System and method for facilitating end-to-end Quality of Service in message transmissions employing message queues

• US 20040151114A1
• Filed: 02/05/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Beijing Xiaomi Mobile Software Co., Ltd. (Xiaomi Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Ruutu, Jussi Pekka
• Granted Patent: US 6,940,813 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A system and method for buffering messages between at least two applications over a network implementing a Quality of Service (QoS) framework. Messages are transmitted from a source application to an intermediary message queue for message buffering. A message queue QoS is imparted at the message queue to the flow of the messages traversing the message queue, and the end-to-end QoS can then be provided for the flow of messages over the network.

Claims

1. A method for buffering messages between at least two applications over a network, comprising:

transmitting one or more messages from a source application to an intermediary Message Queue (MQ) for message buffering;

imparting an MQ Quality of Service (QoS) on a flow of the messages traversing the MQ; and

transmitting the flow of messages from the MQ subject to the MQ QoS.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the messages subject to the MQ QoS at one or more target applications.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein imparting an MQ QoS on a flow of the messages comprises imparting an MQ QoS commensurate with a network QoS applied to the flow of messages traversing the network.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising receiving the messages at one or more target applications subject to the MQ QoS and the network QoS.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein imparting an MQ QoS on the flow of messages traversing the MQ comprises imparting an MQ QoS that approximates a network QoS to substantially maintain an end-to-end QoS otherwise subjected to the messages traversing the network.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediary MQ is implemented in a recipient device which also hosts at least one target application, and wherein imparting an MQ QoS on the message flow traversing the MQ comprises imparting the MQ QoS on the message flow at the MQ of the recipient device to provide end-to-end QoS between the source application and the target application.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the intermediary MQ is implemented in a network element coupled to the network, wherein the network element is distinct from a source device hosting the source application and a recipient device hosting a target application.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein imparting an MQ QoS on the message flow traversing the MQ comprises creating the MQ QoS within the MQ by separating the messages into a plurality of queues corresponding to differing message priorities, and outputting the messages from the plurality of queues according to a predetermined scheduling procedure.

9. A method for facilitating end-to-end Quality of Service (QoS) communication between at least two applications, comprising:

transmitting one or more messages from at least one first application and destined for at least one second application;

receiving the messages from the first application at a Message Queue (MQ);

manipulating an output order of the messages at the MQ to impart a QoS on further transmission of the messages; and

outputting the messages destined for the second application from the MQ in the output order corresponding to the imparted QoS.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting one or more messages from at least one first application comprises transmitting one or more messages from a plurality of applications operable on a sending device, wherein at least some of the messages from the plurality of applications have different prioritization indicators relative to one another which impacts their relative transmission priorities.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the different prioritization indicators comprise application identifiers associated with each of the plurality of applications.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the different prioritization indicators comprise one or more prioritization indicators selected from the group comprising a message type, a delay sensitivity, a loss sensitivity, a message priority, a message discard probability, an allocated bandwidth share, and a network QoS model.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of applications comprises at least two different applications operable on the sending device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of applications comprises at least two instances of a common application operable on the sending device.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting one or more messages from at least one first application comprises transmitting one or more messages from a single application operable on a sending device, wherein at least some of the messages from the single application have different prioritization indicators relative to one another which impacts their relative transmission priorities.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein manipulating an output order of the messages at the MQ comprises at least queuing the messages in a plurality of queues according to their relative transmission priorities, and scheduling output of the messages from the queues according to a predetermined scheduling procedure.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising prioritizing the messages to identify which of the plurality of the queues in which each of the messages is to be entered.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the messages from the first application at an MQ comprises receiving the messages at a recipient MQ associated with a receiving device on which at least one of the second applications is operating.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the messages from the first application at an MQ comprises receiving the messages at a source MQ associated with a sending device on which at least one of the first applications is operating.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the messages from the first application at an MQ comprises:

receiving the messages at a source MQ associated with a sending device on which at least one of the first applications is operating;

receiving the messages at a recipient MQ associated with a receiving device on which at least one of the second applications is operating; and

wherein manipulating an output order of the messages at the MQ comprises manipulating the output order of the messages at both the source MQ and the recipient MQ as the messages are communicated between the first and second applications over a network.

21. The method of claim 9, wherein receiving the messages from the first application at an MQ comprises receiving the messages at a network MQ associated with a network element coupled to a network, and wherein manipulating an output order of the messages at the MQ comprises manipulating the output order of the messages at the network MQ as the messages are communicated between the first and second applications over the network.

22. The method of claim 9, further comprising transmitting the messages destined for the second application over a network coupling the first and second applications.

23. The method of claim 9, wherein transmitting the messages over a network comprises transmitting the messages over one or more of a landline and a wireless network.

24. A method for imparting a Quality of Service (QoS) to messages traversing a Message Queue (MQ) logically coupled between source device having at least one source application and a destination device having at least one destination application, the method comprising:

prioritizing the messages received from the source application into priority classes based on information associated with each of the messages;

queuing each of the messages into one of a plurality of MQ priority queues associated with the MQ in response to prioritization of the messages; and

scheduling an output order of the messages from the plurality of MQ priority queues based on a scheduling procedure; and

transmitting the messages from the MQ to the destination application pursuant to the scheduled output order, thereby imparting the QoS to the messages traversing the MQ.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein prioritizing the messages into priority classes based on information associated with each of the messages comprises prioritizing the messages based on the application from which the messages originated.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein prioritizing the messages into priority classes based on information associated with each of the messages comprises prioritizing the messages into priority classes based on message characteristics indicative of relative priorities between the messages.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein queuing each of the messages into one of a plurality of MQ priority queues associated with the MQ comprises queuing the messages in a single-stage queuing arrangement.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein queuing each of the messages into one of a plurality of MQ priority queues associated with the MQ comprises queuing the messages in a multi-stage queuing arrangement.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising monitoring for overflow of any of the plurality of MQ priority queues, and discarding messages associated with any of the plurality of MQ priority queues that have reached their respective message capacity.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein discarding messages comprises discarding the messages based on a loss priority associated with messages of the MQ priority queue that has reached its message capacity.

31. A system for communicating information between a plurality of applications over a network, comprising:

one or more first applications for transmitting messages over the network in accordance with a network Quality of Service (QoS) paradigm;

one or more second applications for receiving the messages via the network; and

a Message Queue (MQ) module coupled to receive the messages and configured to apply an MQ Quality of Service (MQ QoS) to the messages transmitted from the one or more first applications to the one or more second applications.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the MQ module comprises a prioritization module coupled to receive the messages and to prioritize the messages received from the first applications into priority classes based on prioritization indicators associated with each of the messages.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the MQ module comprises a queuing module comprising a plurality of priority-based queues to temporarily store the messages, wherein each of the plurality of priority-based queues stores messages having like priorities.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the MQ module comprises a scheduling module coupled to the queuing module to govern an order of the output of the messages from the plurality of priority-based queues.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the priority-based queues comprise software-based queuing structures.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the first applications comprise a prioritization module to prioritize the messages into priority classes based on prioritization indicators associated with each of the messages, and assigning a priority to each of the messages.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the MQ module comprises a queuing module comprising a plurality of priority-based queues to temporarily store the messages, wherein each of the plurality of priority-based queues stores messages having like priorities.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the MQ module comprises a scheduling module coupled to the queuing module to govern an order of the output of the messages from the plurality of priority-based queues.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the MQ module is configured to apply an MQ QoS substantially emulating the network QoS to facilitate end-to-end QoS transfers.

40. The system of claim 31, wherein the MQ module comprises a plurality of MQ modules, one at each of the first and second applications, to apply the MQ QoS to the messages transmitted between the first and second applications.

41. The system of claim 31, wherein the MQ module comprises an intermediary MQ module logically coupled between the first and second applications on the network to apply the MQ QoS to the messages transmitted from the first application to the second application.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the messages are transmitted from the one or more second applications to the one or more first applications over the network, and wherein the MQ module is coupled to receive the messages and configured to apply the MQ QoS to the messages transmitted from the one or more second applications to the one or more first applications.

43. The system of claim 31, wherein:

at least one of the first applications is operable on a first communication device coupled to the network;

at least one of the second applications is operable on a second communication device coupled to the network; and

the first applications comprise applications selected from the group comprising a plurality of application instances of a common application operable on the first communication device, a plurality of distinct applications operable on the first communication device, and at least one application process including a plurality of message classes and operable on the first communication device.

44. The system of claim 31, wherein the MQ module comprises a software module architecturally positioned between an application layer associated with the first and second applications and a transport layer.

45. A communication device operable on a network, comprising:

(a) one or more application modules for receiving messages from one or more remote applications;

(b) a Message Queue (MQ) module comprising;

(i) a prioritization module coupled to receive and prioritize the messages received from the remote applications into priority classes based on prioritization indicators associated with each of the messages;

(ii) a plurality of priority-based queues, each to temporarily store the messages having like priorities; and

(iii) a scheduling module coupled to the plurality of queues to govern an order of the output of the messages from the plurality of priority-based queues and targeted for the application modules.

46. The communication device as in claim 45, wherein the network comprises a wireless network, and wherein the communication device comprises a mobile terminal.

47. The communication device as in claim 45, wherein the network comprises a landline network, and wherein the communication device comprises a computing device.

48. A computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon which are executable by a computing system for buffering messages between at least two applications over a network by performing steps comprising:

transmitting one or more messages from a source application to an intermediary Message Queue (MQ) for message buffering;

imparting an MQ Quality of Service (QoS) on a flow of the messages traversing the MQ; and

transmitting the flow of messages from the MQ subject to the MQ QoS.

49. The computer-readable medium as in claim 48, wherein the instructions for imparting an MQ QoS on the message flow comprise instructions for creating the MQ QoS within the MQ by separating the messages into a plurality of queues corresponding to differing message priorities, and for outputting the messages from the plurality of queues according to a predetermined scheduling procedure.