SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR NETWORK OPTIMIZATION BY MANAGING LOW PRIORITY DATA TRANSFERS

• US 20100202287A1
• Filed: 02/12/2009
• Published: 08/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ArcSoft, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ArcSoft, Inc.
• Inventors: Diaz, Raul, Mayer, Ron
• Granted Patent: US 8,238,243 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/230
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control

Abstract

As more internet service providers have more customers with high-speed internet access accounts and these customers access more multi-media rich data (such as videos), the network infrastructure of internet service providers becomes saturated. Thus, internet service providers are facing pressure to upgrade their networks. However, high-speed digital networking equipment is expensive. Thus, internet service providers need to optimize the usage of their existing networks. To optimize the usage of existing networks, a system of delaying certain data requests is proposed. By delaying certain data requests, the various components in a network can shift data transfers from peak traffic times to lower traffic times. One useful application of delayed requests is the case in which a web client requests data ahead of schedule either through predictive methods or through subscriptions for desired data.

Claims

1. A method of communicating information on a data network, said method comprising:

receiving a delayed data request for an identified data object;

accessing a set of network traffic conditions;

immediately handling said delayed data request upon receiving a favorable set of network traffic conditions; and

delaying handling said delayed data request upon receiving an unfavorable set of network traffic conditions.

2. The method of communicating information on a data network as set forth in claim 1 wherein accessing said set of network traffic conditions comprises receiving a network traffic report.

3. The method of communicating information on a data network as set forth in claim 2 wherein accessing said set of network traffic conditions comprises receiving a network traffic report from a network traffic device that collects network traffic information and generates said network traffic report.

4. The method of communicating information on a data network as set forth in claim 1, said method further comprising:

responding to said delayed data request by discarding said delayed data request.

5. The method of communicating information on a data network as set forth in claim 4 wherein said sender of said delayed data request re-issues a second delayed data request.

6. The method of communicating information on a data network as set forth in claim 1 wherein delaying transfer of said identified data object comprises putting said delayed data request in a queue.

7. The method of communicating information on a data network as set forth in claim 1 wherein handling said delayed data request comprises sending a response containing said identified data object.

8. The method of communicating information on a data network as set forth in claim 7 wherein said response containing said identified data object is delayed by a network node along a path to a sender of said delayed data request if said network node detects network traffic.

9. The method of communicating information on a data network as set forth in claim 7 wherein said response containing said identified data object is cached by a network node along a path to a sender of said delayed data request.

10. The method of communicating information on a data network as set forth in claim 1 wherein handling said delayed data request comprises sending said delayed data request to a next network node along a path to a network server having said identified data object.

11. A network device coupled to a data network, said network device comprising:

a network traffic monitor, said network traffic monitor for determining a set of network traffic conditions; and

a request handler, said request handler receiving a delayed data request for an identified data object, said request handler immediately handling said delayed data request if said set of network traffic conditions is favorable else delaying a handing of said delayed data request if said set of network traffic conditions is not favorable.

12. The network device as set forth in claim 11 wherein accessing said network traffic monitor receives a network traffic report from a network traffic device on said data network.

13. The network device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said network node network traffic device collects network traffic information and generates said network traffic report.

14. The network device as set forth in claim 11 wherein said request handler discards said delayed data request if said set of network traffic conditions is not favorable.

15. The network device as set forth in claim 14 wherein said network device receives a re-issued second delayed data request from a sender of said delayed data request.

16. The network device as set forth in claim 11 wherein delaying said handing of said delayed data request comprises putting said delayed data request in a queue.

17. The network device as set forth in claim 11 wherein handling said delayed data request comprises sending a response containing said identified data object.

18. The network device as set forth in claim 17 wherein said response containing said identified data object is delayed by a network node along a path to a sender of said delayed data request if said network node detects network traffic.

19. The network device as set forth in claim 17 wherein said response containing said identified data object is cached by a network node along a path to a sender of said delayed data request.

20. The network device as set forth in claim 11 wherein handling said delayed data request comprises sending said delayed data request to a next network node along a path to a network server having said identified data object.