Methods and systems for transmitting packets through aggregated end-to-end connection

• US 10,594,515 B2
• Filed: 10/05/2017
• Issued: 03/17/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pismo Labs Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Pismo Labs Technology Limited
• Inventors: Sung, Patrick Ho Wai, Ng, Kam Chiu, Leung, Wan Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Randhawa, Mandish K
• Application Number:
  US15/726,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20180034666A1
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4633 Interconnection of networks using encapsulation techniques, e.g. tunneling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels

Abstract

A method and a first communications router for transmitting data packets to a second communications router by establishing an aggregated end-to-end connection with the second communications router. The aggregated end-to-end connection comprises a plurality of established end-to-end connections. Data packets are transmitted through a first established end-to-end connection when a first condition is satisfied, and through a second established end-to-end connection when a second condition is satisfied. The first and second established end-to-end connections belong to the aggregated end-to-end connection. The first communications router comprises a plurality of network interfaces.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data packets by a first communications router to a second communications router through a plurality of network interfaces, comprising:

when probability of a first aggregated end-to-end connection not satisfying a first condition has reached a predefined threshold;

a. allowing a second network interface to transmit and receive data packets when a predefined number of data packet drops within a predefined time period is detected;

wherein the first aggregated end-to-end connection is established through at least two of the plurality of network interfaces;

wherein packet drop rate information for transmitting the data packets is monitored continuously;

wherein the established end-to-end connections have different bandwidth capabilities;

wherein the first condition is selected from a group consisting of performance metric, service provider, location, time, usage price, security, user identity, Internet Protocol (IP) address range, communication protocol, communication technology, application, and device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing a second aggregated end-to-end connection to be ready for transmitting and receiving data packets, wherein the second aggregated end-to-end connection is established through the second network interface and at least one of the plurality of network interfaces;

wherein an end-to-end connection only belong to the first aggregated end-to-end connection or the second end-to-end connection.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second aggregated end-to-end connection is established using a wireless communication standard.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending warm-up packets through the second network interface.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending alert message when the first aggregated end-to-end connection stops satisfying the first condition.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

stopping to transmit data packets, which belonging to a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) session, through the first aggregated end-to-end connection when the first aggregated end-to-end connection stops satisfying the first condition.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

allowing transmission of non-TCP data packets through the first aggregated end-to-end connection when the first aggregated end-to-end connection stops satisfying the first condition.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting error correction packets through a non-first aggregated end-to-end connection.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting error correction packets through a third end-to-end connection.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting error correction packets or management packets through an end-to-end connection, wherein the end-to-end connection is not used for transmitting data packets.

11. A first communications router for transmitting data packets to a second communications router through a plurality of network interfaces, the first communications router comprising:

a plurality of network interfaces;

at least one processing unit;

at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for;

when probability of a first aggregated end-to-end connection not satisfying a first condition has reached a predefined threshold;

a. allowing a second network interface to transmit and receive data packets when a predefined number of data packet drops within a predefined time period is detected;

wherein the first aggregated end-to-end connection is established through at least two of the plurality of network interfaces

wherein packet drop rate information for the transmitting data packets is monitored continuously;

wherein the established end-to-end connections have similar or different bandwidth capabilities;

wherein the first condition is selected from a group consisting of performance metric, service provider, location, time, usage price, security, user identity, Internet Protocol (IP) address range, communication protocol, communication technology, application, and device.

12. The first communications router of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:

allowing a second aggregated end-to-end connection to be ready for transmitting and receiving data packets, wherein the second aggregated end-to-end connection is established through the second network interface and at least one of the plurality of network interfaces;

wherein an end-to-end connection only belongs to the first aggregated end-to-end connection or the second end-to-end connection.

13. The first communications router of claim 12, wherein the second aggregated end-to-end connection is established using a wireless communication standard.

14. The first communications router of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:

sending warm-up packets through the second network interface.

15. The first communications router of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:

sending alert message when the first aggregated end-to-end connection stops satisfying the first condition.

16. The first communications router of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:

stopping to transmit data packets, which belonging to a Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) session, through the first aggregated end-to-end connection when the first aggregated end-to-end connection stops satisfying the first condition.

17. The first communications router of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:

allowing transmission of non-TCP data packets through the first aggregated end-to-end connection when the first aggregated end-to-end connection stops satisfying the first condition.

18. The first communications router of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:

transmitting error correction packets through a non-first aggregated end-to-end connection.

19. The first communications router of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:

transmitting error correction packets through a third end-to-end connection.

20. The first communications router of claim 11, wherein the at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium further storing program instructions executable by the at least one processing unit for:

transmitting error correction packets or management packets through an end-to-end connection, wherein the end-to-end connection is not used for transmitting data packets.