Network load management apparatus, system, method, and electronically stored computer product

• US 20040073640A1
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Published: 04/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cricket Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Cricket Technologies LLC
• Inventors: Gibson, Robert, Martin, John
• Application Number:
  US10/252,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20040073640A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/223
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/069 using logs of notifications; Post-processing of notifications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0896 Bandwidth or capacity management, i.e. automatically increasing or decreasing capacities flow or congestion control using dynamic resource allocation, e.g. in-call renegotiation, H04L47/76
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/5003 Managing SLA; Interaction between SLA and QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0882 Utilisation of link capacity
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0888 Throughput
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/11 Identifying congestion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/24 Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/41 by acting on aggregated flows or links
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/1001 for accessing one among a plurality of replicated servers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

An apparatus, system, method, and computer program product configured to dynamically balance traffic loads between an originating device and a global network so as to maintain efficient communications across the global network between the originating device and remote device. Data packets are transmitted over multiple network connections, where the performance characteristics of each network connection is monitored in advance so as to assist in determining which network connection is to be assigned to any given data packet.

Claims

1. A network load management apparatus configured to balance a data load across a plurality of network connections, comprising:

a network condition monitoring module configured to monitor a network parameter from each of said plurality of network connections; and

an automatic data balancing module configured to balance said data load across said plurality of network connections in correspondence with said network parameter and a predetermined configuration parameter, wherein

said predetermined configuration parameter comprising at least one of

a predetermined output rate,

a predetermined output quality,

a cost,

a packet priority,

a security parameter, and

a queue size.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said network parameter comprises at least one of:

a ready terminal set parameter;

a loop back state parameter;

an input rate parameter;

an output rate parameter;

an input packet parameter;

an output packet parameter;

an input error parameter;

a buffer failure parameter;

a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) parameter;

a frame errors (FE) parameter;

an overruns parameter;

an abort parameter;

a carrier transition parameter;

a data carrier detect (DCD) parameter,

a data set ready (DSR) parameter;

a data terminal ready (DTR) parameter; and

a clear to send (CTS) parameter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a packet allocation module configured to allocate a plurality of non-randomized local packets corresponding to a local file to said plurality of network connections so as to create a first plurality of randomized transmission packets, and to re-aggregate a plurality of randomized received packets received from said plurality of network connections so as to create a replica of a plurality of non-randomized remote packets corresponding to a remote file.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

said packet allocation module is further configured to pad at least one of said plurality of non-randomized local packets.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising

a channel bonding module configured to allocate data packets from another local file to a subset of said plurality of network connections.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein

said channel bonding module is further configured to allocate said plurality of non-randomized local packets corresponding to said local file to a subset of said plurality of network connections.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein

said packet allocation module is further configured to add a dynamic encryption local file identifier to said plurality of non-randomized local packets corresponding to said local file.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a dynamic domain name server redirector module configured to redirect a network address in correspondence with said network parameter and said predetermined configuration parameter.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein

said dynamic domain name server redirector module is further configured to establish a predetermined time-to-live constraint for a predetermined host.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a remote network load management apparatus monitor and backup module configured to monitor and backup a second network load management apparatus;

a network load management apparatus remote status reporting module configured to provide local status information to one of said second remote network load management apparatus and a third remote network load management apparatus; and

network load management apparatus remote control module configured to receive remote control information from one of said second remote network load management apparatus and said third remote network load management apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an event log writer; and

an alarm manager, wherein

said alarm manager is configured to write an event in said event log and to send at least one of a notification email message, a notification facsimile message, and a notification page message when a predetermined alarm condition is detected.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein

said alarm manager is further configured to perform at least one of turn on a backup power source, execute a remote configuration change operation in a router, and execute a remote configuration change operation in a host device in response to said predetermined alarm condition.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a command input module; and

a status display module.

14. A network load management apparatus configured to balance a data load across a plurality of network connections, comprising:

means for monitoring a network parameter from each of said plurality of network connections; and

means for automatic balancing said data load across said plurality of network connections in correspondence with said network parameter and a predetermined configuration parameter, wherein

said predetermined configuration parameter comprising at least one of

a predetermined output rate,

a predetermined output quality,

a cost,

a packet priority,

a security parameter, and

a queue size.

15. A system configured to balance data packet loads across a plurality of network connections, comprising:

a first network load management apparatus connecting a first host device to at least one network via a first plurality of network connections; and

a second network load management apparatus connecting a second host device to said at least one network via a second plurality of network connections, wherein

said first host device and said second host device are configured to exchange data packets with each other, and

said first network load management apparatus and said second network load management apparatus each includes

a network condition monitoring module configured to monitor a network parameter from each of a respective plurality of network connections, and

an automatic data balancing module configured to balance said data load across said respective plurality of network connections in correspondence with said network parameter and a predetermined configuration parameter, said predetermined configuration parameter comprising at least one of

a predetermined output rate,

a predetermined output quality,

a cost,

a packet priority,

a security parameter, and

a queue size.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein

said first network load management apparatus is connected to said at least one network via a third network load management apparatus.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein

said second network load management apparatus is connected to said at least one network via a fourth network load management apparatus.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein

said first network load management apparatus is connected to said first host device via a router.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein

said first network load management apparatus connects to said first host device via a firewall.

20. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

a fifth network load management apparatus configured to monitor and control at least one of said first network load management apparatus and said second network load management apparatus.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

an encryption device configured to encrypt an output of said first network load management apparatus; and

a decryption device configured to decrypt an input to said second network load management apparatus.

22. A method for managing network data loads between a plurality of host devices and a plurality of network connections, comprising steps of:

monitoring a network parameter from each of said plurality of network connections; and

automatically balancing said data load across said plurality of network connections in correspondence with said network parameter and a predetermined configuration parameter, wherein

said predetermined configuration parameter is at least one of

a predetermined output rate,

a predetermined output quality,

a cost,

a packet priority,

a security parameter, and

a queue size.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein said network parameter comprises at least one of:

a ready terminal set parameter;

a loop back state parameter;

an input rate parameter;

an output rate parameter;

an input packet parameter;

an output packet parameter;

an input error parameter;

a buffer failure parameter;

a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) parameter;

a frame errors (FE) parameter;

an overruns parameter;

an abort parameter;

a carrier transition parameter;

a data carrier detect (DCD) parameter;

a data set ready (DSR) parameter;

a data terminal ready (DTR) parameter; and

a clear to send (CTS) parameter.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising one of a step of:

allocating a plurality of non-randomized local packets corresponding to a local file to said plurality of network connections so as to create a first plurality of randomized transmission packets; and

re-aggregating a plurality of randomized received packets received from said plurality of network connections so as to create a replica of a plurality of non-randomized remote packets corresponding to a remote file.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising a step of:

padding at least one of said plurality of non-randomized local packets.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising a step of:

adding a dynamic encryption local file identifier to said plurality of non-randomized local packets corresponding to said local file.

27. The method of claim 24, further comprising a step of:

allocating data packets from another local file to a subset of said plurality of network connections.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising a step of:

allocating said plurality of non-randomized local packets corresponding to a local file to a subset of said plurality of network connections.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising a step of:

redirecting a network address in correspondence with said network parameter and said predetermined configuration parameter.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising a step of:

establishing a time-to-live constraint for a predetermined host.

31. The method of claim 22, further comprising a step of:

remotely monitoring and backing up a second network load management apparatus.

32. The method of claim 31, further comprising a step of:

controlling at least one of said first network load management apparatus and said second network load management apparatus by a third network load management apparatus.

33. The method of claim 22, further comprising steps of:

writing an event in an event log when a predetermined alarm condition is detected; and

sending at least one of a notification email message, a notification facsimile message, and a notification page message.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising at least one of a step of:

turning on a backup power source;

executing a remote configuration change operation in a router; and

executing a remote configuration change operation in a host device.

35. The method of claim 22, further comprising steps of:

inputting commands and configuration information via a command input module; and

displaying a status in a status display module.

36. A computer program product comprising a plurality of instructions for managing network data loads between a plurality of host devices and a plurality of network connections, comprising:

instructions for monitoring a network parameter from each of said plurality of network connections; and

instructions for automatically balancing said data load across said plurality of network connections in correspondence with said network parameter and a predetermined configuration parameter, wherein

said predetermined configuration parameter is at least one of

a predetermined output rate,

a predetermined output quality,

a cost,

a packet priority,

a security parameter, and

a queue size.

37. The computer program product of claim 36, wherein said network parameter comprises at least one of:

a ready terminal set parameter;

a loop back state parameter;

an input rate parameter;

an output rate parameter;

an input packet parameter;

an output packet parameter;

an input error parameter;

a buffer failure parameter;

a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) parameter;

a frame errors (FE) parameter;

an overruns parameter;

an abort parameter;

a carrier transition parameter;

a data carrier detect (DCD) parameter;

a data set ready (DSR) parameter;

a data terminal ready (DTR) parameter; and

a clear to send (CTS) parameter.