Network rotameter station and service

• US 20060153080A1
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Published: 07/13/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Palm, Stephen R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/237
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2821 Avoiding conflicts related to the use of home appliances cryptographic protocols H04L9/00; protocols for network security H04L63/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2838 Distribution of signals within a home automation network, e.g. involving splitting/multiplexing signals to/from different paths adaptations of television systems for transmission by electric cable for domestic distribution H04N7/106; hybrid transport H04L12/6418; home network arrangements specially adapted for distribution of digital video signals H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2012/2841 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/122 by diverting traffic away from congested entities

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling network traffic in a network are disclosed herein and may include monitoring network traffic characteristics for a plurality of communication channels in a home network, by at least one processor within the home network. The at least one processor may re-route network traffic for at least a portion of the plurality of communication channels in the home network, based on analysis by the at least one processor of at least the monitored network traffic characteristics. Network traffic can be estimated for at least a portion of the plurality of communication channels in the home network by the at least one processor within the home network, based on the monitored network traffic characteristics. The at least one processor may re-route network traffic for a portion of the plurality of communication channels in the home network, based on the estimated network traffic.

Claims

1. A method for controlling network traffic in a network, the method comprising:

monitoring network traffic characteristics of a plurality of communication channels in a home network, by at least one processor within said home network; and

re-routing, by said at least one processor within said home network, network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network, based on analysis by said at least one processor within said home network of at least said monitored network traffic characteristics.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising estimating network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network by said at least one processor within said home network, based on said monitored network traffic characteristics.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising re-routing, by said at least one processor within said home network, said current network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network, based on said estimated network traffic.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

past network traffic characteristics and current network traffic characteristics.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one processor within said home network comprises a first processor and a second processor.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said first processor comprises a network rotameter observation (NRO) station that performs said monitoring, and wherein said second processor comprises at least one of the following:

a network rotameter analysis (NRA) station that performs said estimating and an application desiring network services that performs said estimating.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising, analyzing network weather information based on most current reports from at least said NRO station.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said at least one processor comprises at least one third processor that performs said re-routing.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising receiving at said NRA station, at least one request for an action call from a requesting device within said home network.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising, in response to said at least one request for an action call, analyzing network weather information based on most current reports from at least said NRO station.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising generating a current report based on said analyzing;

and communicating said generated current report to at least said requesting device within said home network.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said generated current report comprises at least one of the following:

a network rotameter map, a display of time of day traffic, and a display of segment traffic.

13. The method according to claim 6, further comprising determining by said NRA station, whether network conditions within said home network are in excess of at least one traffic threshold, and if said network conditions exceed said at least one traffic threshold, generating a reporting event by said NRA station.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

a link identifier (linkId) information element, a MAC address (MacAddress) information element, a reachable MAC (ReachableMac) information element, a bridge identifier (BridgedId) information element, and a rotameter index (RotameterIndex) information element.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

a rotameter address (ROAddress) information element, a rotameter (ROBits) information element, a rotameter period (ROPeriod) information element, a reporting date and time (ReportingDateTime) information element, a traffic class (TrafficClass) information element, and a monitor resolution period (MonitorResolutionPeriod) information element.

16. A system for controlling network traffic in a network, the system comprising:

at least one processor within a home network;

said at least one processor within said home network enables monitoring of network traffic characteristics of a plurality of communication channels in said home network; and

said at least one processor enables re-routing of network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network, based on analysis by said at least one processor within said home network of at least said monitored network traffic characteristics.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said at least one processor enables estimation of network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network, based on said monitored network traffic characteristics.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein said at least one processor enables re-routing of said current network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network, based on said estimated network traffic.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

past network traffic characteristics and current network traffic characteristics.

20. The system according to claim 16, wherein said at least one processor within said home network comprises a first processor and a second processor.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein said first processor comprises a network rotameter observation (NRO) station that performs said monitoring, and wherein said second processor comprises at least one of the following:

a network rotameter analysis (NRA) station that performs said estimating and an application desiring network services that performs said estimating.

22. The system according to claim 21, further comprising, analyzing network weather information based on most current reports from at least said NRO station.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein said at least one processor comprises at least one third processor that performs said re-routing.

24. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one processor enables receiving at said NRA station of at least one request for an action call from a requesting device within said home network.

25. The system according to claim 24, wherein, in response to said at least one request for an action call, said at least one processor enables analyzing of network weather information based on most current reports from at least said NRO station.

26. The system according to claim 24, wherein said at least one processor enables generation of a current report based on said analyzing, and wherein said at least one processor enables communication of said generated current report to at least said requesting device within said home network.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein said generated current report comprises at least one of the following:

a network rotameter map, a display of time of day traffic, and a display of segment traffic.

28. The system according to claim 21, wherein said at least one processor enables determining by said NRA station, whether network conditions within said home network are in excess of at least one traffic threshold, and wherein said at least one processor enables generation of a reporting event by said NRA station, if said network conditions exceed said at least one traffic threshold.

29. The system according to claim 16, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

a link identifier (linkId) information element, a MAC address (MacAddress) information element, a reachable MAC (ReachableMac) information element, a bridge identifier (BridgedId) information element, and a rotameter index (RotameterIndex) information element.

30. The system according to claim 16, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

a rotameter address (ROAddress) information element, a rotameter (ROBits) information element, a rotameter period (ROPeriod) information element, a reporting date and time (ReportingDateTime) information element, a traffic class (TrafficClass) information element, and a monitor resolution period (MonitorResolutionPeriod) information element.

31. A method for organizing network traffic in a network, the method comprising:

monitoring network traffic characteristics of a plurality of communication channels in a home network, by at least one processor within said home network; and

selecting a particular one of said plurality of communication channels for use in said home network, based on analysis of at least said monitored network traffic characteristics for said home network.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said selecting and said analysis of at least said monitored network traffic characteristics is done via at least one of the following:

at least one processor and at least one user.

33. The method according to claim 32, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

a link identifier (linkId) information element, a MAC address (MacAddress) information element, a reachable MAC (ReachableMac) information element, a bridge identifier (BridgedId) information element, and a rotameter index (RotameterIndex) information element.

34. The method according to claim 32, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

a rotameter address (ROAddress) information element, a rotameter (ROBits) information element, a rotameter period (ROPeriod) information element, a reporting date and time (ReportingDateTime) information element, a traffic class (TrafficClass) information element, and a monitor resolution period (MonitorResolutionPeriod) information element.

35. The method according to claim 32, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

past network traffic characteristics and current network traffic characteristics.

36. The method according to claim 32, further comprising performing said monitoring via a network rotameter observation (NRO) station.

37. The method according to claim 32, further comprising estimating network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network based on said monitored network traffic characteristics.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising re-routing said current network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network based on said estimated network traffic.

39. A system for organizing network traffic in a network, the system comprising:

at least one processor enables monitoring of network traffic characteristics of a plurality of communication channels in a home network, by at least one processor within said home network; and

said at least one processor enables selection of a particular one of said plurality of communication channels for use in said home network, based on analysis of at least said monitored network traffic characteristics for said home network.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein at least one of the following:

said at least one processor and at least one user enables said selecting and said analysis of said at least said monitored network traffic characteristics.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

a link identifier (linkId) information element, a MAC address (MacAddress) information element, a reachable MAC (ReachableMac) information element, a bridge identifier (BridgedId) information element, and a rotameter index (RotameterIndex) information element.

42. The system according to claim 40, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

a rotameter address (ROAddress) information element, a rotameter (ROBits) information element, a rotameter period (ROPeriod) information element, a reporting date and time (ReportingDateTime) information element, a traffic class (TrafficClass) information element, and a monitor resolution period (MonitorResolutionPeriod) information element.

43. The system according to claim 40, wherein said network traffic characteristics comprise at least one of the following:

past network traffic characteristics and current network traffic characteristics.

44. The system according to claim 40, further comprising a network rotameter observation (NRO) station that enables performance of said monitoring.

45. The system according to claim 40, wherein said at least one processor enables estimation of network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network based on said monitored network traffic characteristics.

46. The system according to claim 40, wherein said at least one processor enables re-routing said current network traffic for at least a portion of said plurality of communication channels in said home network based on said estimated network traffic.

47. The system according to claim 39, wherein said at least one processor responds to input provided by a user for said enabling of said selection of said particular one of said plurality of communication channels for use in said home network.

48. The system according to claim 39, wherein said at least one processor responds to a signal provided by a user input device for said enabling of said selection of said particular one of said plurality of communication channels for use in said home network.