Computer network with microeconomic flow control
First Claim
1. A method of flow control for a network of switches connecting users, comprising:
- providing a plurality of network brokers, each network broker corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of users, including a first network broker corresponding to a first user and a second network broker corresponding to a second user;
providing a quality of service profile for said first user to said first network broker;
providing route information relating to a route from said first to said second user, said route including one of said switches defining a first switch;
providing from said first user to said first network broker a present desired bandwidth value;
sending respective current price quote information from said first switch to said first network broker;
selecting, by said first network broker, of a resource utilization rate to define a selected resource utilization rate, wherein said selected resource utilization rate is selected based on;
a respective resource budget of said first user,said quality of service profile of said first user,said present desired bandwidth value for said first user, andsaid current price quote information of said first switch; and
transmitting from said first user to said second user at said selected resource utilization rate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There is disclosed a decentralized flow control technique based on microeconomics. In this framework, there are three important entities: switches, network brokers and users. Switches independently price their resources to provide flow control and to encourage high utilization. A network broker, located at the entrance of the network, works as an agent for a user, monitoring the budget, prices and needs. Using this information the network broker may purchase resources to maximize the user'"'"'s quality of service. This approach has several advantages such as: decentralized control, minimal signaling, Pareto-optimal resource distribution, price stability and high network utilization.
155 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of flow control for a network of switches connecting users, comprising:
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providing a plurality of network brokers, each network broker corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of users, including a first network broker corresponding to a first user and a second network broker corresponding to a second user; providing a quality of service profile for said first user to said first network broker; providing route information relating to a route from said first to said second user, said route including one of said switches defining a first switch; providing from said first user to said first network broker a present desired bandwidth value; sending respective current price quote information from said first switch to said first network broker; selecting, by said first network broker, of a resource utilization rate to define a selected resource utilization rate, wherein said selected resource utilization rate is selected based on; a respective resource budget of said first user, said quality of service profile of said first user, said present desired bandwidth value for said first user, and said current price quote information of said first switch; and transmitting from said first user to said second user at said selected resource utilization rate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer network, comprising:
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switches, and users interfaced to said switches by respective network brokers corresponding to said users, including a first network broker corresponding to a first user and a second network broker corresponding to a second user; said first network broker having, for said first user, a quality of service profile, a present desired bandwidth value, a resource budget, and route information relating to said switches including a route from said first to said second user, said route including one of said switches defining a first switch; said first switch sending respective current price quote information to said first network broker; said first network broker selecting a selected resource utilization rate based on; said respective resource budget of said first user, said quality of service profile of said first user, said present desired bandwidth value for said first user, and said current price quote information of said first switch; and said first user transmitting to said second user at said selected resource utilization rate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A switching node of a computer network, comprising:
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a network interface, a control system, and means for monitoring bandwidth; said control system sending, via said network interface, current price quote information to network brokers on said computer network; and said current price quote information being updated by said control system to provide an updated price quote at a timing based on switch demand as determined by said means for monitoring bandwidth. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A computer program product, comprising:
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computer readable instructions, and a computer readable medium bearing said computer readable instructions; said instructions being adapted to enable a computer to operate, in a network of switches connecting users, including a first and a second user, according to the steps of; accessing a quality of service profile for said first user; accessing route information relating to a route from said first to said second user, said route including one of said switches defining a first switch; receiving from said first user an indication of a present desired bandwidth value; receiving current price quote information from said first switch; selecting a resource utilization rate to define a selected resource utilization rate based on a respective resource budget of said first user, said quality of service profile of said first user, said present desired bandwidth value for said first user, and said current price quote information of said first switch; and indicating to said first user to transmit to said second user at said selected resource utilization rate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification