Method and apparatus for congestion management in computer networks using explicit rate indication
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method adaptable for use in a computer network having at least one source and at least one destination between which data is transferred via a switch, the method comprising steps of:
- determining the actual load level of the switch;
receiving a control cell from the source in the switch, the control cell including a first load adjustment factor and being transmitted from the source at a first transmission rate;
determining a second load adjustment factor in accordance with the current load level and a first load adjustment factor;
sending the control cell including the second load adjustment factor to at least one of the source and the destination;
receiving the control cell at the at least one of the source and the destination;
sending the control cell to the source by the destination if received at the destination; and
,selectively adjusting the first transmission rate of the source to a second transmission rate in accordance with the second load adjustment factor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An explicit rate indication method for congestion management in computer and telecommunication networks. Sources monitor their load and provide the information periodically to switches. The switches, in turn, compute the load level and ask the sources to adjust their rates up or down. The scheme achieves high link utilization, fair allocation of rates among contending sources and provides quick convergence.
257 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A method adaptable for use in a computer network having at least one source and at least one destination between which data is transferred via a switch, the method comprising steps of:
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determining the actual load level of the switch; receiving a control cell from the source in the switch, the control cell including a first load adjustment factor and being transmitted from the source at a first transmission rate; determining a second load adjustment factor in accordance with the current load level and a first load adjustment factor; sending the control cell including the second load adjustment factor to at least one of the source and the destination; receiving the control cell at the at least one of the source and the destination; sending the control cell to the source by the destination if received at the destination; and
,selectively adjusting the first transmission rate of the source to a second transmission rate in accordance with the second load adjustment factor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for controlling an end system transmitting data at a first transmission rate in a network having a switch through which data is transferred, the method comprising steps of:
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receiving a control cell from the switch, the control cell including a load adjustment factor determined in accordance with an actual load of the switch; determining a second transmission rate based on the first transmission rate and the load adjustment factor; selectively adjusting the end system to transmit data at the second transmission rate if the load adjustment factor is
1) greater than or equal to one and the second transmission rate is less than the first transmission rate, or
2) less than one and the second transmission rate is greater than the first transmission rate. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A method for controlling an end system having a first transmission rate in a network having a switch through which data is transferred, the method comprising steps of:
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receiving a control cell from the switch, the control cell including a load adjustment factor determined in accordance with an actual load of the switch and a time stamp indicating when the control cell was generated; determining a second transmission rate based on the first transmission rate and the load adjustment factor; selectively adjusting the end system to transmit the data at the second transmission rate if the load adjustment factor is greater than or equal to one and the second transmission rate is less than the first transmission rate. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for controlling a switch in a computer network operating in a utilization band and having at least two end systems, a first end system having an average rate of data transmission, the method comprising steps of:
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determining the actual load level of the switch; receiving a control cell from the first end system, the control cell including a first load adjustment factor; selectively determining a second load adjustment factor in accordance with the load level and the first load adjustment factor; sending the control cell including the first load adjustment factor to a second end system if the first load adjustment factor is greater than or equal to the second load adjustment factor; sending the control cell including the second load adjustment factor to the second end system if the second load adjustment factor is greater than the first load adjustment factor. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 33, 34)
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19. An apparatus in a computer network having at least one source and at least one destination between which data is transferred via a switch, the apparatus comprising:
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means for determining the actual load level of the switch; means for receiving a control cell from the source in the switch, the control cell including a first load adjustment factor and being transmitted from the source at a first transmission rate; means for determining a second load adjustment factor in accordance with the current load level and a first load adjustment factor; means for sending the control cell including the second load adjustment factor to at least one of the source and the destination; means for receiving the control cell at the at least one of the source and the destination; means for sending the control cell to the source by the destination if received at the destination; and
,means for selectively adjusting the first transmission rate of the source to a second transmission rate in accordance with the second load adjustment factor. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for controlling an end system having a first transmission rate in a network having a switch through which data is transferred, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a control cell from the switch, the control cell including a load adjustment factor determined in accordance with an actual load of the switch; means for determining a second transmission rate based on the first transmission rate and the load adjustment factor; means for selectively adjusting the end system to transmit data at the second transmission rate if the load adjustment factor is
1) greater than or equal to one and the second transmission rate is less than the first transmission rate, or
2) less than one and the second transmission rate is greater than the first transmission rate. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. An apparatus for controlling an end system having a first transmission rate in a network having a switch through which data is transferred, the apparatus comprising:
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means for receiving a control cell from the switch, the control cell including a load adjustment factor determined in accordance with an actual load of the switch and a time stamp indicating when the control cell was generated; means for determining a second transmission rate based on the first transmission rate and the load adjustment factor; means for selectively adjusting the end system to transmit the data at the second transmission rate if the load adjustment factor is greater than or equal to one and the second transmission rate is less than the first transmission rate. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. An apparatus for controlling a switch in a computer network operating in a utilization band and having at least two end systems, a first end system having an average rate of data transmission, the apparatus comprising:
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means for determining the actual load level of the switch; means for receiving a control cell from the first end system, the control cell including a first load adjustment factor; means for selectively determining a second load adjustment factor in accordance with the load level and the first load adjustment factor; means for sending the control cell including the first load adjustment factor to a second end system if the first load adjustment factor is greater than or equal to the second load adjustment factor; means for sending the control cell including the second load adjustment factor to the second end system if the second load adjustment factor is greater than the first load adjustment factor. - View Dependent Claims (32, 35, 36)
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Specification