System and method for transferring data on a data network using multiple paths

• US 20060028991A1
• Filed: 08/03/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Cheung, Gene, Tan, Wai-tian
• Granted Patent: US 7,965,626 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/237
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/568 Load balancing, smoothing or shaping
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/5682 Threshold; Watermark
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/247 using M:N active or standby paths
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/125 by balancing the load, e.g. traffic engineering
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/29 using a combination of thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a system and method for transferring data on a data network using multiple paths. In one embodiment, data is transferred across a default path of a network. Next, a data loss rate is determined on the default path. When the data loss rate on the default path exceeds a first threshold value, a data loss rate is determined on a first alternate path. Provided the data loss rate on the first alternate path is less than a second threshold value, a first portion of the data is transferred to the first alternate path. Moreover, additional portions of data are transferred to the first alternate path until the data loss rate on the first alternate path meets or exceeds the second threshold value.

Claims

1. A method for transferring data on a data network using multiple paths comprising:

transferring data across a default path of said network;

determining a data loss rate on said default path;

provided said data loss rate on said default path exceeds a first threshold value;

determining the data loss rate on a first alternate path;

provided said data loss rate on said first alternate path is less than a second threshold value;

transferring a first portion of said data to said first alternate path; and

transferring additional portions of said data to said first alternate path, wherein said additional portions of data are transferred to said first alternate path until said data loss rate on said first alternate path meets or exceeds said second threshold value.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein when said data loss rate on said first alternate path exceeds the second threshold value the portions of data transferred to said first alternate path are reduced regardless of the loss rate of said default path.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the data loss rate on a second alternate path; and

provided said data loss rate on said second alternate path is less than a third threshold value;

transferring a second portion of said data to said second alternate path.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

provided said data loss rate on said second alternate path is less than said third threshold value;

transferring a third portion of said data to said second alternate path.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein additional portions of said data are transferred to said second alternate path until said data loss rate on said second alternate path exceeds said third threshold value.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a maximum of four alternate paths are utilized.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the second threshold value of said first alternate path is approximately 0.1 percent.

8. A device for transferring data on a data network using multiple paths comprising:

a default path determiner configured to determine a data loss rate on a default path;

a default path comparator coupled with said default path determiner, said default path comparator configured to compare said data loss rate on said default path with a first threshold value;

an alternate path determiner communicatively coupled with said default path determiner, said alternate path determiner configured to determine a data loss rate on an alternate path; and

an alternate path comparator coupled with said alternate path determiner, said alternate path comparator configured to compare said data loss rate on said alternate path with a second threshold value;

such that provided the data loss rate on the default path exceeds the first threshold value and the data loss rate on the alternate path is less than the second threshold value, said device is configured to transfer a first portion of data from said default path to said alternate path.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein said alternate path determiner is configured to determine multiple alternate paths.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein a maximum of four alternate paths are utilized by said alternate path determiner.

11. The device of claim 8 wherein said alternate path determiner further comprises:

a user interface configured to allow a user to select said alternate path from a list of alternate paths.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein said device is configured to transfer additional portions of said data to said first alternate path, wherein said additional portions of data are transferred to said first alternate path until said data loss rate on said first alternate path meets or exceeds said second threshold value.

13. The device of claim 8 wherein said device is configured to cease transferring said portions of data to said alternate path when said data loss rate on said first alternate path exceeds the second threshold value regardless of the loss rate of said default path.

14. The device of claim 8 wherein the second threshold value of said first alternate path is approximately 0.1 percent.

15. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method for transferring data on a data network using multiple paths comprising:

transferring data across a default path of said network;

determining a data loss rate on said default path;

provided said data loss rate on said default path exceeds a first threshold value;

determining the data loss rate on a first alternate path;

provided said data loss rate on said first alternate path is less than a second threshold value;

transferring a first portion of said data to said first alternate path; and

transferring additional portions of said data to said first alternate path, wherein said additional portions of data are transferred to said first alternate path until said data loss rate on said first alternate path meets or exceeds said second threshold value.

16. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein when said data loss rate on said first alternate path exceeds the second threshold value the number of portions of data transferred to said first alternate path are reduced regardless of the loss rate of said default path.

17. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

determining the data loss rate on a second alternate path; and

provided said data loss rate on said second alternate path is less than a third threshold value;

transferring a second portion of said data to said second alternate path.

18. The computer-usable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

provided said data loss rate on said second alternate path is less than said third threshold value;

transferring a third portion of said data to said second alternate path.

19. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein a maximum of four alternate paths are utilized.

20. The computer-usable medium of claim 15 wherein the second threshold value of said first alternate path is approximately 0.1 percent.