending of protocol data units representing delay-critical traffic is delayed to meet transmission speed conditions, then the transmission speed limitation is achieved, but the transfer speed of delay-critical traffic decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetransmission speedVSAvoidtransfer speed

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The traffic flow is segmented into delay-critical and non-delay-critical portions. The shaper applies different delay policies to each segment: delay-critical traffic is transmitted without artificial delay even if speed limitations are exceeded, while non-delay-critical traffic is delayed to meet speed and burst limitations. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing speed control without unnecessarily delaying time-sensitive traffic.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different quality attributes are applied to different portions of the traffic flow. Delay-critical traffic receives preferential treatment with waived delay penalties, while non-delay-critical traffic undergoes strict speed shaping. This local differentiation of treatment quality enables the system to maintain speed limitations while protecting time-sensitive applications from excessive delay.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2112791B1Data traffic shaping

Publication Date: 2016.05.18 CORIANT

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AI summary

The solution according to the invention can be used for monitoring and limiting the transmission speed of a data traffic flow in a situation where the traffic flow also comprises delay-critical traffic. In connection with the sending of each protocol data unit it is determined (401) whether the sending of the next protocol data unit should be delayed in order to meet a condition set on the transmission speed. It is also determined (402) whether the transfer speed of delay-critical traffic meets a preset condition. If the transfer speed meets the condition, delay-critical protocol data units will not be delayed (406, 400) but if the condition is not met, delay-critical protocol data units will be delayed (408) just like non-delay-critical protocol data units. Thus the transfer speed of non-delay-critical traffic adapts to variations in the transfer speed of delay-critical traffic and, furthermore, the transmission speed of the traffic flow can be monitored and limited.